Baby on the way

Adoption allowance

Your family is getting that little bit bigger. Each time you adopt a child, you can get some help in the form of an adoption allowance.

When can you apply for the adoption allowance?

You can apply for the adoption allowance as soon as you have filed the application for adoption with the court, until 3 years thereafter.

Who can apply for the adoption allowance?

Who applies for the adoption allowance depends on your family situation:

  • If you adopt a child on your own, you should apply for the adoption allowance yourself.
  • If you are married or living together, the adopting father should apply for the adoption allowance. If the adopting father cannot apply for the allowance, no problem. The adopting mother can then apply for it. If the two adopting parents are of the same sex, the eldest should apply for the adoption allowance. If the eldest parent cannot apply for the adoption allowance, the other adopting parent should apply for it.

How can you apply for the adoption allowance?

You can only apply for the adoption allowance once you have filed the application for adoption with the court and when the child lives with the adopting parent. If that is the case, you should take the following steps:

1. 1. Send us a copy of the application for adoption that you filed with the court. For adopting children from abroad, you should also include a copy of the foreign adoption deed.

2. As a general rule, we check whether you are entitled to an adoption allowance. An application for adoption allowance can speed up the process. You can also call us or send us an e-mail (in Dutch) in this regard.

We also look at your right to monthly child benefit as a matter of course alongside your right to an adoption allowance, meaning you need not submit a separate application.

Who receives the adoption allowance?

If you adopt a child on your own, you receive an adoption allowance.

If you are adopting a child together with your partner, you may choose which of you receives the allowance. If you do not make a decision, the allowance will go to the woman in the case of a heterosexual couple and to the eldest parent in the case of a same-sex couple.

How much does the adoption allowance amount to?

You receive an adoption allowance of 1.214,51 euros for the first adopted child and 552,05 euros for each next adopted child.

However, every family only receives an adoption allowance or childbirth benefit once for each child. If one of the two partners already receives childbirth benefit or an adoption allowance for the child, the other partner no longer receives an adoption allowance should he or she later adopt the child.

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