Can an Unmarried Partner Join You on a DAFT Visa?
Yes. The IND issues a residence permit to a DAFT holder's unmarried partner. You apply as sponsor on form B07002E ("residence with unmarried partner"). You both need to be 21 or older and registered at one shared address, you as sponsor must pass the IND income test, and the 2026 fee is €254. No marriage certificate needed.
→ Check which visas you qualify for with our free income calculator
Proof takes the place of the marriage certificate: a signed joint declaration, a written story of how you met, and a stack of dated evidence. It's more paperwork than a spouse files, and unlike a DAFT spouse, your partner's permit depends on you meeting the income requirement. It still gets your partner the same right to work.
Who counts as a partner for the IND?
The IND recognizes three kinds of partner: married, registered (a Dutch geregistreerd partnerschap), or unmarried. Its partner permit page says you need a "verifiable relationship" and that you are married, in a registered partnership, or unmarried. Immigration firms that handle these cases note that same-sex and opposite-sex couples are treated the same.
The general conditions on the IND partner page, as of September 2026:
| Condition | What the IND asks |
|---|---|
| Relationship | Verifiable, and exclusive (per the declaration you both sign) |
| Living together | You live together in the Netherlands and both register with the municipality at the same address |
| Age | Both 21 or older. The 18+ exception applies only to couples who were already married while living abroad |
| Income | The sponsor meets the IND income requirement (the DAFT treaty exemption doesn't cover unmarried partners, see below) |
| Fee | €254 per partner application (the IND lists this fee for "partner (married or unmarried)") |
| Decision period | The IND must decide within 90 days (this period can be extended) |
| Permit end date | If the sponsor's permit is temporary, the partner's permit ends on the same date |
That last row matters for DAFT couples. Your first DAFT permit runs 2 years, so your partner's permit runs on the same clock. B07002E is also the form used to extend it.
What does the DAFT treaty say about partners?
The treaty is about the entrepreneur, not the household. The IND's self-employed permit page sets out the treaty requirements (US nationality, an independent profession) and says family members may work in the Netherlands without a work permit (TWV). It doesn't spell out a separate route for unmarried partners.
The practical route for an unmarried partner is the IND's general partner permit, the same one used by partners of Dutch citizens and other permit holders. Immigration firms that handle DAFT cases describe it that way:
- Pathway Partners lists a spouse, a registered partner, an unmarried partner and minor children as eligible family members, and says unmarried couples will generally need to live together and register at the same address.
- Mynta Law notes that partners "can be either married or unmarried," with married couples providing a legalized marriage certificate and unmarried couples proving a genuine and lasting relationship.
- I amsterdam (Amsterdam's official expat information service) says unmarried partners apply under the regular Dutch family reunification rules, which include an income requirement.
That last point is the one that catches DAFT couples out. More on it below.
Is there an income requirement for an unmarried partner?
Yes. The treaty's exemption from the income requirement covers a DAFT holder's spouse and minor children, not an unmarried partner. The rule sits in the Vreemdelingencirculaire (the IND's policy rules), section B7/2.1.1 as amended from 1 January 2021: the IND won't refuse a permit on income grounds for the echtgeno(o)t(e) (spouse) or unmarried minor child of a treaty sponsor. An unmarried partner applies under the regular family reunification rules, so you as sponsor must meet the IND partner income requirement.
| Who is joining you | Income test for the DAFT sponsor (as of September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Spouse | No, the treaty exemption applies (Vc B7/2.1.1) |
| Unmarried minor child | No, the treaty exemption applies (Vc B7/2.1.1) |
| Unmarried partner | Yes, the regular IND partner income requirement applies |
The IND partner permit page lists an "independent, sustainable and sufficient income" as a condition. The amounts are on the IND's required amounts page and are updated every 1 January and 1 July, so check the figure in force when you file. I amsterdam notes what that typically looks like for a DAFT business:
- Sole proprietor (eenmanszaak): a record of sufficient income over at least 18 months.
