Authorities in the Netherlands have uncovered a growing form of migration fraud in which foreign nationals obtain residence permits through false paternity recognitions involving Dutch citizens.
According to the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), several cases have been identified in which foreign women register Dutch nationals as the legal fathers of their children, despite having no genuine relationship with them. Once the recognition is legally recorded, the mother can apply for a residence permit based on family ties.
Officials say the practice exploits a legal loophole that makes it difficult for municipalities and courts to block suspicious paternity registrations.
Investigators have uncovered some striking cases. In one instance, a Dutch citizen of Surinamese origin was linked to 47 separate residency applications, while another man reportedly acknowledged 25 children born to 17 different women, who later used the legal connection to request residence permits.
Suspected networks behind the scheme
The number of cases has increased steadily in recent years. The IND says it has recorded around 400 suspected cases of fraud linked to questionable paternity recognitions.
At the same time, residency requests based on having a child with a Dutch citizen now exceed 3,000 applications annually.
Authorities say the most frequent nationalities involved in these cases come from Morocco, Türkiye, Ghana, Nigeria and Suriname, according to official reports.
Investigators believe some cases may involve organised networks of so-called “fictitious fathers”, Dutch citizens who legally recognise children in exchange for payment, allowing foreign mothers to secure residency rights.
Legal challenges for authorities
Part of the issue stems from a 2017 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which established that a non-EU parent could remain in a member state if their child had been legally recognised by an EU citizen.
Since that decision, more than 17,500 residence applications based on this mechanism have reportedly been submitted in the Netherlands, with the majority approved.
Local authorities say proving fraud in such cases is extremely difficult. Courts often require conclusive evidence of intent, making it challenging for municipalities to reject suspicious registrations.
Even when inconsistencies appear between the individuals involved or DNA tests are refused, judges have in some instances allowed the legal recognition to proceed because fraud could not be definitively demonstrated.
Officials have also raised concerns about the social consequences of the practice, as children may end up legally registered with fathers who have no real role in their upbringing.
In response to the growing number of immigration cases in the Netherlands, several experts and local authorities have called for legal reforms similar to those adopted in Belgium, where since 2018 fraudulent paternity recognitions linked to migration purposes can constitute a criminal offence.
