The Hague– The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Netherlands today announced a new three-year cooperation agreement with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), effective as of 1 August 2026, to continue supporting family reunification procedures through DNA sample collection and videoconferencing interviews.
Building on five years of collaboration between IOM, the IND and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the initiative facilitates key steps in the family reunification process for family members of beneficiaries of international protection residing in the Netherlands, assisting the IND in establishing family ties in cases when documentary evidence is unavailable or insufficient.
Since 2021, IOM has supported these processes at the request of the IND and the MFA, initially through a pilot launched in response to operational challenges and backlogs following the COVID-19 pandemic. To this date, IOM has conducted more than 12,000 investigations in more than fifteen different countries around the world.
The programme has since expanded significantly, with twelve IOM country offices now structurally involved in facilitating DNA sample collection and videoconferencing interviews, and additional missions providing support as needed. This cooperation has contributed to more efficient and accessible procedures for applicants navigating the reunification process.
“Reuniting families in a safe, orderly and dignified manner is a cornerstone of humane migration governance,” said Chief of Mission, Fabien Sambussy. “Partnerships such as this demonstrate how practical cooperation between governments and international organizations can help overcome procedural barriers and ensure that people on the move can access their rights.”
Under the collaboration, IOM will continue to coordinate DNA sample collection and facilitate videoconferencing interviews in close cooperation with IOM missions in Egypt, Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, Yemen, Iraq (Erbil), Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as in additional locations as required. The initiative will be implemented in close partnership with the IND and the MFA.
The initiative aims to support timely and efficient family reunification procedures, strengthen cooperation among national and international stakeholders, and improve access to information and procedural support for applicants.
Through its global presence and operational expertise, IOM remains committed to facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration pathways, including enabling eligible family members to access family reunification procedures in a dignified and timely manner.
IOM expresses its appreciation to the IND, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participating IOM country missions, laboratory partners, and consular colleagues for their continued collaboration and commitment to supporting families throughout the reunification process.
For more information, please contact Nina Staal, Programme Coordinator, at