- BV owner: a director-major shareholder (DGA) employment contract valid for at least another 12 months.
Don't file with only the €4,500 capital investment as your income evidence. The IND's Appendix Proof of Income (form 7611) does list proof of that investment for treaty sponsors, but that's how a treaty sponsor documents income in the cases where the exemption applies. It doesn't lift the income test for an unmarried partner.
If your business is new, marrying may be the only route that avoids the income test. The B7/2.1.1 passage names spouses and doesn't mention registered partners, so don't assume a geregistreerd partnerschap works the same way. Talk to a Dutch immigration lawyer before you file.
Want to see whether the DAFT fits your household before you get this far? Take the free assessment → It takes a few minutes, and it asks about your partner too.
What documents does an unmarried partner application need?
Instead of a marriage certificate, you prove the relationship. The B07002E checklist for a first application, as of form version B07002E/3:
From you (the DAFT holder, as sponsor):
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport copy | Identity page and every page with stamps |
| Income documents | Per the IND Appendix Proof of Income (see above) |
| Appendix Declaration of relationship (form 7608) | Signed by both of you |
| Single status declaration | Required unless you're Dutch or hold a permanent or asylum permit, so DAFT holders include one |
| The story of your relationship | Written on separate A4 sheets |
| Evidence of your relationship | Photos, chats, social media messages, airline tickets, money transfers. Dated, in chronological order, photos printed in color |
From your partner:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport copy | Identity page and stamped pages |
| Single status declaration | From their country of origin, not older than 6 months |
| Appendix Antecedents Certificate | Attached to the form |
The Declaration of relationship is the center of the file. You both sign a statement that you "maintain an exclusive relationship" and run (or will run) a joint household from a given date, and that you'll tell the IND within 4 weeks if the relationship ends. The IND says it reports false declarations as an offence in every case.
The form doesn't set a minimum time living together. It asks when you met, when the relationship started, and for a story that covers where you met, how the relationship developed and how you kept it going. Yes, you're writing your love story for a Dutch government agency. Keep it factual, keep it chronological, and back each moment with a dated document.
How do Americans get a single status declaration?
The US doesn't issue a federal certificate of unmarried status. Netherlands Worldwide, the Dutch government's service for people abroad, says you can prove unmarried status with an affidavit: a written statement made under oath before a notary. US documents used in the Netherlands are legalized with an apostille from the US authority that issued them. Our state-by-state apostille guide covers which Secretary of State office handles what. Your partner's declaration can't be older than 6 months when you file, so time it.
Does a US citizen partner need an MVV or an integration exam?
No, on both counts. B07002E lists the United States among the nationalities that don't need an MVV (the provisional entry visa), so a US partner can enter visa-free and the application can be filed while your partner is already in the Netherlands. The IND also lists US nationals as exempt from the civic integration exam abroad.
It's different if your partner isn't American. The DAFT itself is for US citizens only, but a partner of another nationality can still apply as your family member, and may need an MVV, the integration exam, and possibly a TB test depending on their nationality. The IND partner page and B07002E cover each case.
Can an unmarried partner work in the Netherlands?
Yes, without a work permit. The work note on the back of a partner's permit follows the sponsor's permit, and for family members of a self-employed permit holder the IND lists the annotation "arbeid als zelfstandige toegestaan, arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist" (self-employment allowed, free to work, no work permit required).
In practice your partner can take a salaried job at a Dutch company or start their own business, and no employer has to sponsor anything. That's the same position a married spouse is in. Our guide to DAFT spouse work rights explains what that does to the job search, and it applies to unmarried partners once the permit is granted.
The day-to-day version: one of you runs a small business from a canal-side flat, the other bikes to an office job, and neither of you needed an HR department to approve the move.
Should you register a partnership instead?
