EU free movement

How does coming to the Netherlands via EU free movement work?

An explanation for people who come to the Netherlands through rights within the EU, EEA or as a family member of someone with free movement.

Full guide by section

How does coming to the Netherlands via EU free movement work?

People who come to the Netherlands via EU free movement often do not fall under exactly the same logic as classic MVV or family routes. That is why it is important to look at this route separately.

01

Why EU free movement should be read separately

Legal basis

Comes from EU rights and not from the standard logic of MVV or normal partner migration.

Family route

More often about EU rights, dependency and the position of the EU citizen.

Practical error

People sometimes use checklists of non-EU family migration even though their EU context works differently.

02

What you need to keep extra sharp in EU affairs

  • Under which EU context exactly your situation falls.
  • What relationship or dependency needs to be proven.
  • Which documents really come from the EU route and which from a normal MVV context.
  • Which registration and follow-up steps are still required after arrival.

03

No standard partner route

If your route is based on EU free movement, do not automatically include standard family migration from outside the EU. This often results in exactly the wrong documents and expectations.

Sources and references

Sources and references

An explanation for people who come to the Netherlands through rights within the EU, EEA or as a family member of someone with free movement.

IND

For an explanation about EU residence and family members of EU citizens.

ind.nl/

National government

For broader explanations about rules and rights within the EU context.

www.rijksoverheid.nl/

Municipality

For practical next steps after arrival and registration.

www.inburgeren.nl/inburgeren-bij-de-gemeente/

Frequently asked questions

Important questions that come up often

Use these short answers as your first orientation, then open the matching guide for more detail.

Is this the same as regular family migration?

No. An EU route should be read as a separate route, with its own rights and conditions.

Do you always need an MVV for an EU route?

No. That is precisely why it is important not to automatically equate EU free movement with other routes.

Which instance do you use first?

Usually IND, so you can read the route directly under the correct EU context.

KNM is our active practice offer today, while the information pages already cover the wider integration landscape.

Our current offer

Practice with our KNM questions now and use this information hub for the rest of your path

Right now we mainly offer KNM practice. The information hub still helps with routes, official information, and broader integration questions.

Related pages

Related guides and next steps

These links move you to the next logical question in your integration journey.

All routes to get to the Netherlands

Compare the EU route again with family, work, study and asylum.

Read guide

Family or partner route

Useful if you want to understand why an EU family route works differently.

Read guide

How does coming to the Netherlands for work or study work?

An overview of routes for knowledge migrants, students, researchers and other people who come to the Netherlands through work or study.

Read guide