Residence permit for adopted child

The following requirements apply to you and your adopted child:

• Your adopted child meets the general requirements that apply to everyone.
• You are Dutch or you have a valid residence permit. Or you are a citizen of a Member State of the EU/EEA or Switzerland, or you are a family member. And you meet the requirements for residence on the grounds of EU law.
• You meet all of the following requirements under the Placement of Foreign Children for Adoption Act (Wobka):
  • You have obtained permission in principle (beginseltoestemming) from the Central Authority for International Children’s Issues of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security (J&V). This is a statement that, according to the Ministry of J&V, you are suitable to adopt the foreign child.
  • If you have adopted the child under the Hague Adoption Convention, you have obtained a Statement of Approval from the Central Authority for International Children’s Issues (Ca IKA) of the Ministry of J&V.
  • If you have not adopted the child under the Convention, you have obtained ‘registered permission in principle’ from the Central Authority for International Children’s Issues of the Ministry of J&V. This is a statement that the Minister for Migration gives you permission to adopt your foreign adopted child into your family. The child’s personal details are listed in the document.
  • Your adopted child does not have a life threatening contagious or long-term physical or mental disease. This is stated in a medical statement from the child’s country of origin. 
  • The biological parents have given up the foreign child for adoption. This has been arranged in the correct manner. 
  • The authorities of the country of origin agree to the adopted child becoming part of your family.
• You can demonstrate the identity of your adopted child. Does your adopted child not have a valid document allowing them to travel outside their own country, for example a passport? The IND will not reject the application if you can demonstrate the child’s identity in a different way.

For more general information about adoption, please visit the website of the Adoption Service Foundation FIOM.

Adopted child Dutch by law

Sometimes your adopted child is Dutch by law and you do not have to apply for a residence permit. By law means that the adopted child automatically receives Dutch nationality. Find out more about Dutch citizen by birth, acknowledgement or adoption.

New foreign adoptions stopped

On 21 May 2024 the Dutch Minister of Legal Protection sent a letter to inform parliament that no new foreign adoption procedures will be started. Find out more in the news message on Government.nl. 

Have you completed a procedure for a foreign adopted child? But the adopted child has not become a Dutch citizen? Then you can still apply for a residence permit for your adopted child.

Foreign family member

Do you want to care for a foreign family member? This is not possible through adoption. But maybe the child can get a residence permit for foster child. 

TB test

Did you indicate at the time of the application that your adopted child will takea TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment at the Municipal Health Service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after the child has received their residence permit. Take with you to the appointmentt: 

Does the medical statement show that the adopted child has already been tested for TB in the country of origin? Then, the TB test is not needed in the Netherlands.

Working with the residence permit

It is stated on the back of your foster child’s residence document whether the child is allowed to work. This depends also on your employment rights.

You are a Dutch national

On the back of your foster child’s residence permit it is stated: ‘free to work, work permit not required’ (in Dutch: arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist). The abbreviation TWV stands for tewerkstellingsvergunning, which means work permit in Dutch.

You have a residence permit

Your foster child often has the same employment rights as you. In the following cases the child will have different employment rights:

• Your foster child is free to work when you have one of these residence permits: 
  • highly skilled migrant
  • holder of a European Blue Card
  • intra-corporate transferee 
  • researcher within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/801
  • essential personnel start-up
• You have a residence permit for ‘work as a self-employed person’ (in Dutch: arbeid als zelfstandige). Your foster child is free to work, also as a self-employed person.
• You have a residence permit for study. Your foster child is not allowed to work.
• You have a single permit (in Dutch: gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid or GVVA) for residence and work. Your foster child is only allowed to work if the employer has a TWV.

Not every child is allowed to work

From a certain age, children are allowed to do holiday work or to have a part-time job. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl for more information about part-time job, holiday work and internship for young people (bijbaan, vakantiewerk en stage door jongeren) (only available in Dutch).

Legal obligations

A sponsor has an obligation to provide information and an administrative obligation. Read more about the legal obligations of the sponsor of family member.  

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. What if you do not? Then you can get an administrative fine. 

Validity of the residence permit

The period of validity of your adopted child’s residence permit depends on your situation. Do you have a temporary residence permit? Then the end date of your child’s residence permit will be the same as the end date of your residence permit.

Are you Dutch or do you have a permanent residence permit? Then your adopted child’s residence permit will be valid for 5 years.

Type of residence permit

The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.

Other applications

Replacement of the residence permit

Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Go to the page Residence permit damaged or change of personal details or Residence permit lost or stolen.

Extend the residence permit 

Will the child’s residence permit expire soon? Then you can apply for regular residence permit extension.

Apply for a different residence permit

Does your child have a residence permit for 1 year for residence as a family member? Then you can change the residence permit to the residence permit on humanitarian non-temporary grounds. 

Permanent residence permit

Does your child had a residence permit for 5 years for residence as a relative or family member? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit for your child.

Becoming a Dutch citizen

The adopted child can only apply for Dutch nationality together with you or the other parent. Is your adopted child aged 18 or older? Then your child can apply for Dutch nationality on their own. 

• Living in the Netherlands
• Travelling with a residence permit and a return visa