It depends on your income as much as on the legal package. You don't have to formalize the relationship to get a permit, because the unmarried route exists. But marriage takes you out of the income test (see above), so for a new business the income test is a real immigration reason to marry. Whether a registered partnership does the same isn't spelled out in the rule, so ask a Dutch immigration lawyer before you register for that reason.
The Netherlands has three ways to formalize a relationship, and Rijksoverheid (the Dutch central government) sets out how they differ:
| Marriage | Registered partnership (geregistreerd partnerschap) | Cohabitation contract (samenlevingscontract) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic rights and obligations toward each other | Yes | Yes | No |
| Automatic inheritance rights | Yes | Yes | No |
| Community of property by default | Yes | Yes | No |
| Automatic joint parental authority | Yes | Yes | No, only the mother automatically |
| Formal "ja-woord" (I do) | Yes | No | n/a |
| Court needed to end it | Always | Only with children under 18 | n/a |
On those points, a registered partnership works like marriage without the vows, with a simpler exit when there are no minor children. If you marry or register a partnership later, B07002E lists it as a change in situation to report when you extend the permit.
Two cautions. First, the Dutch government's page on marrying a foreign national in the Netherlands says the non-EU partner typically needs a declaration about their residence rights (Verklaring omtrent het verblijfsrecht) and a declaration that the marriage isn't a sham. The same applies to a registered partnership. Second, ask a cross-border tax adviser whether a Dutch registered partnership changes anything on your 1040 before you assume it does.
How do you time a partner application with your own DAFT filing?
It usually makes sense to prepare both applications together in your first weeks after arrival. Our DAFT visa guide walks through the main application. For the partner:
- Before you leave the US: get the notarized single-status affidavits and apostilles, and start collecting relationship evidence (lease with both names, joint bank statements, travel records, photos).
- Find housing where you can both register. Some anti-kraak and short-stay contracts are silent on — or actively discourage — registering at the address, though this varies by landlord and isn't addressed on the IND or RvIG pages. RvIG confirms the municipality must register anyone staying in the Netherlands lawfully for four months or more, even at an address without a residential purpose, and the IND wants you both registered at the same address. Ask the landlord directly before you sign. Our BSN registration guide covers the gemeente step.
- File B07002E with the declaration, story and evidence, sent to the Ter Apel address printed on the form. The IND sends a payment letter.
- Budget the fee of €254 on top of your own €423. The full picture is in our DAFT cost breakdown.
If your partner will earn a Dutch salary while you run the business, read our guide to US self-employment tax on a DAFT visa before your first Dutch tax year.
Then comes the good part: one shared address on the municipal register, two bikes in the hallway, and nobody at the bakery asking whether you're married.
Ready to prepare your documents? We generate the DAFT application package and a family-aware checklist. That's the whole product. Start with the free assessment →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an unmarried partner get a residence permit with a DAFT holder?
Yes. The DAFT holder applies as sponsor on IND form B07002E, "residence with unmarried partner." Both partners need to be 21 or older and registered at the same address, the sponsor must meet the IND income requirement, and the 2026 fee is €254.
How do unmarried couples prove their relationship to the IND?
Both partners sign the IND Appendix Declaration of relationship (form 7608), confirming an exclusive relationship and a joint household. The sponsor also writes the story of the relationship on A4 sheets and adds dated evidence such as photos, chats, airline tickets and money transfers. The form doesn't name a minimum period of living together.
Does the DAFT holder need to meet an income requirement for an unmarried partner?
Yes. The DAFT treaty's income-test exemption covers spouses and minor children only (Vreemdelingencirculaire B7/2.1.1, from 1 January 2021). For an unmarried partner, the sponsor must meet the IND's regular partner income requirement, which is updated every 1 January and 1 July. Talk to an immigration lawyer if your business is new.
Can my unmarried partner work in the Netherlands?
