By Edith van Ruitenbeek
In the Netherlands and many European countries, cohabitation, instead of marriage, is an accepted way of living together – at least for tax purposes. However, for family matters and for residence permits it is not. In other countries, cohabitation presents even more of challenge, something that should especially be taken into account when you have to move there for career reasons. An expat career therefore often requires couples to marry just to guarantee a residence permit abroad for the spouse.
Also many expat couples coming to the Netherlands are finding that Dutch legislation has become stricter over the past decades, even for those who are married and have children born from that marriage, adopted abroad or recognized. The author offers some in-depth information on these topics.
