Netherlands
Work permit in the Netherlands.
To work in the Netherlands without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship you need a residence and work permit from IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service). The main routes are Provisional residence permit (MVV), Residence permit (verblijfsvergunning), Residence permit: highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant), EU Blue Card (Europese blauwe kaart). Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older: salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance): €5,942 a month since 1 January 2026. A first decision comes within about 3 months. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years on most routes.
Permit types
The permits the Netherlands issues
- Provisional residence permit (MVV)
- Residence permit (verblijfsvergunning)
- Residence permit: highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant)
- EU Blue Card (Europese blauwe kaart)
- ICT permit (intra-corporate transferee)
- Orientation year (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden)
- Single permit (GVVA)
- Permanent residence permit
- Residence endorsement sticker (verblijfsaantekening)
- Social-security certificate (A1 or under an agreement)
Salary levels
What the permit has to pay
Each figure with its legal basis and the official page it comes from.
Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older: salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance)
€5,942 a month · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceHighly skilled migrant, younger than 30: salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance)
€4,357 a month · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceHighly skilled migrant: reduced salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance)
€3,122 a month · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceEU Blue Card salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance)
€5,942 a month · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceEU Blue Card: reduced salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance)
€4,754 a month · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceFees and other amounts
What else costs or counts
Fees and other dated amounts, each with the official page it comes from.
30% ruling: taxable salary norm (a year)
€48,013 a year · from 1 January 2026
Official source30% ruling: salary norm under 30 with a Dutch master's degree or equivalent (a year)
€36,497 a year · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card, ICT or single permit (first application or extension)
€423 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: orientation year
€254 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee, family member: partner or spouse
€254 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee, family member: child under 18
€85 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: permanent residence or long-term EU residence
€254 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: naturalisation (one person)
€1,139 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: recognition as sponsor
€5,080 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: recognition as sponsor, company of 50 employees or fewer
€2,539 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceIND fee: replacement residence document
€171 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceStaying longer
Faster routes and settling
erkend referent
recognised sponsor: required for a highly skilled migrant; files through the IND's Business Portal and keeps the duties to inform, to keep a file and of care
Permanent residence: after 5 years
- Five consecutive years on a valid Dutch residence permit
- The civic integration exam passed at level A2 or higher, or an exemption
- The IND first checks the conditions of the long-term EU residence permit
EU long-term residence: after 5 years
- Stable and regular resources
- Sickness insurance
- Integration conditions where national law sets them
Citizenship: after 5 years
- Five years of residence in the Netherlands without interruption on a valid residence permit
- The civic integration exam passed
Authorities
Who does what in the Netherlands
IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service)
Decides residence permits and recognises sponsors (erkend referent)
Official websiteBelastingdienst (Tax and Customs Administration)
Tax and the 30% ruling; the BSN is the tax number
Official websiteUWV (Employee Insurance Agency)
Gives the labour-market advice on a single permit
Official websiteOther countries
- Sweden
- Germany
- France
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- Belgium
- Norway
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Finland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Official sources
- IND, required amounts: income requirements (highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card) for 2026; the amounts change every year on 1 January
- IND: residence permit for a highly skilled migrant (recognised sponsor, 90-day decision, MVV appointment within 3 months, collection within 2 weeks, TB test within 3 months, 3 months to find a new job, at most 6 months after two years with the permit for someone unemployed on or after 22 May 2026)
- IND, fees: costs of an application (2026)
- IND: obligations of sponsor and recognised sponsor (duty to inform, administration, duty of care)
- IND: form 7501, application for recognition as sponsor
- IND: form 7593, reporting form for labour-related residence purposes
- IND: publication 3072, residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (family members need no work permit)
- IND: form 7515, application for the purpose of residence 'holder of the EU Blue Card'
- IND: form 7560, application for the purpose of stay 'Intra Corporate Transfer' (3 months in the group, 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees)
- IND: European Blue Card residence permit (a contract of at least 6 months; the employer need not be a recognised sponsor; read 24 October 2026)
- IND: intra-corporate transferee (3 months in the group; 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees; a sponsor without recognition may apply; read 24 October 2026)
- IND: residence permit for an orientation year (search year for highly educated persons)
- IND, single permit (GVVA): UWV labour-market advice within 5 weeks
- IND Business Newsletter, 28 May 2026: a change of employer is decided within 45 days (paid employment, highly skilled migrant; 15 more in exceptional cases) or 30 days (EU Blue Card); without a decision in time, work for the new employer for the rest of the permit's validity (read 29 October 2026)
- IND: report changes in situation within 4 weeks, among them becoming jobless and a different employer (read 29 October 2026)
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the minimum salary for a work permit in the Netherlands?
Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older: salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance): €5,942 a month (from 1 January 2026). Highly skilled migrant, younger than 30: salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance): €4,357 a month (from 1 January 2026). Highly skilled migrant: reduced salary criterion (gross a month, without holiday allowance): €3,122 a month (from 1 January 2026).
Who issues work permits in the Netherlands?
IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service): Decides residence permits and recognises sponsors (erkend referent).
How long does a work permit take in the Netherlands?
A first application is decided within about 3 months, according to the authority's own figures.
When can someone get permanent residence in the Netherlands?
After 5 years on most routes. Five consecutive years on a valid Dutch residence permit. The civic integration exam passed at level A2 or higher, or an exemption. The IND first checks the conditions of the long-term EU residence permit.
When can someone get EU long-term residence in the Netherlands?
After 5 years on most routes. Stable and regular resources. Sickness insurance. Integration conditions where national law sets them.
Which software can an agency or HR team use to manage work permits in the Netherlands?
Settio is relocation management and work permit software with a plan for the Netherlands: the permit, the steps with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, the documents, the deadlines and the registrations after arrival, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace, and each case shows only the Netherlands's own rules and sources.
How does Settio help with work permits in the Netherlands?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to the Netherlands, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
More
- Relocating to Netherlands: the first weeks
- Relocation and immigration across Europe
- AI immigration compliance
Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 24 October 2026. About this information