Yes. For family members of a self-employed permit holder, the IND lists the annotation "arbeid als zelfstandige toegestaan, arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist" (self-employment allowed, free to work, no work permit required), so your partner can take a job with any Dutch employer or run their own business. No employer sponsorship is needed.
Does an American partner need an MVV or the civic integration exam?
No. US nationals don't need an MVV and are exempt from the civic integration exam abroad. A partner of another nationality may need both.
How long is the unmarried partner's permit valid?
It ends on the same date as the sponsor's temporary permit. The first DAFT permit runs 2 years, and the IND must decide partner applications within 90 days (this period can be extended).
Is a registered partnership better than staying unmarried?
You don't need one to get a permit, but the unmarried route comes with the income test, and marriage removes that test for DAFT couples (whether a registered partnership does isn't spelled out, so ask an immigration lawyer). A geregistreerd partnerschap does give automatic inheritance rights, community of property and joint parental authority, which a samenlevingscontract doesn't.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Requirements change frequently — always verify current requirements with the relevant consulate or a qualified immigration lawyer before applying.
Sources:
Official sources:
- Staatscourant 2020, 64256, amendment to Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000 section B7/2.1.1 (treaty exemption from the means requirement for spouses and minor children, in force 1 January 2021): https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2020-64256.html
- IND, "Residence permit for partner": https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/family-and-partner/residence-permit-for-partner
- IND, "Residence permit self-employed person" (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty requirements, family members' work rights): https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/residence-permit-self-employed-person
- IND, Form B07002E, "Application residence permit: residence with unmarried partner (sponsor)": https://ind.nl/en/forms/B07002E.pdf
- IND, Form 7608, "Appendix Declaration of relationship": https://ind.nl/en/declaration-relationship
- IND, Form 7611, "Appendix Proof of income": https://ind.nl/en/proof-income
- IND, "Fees: costs of an application" (2026): https://ind.nl/en/fees-costs-of-an-application
- IND, "Required amounts: income requirements": https://ind.nl/en/required-amounts-income-requirements
- IND, "Fees and required amounts for 2026 known": https://ind.nl/en/news/fees-and-required-amounts-for-2026-known
- IND, "Civic integration exam abroad": https://ind.nl/en/civic-integration-exam-abroad
- Rijksoverheid, "Wat is het verschil tussen trouwen en een geregistreerd partnerschap?": https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/trouwen-samenlevingscontract-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/wat-is-het-verschil-tussen-trouwen-en-een-geregistreerd-partnerschap
- Rijksoverheid, "Wat is het verschil tussen een huwelijk, geregistreerd partnerschap en samenlevingscontract?": https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/trouwen-samenlevingscontract-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/wat-is-het-verschil-tussen-een-huwelijk-geregistreerd-partnerschap-en-samenlevingscontract
- Rijksoverheid, "Huwelijk in Nederland met een buitenlander": https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/vraag-en-antwoord/trouwen-samenlevingscontract-en-geregistreerd-partnerschap/huwelijk-in-nederland-met-een-buitenlander
- Netherlands Worldwide, "Legalising documents from the United States": https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/legalisation/foreign-documents/united-states
- RvIG, "Inschrijven BRP op een adres zonder woonbestemming": https://www.rvig.nl/inschrijven-brp-op-een-adres-zonder-woonbestemming
Corroborating sources:
- I amsterdam, "Five things to know about the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT)": https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/live-work-study/living/official-procedures/five-things-to-know-about-the-dutch-american-friendship-treaty-daft
- Pathway Partners, "Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) Residence Permit": https://pathwaypartners.nl/individuals/daft
- Mynta Law, "Dutch American Friendship Treaty: a residence permit for American entrepreneurs": https://www.mynta.nl/en/knowledge-base/dutch-american-friendship-treaty-a-residence-permit-for-american-entrepreneurs
- Cardon & Company, "The Dutch DAFT visa for American immigrants in 5 steps": https://www.cardon.nl/blog/the-dutch-daft-visa-for-american-immigrants-in-5-steps