Residence Permits in the Netherlands: Highly Skilled Migrant, EU Blue Card, Partner, Student and More

1Permits in a nutshell

Travellers with suitcases walking through an airport hall — For most non-EU newcomers the permit is sorted before the flight: the employer or partner starts the procedure.

2Which permit fits you?

Why are you coming?

A job offer from a Dutch employerHighly skilled migrant permit (most common) or EU Blue Card, if the salary meets the norm. Check with the visa salary check.

Transferred by your companyIntra-corporate transfer (ICT) permit, for managers, specialists and trainees moved within a group.

You just graduatedThe orientation year (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden): a year to find work, after which a lower salary norm applies.

To start your own businessThe self-employed or start-up permit; Americans and Japanese can use the DAFT and Japanese treaty routes.

To studyA student permit, arranged by your university or college.

To live with your partnerA family-reunification permit, applied for by your partner here, who must meet an income requirement.

3The work permits compared

	Highly skilled migrant	EU Blue Card	Single permit (GVVA)
Who applies	The employer, as a recognised sponsor	The employer (sponsor or not)	The employer
Salary	A minimum gross salary, lower if you are under 30 or recently graduated	A higher minimum, with a lower norm for recent graduates	Market wage for the job
Education	No requirement	Higher education (or comparable experience)	Depends
Labour market test	No	No	Usually yes: the job must first be offered in the EU
Moving within the EU	Not by itself	Easier after 12 months	No
Typical speed	Weeks with a sponsor	Weeks to months	Months

4The process step by step

1Sponsor appliesemployer, partner or university
2IND decidesoften within weeks for recognised sponsors
3MVV visacollected at the embassy, if your nationality needs one
4Arrivalcollect your permit card and register
5Live and workwith the conditions on your permit

Documents to have ready0 of 6 done

Valid passport
Signed employment contract or offerWith the salary, so the IND can check the norm.
Birth certificate, legalised or with an apostilleNeeded when you register with the municipality.
Marriage or partnership certificate, if your partner comes too
Diploma, for the Blue Card or the orientation-year route
Tuberculosis test, if your nationality requires oneDone shortly after arrival.

5If you lose your job

Day 0
Your job ends
The employer must tell the IND that you no longer work there.
Up to 3 months
Search period (highly skilled migrants)
You may stay to look for a new employer that is a recognised sponsor.
New job
New employer reports you
Your permit continues with the new sponsor, if the new salary meets the norm.
No job
Change purpose or leave
Apply for another permit, for example as a partner or the orientation year, or leave the Netherlands.

6Renewing and going permanent

Validity: Usually as long as your contract, up to five years.
Renewing: Apply before the card expires; your sponsor often starts it.
Changes: Report a new address to your municipality; the IND learns of it. Your sponsor reports job changes.
After five years: You may be able to get permanent residence or naturalise. See becoming Dutch.

7Permits and tax

Your permit and your tax position are separate. The 30% ruling has its own salary norm and conditions, which are not the same as the highly skilled migrant norm. See the 30% ruling and the ruling horizon calculator.

8Permit questions

Can I start working before my permit card arrives?

Usually yes, once the IND has approved the permit and you have entered legally. Your employer can confirm it from the IND decision.

Can my partner work?

Yes, partners on a dependant's permit with a highly skilled migrant or Blue Card holder may work without a separate work permit.

Is the salary norm before or after tax?

Before tax, as gross monthly salary, without holiday pay. The visa salary check shows it.

What is a recognised sponsor?

An organisation the IND has approved. Only recognised sponsors can hire highly skilled migrants, and their applications are decided faster.

Sources

This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.

Ready to run your own numbers?

Visa salary check

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