Netherlands highly skilled migrant residence permit

People with an employment contract with a recognised employer or research institution in the Netherlands who meet the applicable salary and other conditions.

• Contract and recognised sponsor

  Have an employment contract with an employer or research institution in the Netherlands that is a sponsor recognised by the IND. Only a recognised employer can apply for this permit.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Salary if under 30

  For a first application in 2026, the required gross monthly amount for a highly skilled migrant younger than 30 is €4,357.00, unless the reduced salary criterion applies.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Salary if 30 or over

  For a first application in 2026, the required gross monthly amount for a highly skilled migrant aged 30 or older is €5,942.00, unless the reduced salary criterion applies.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Reduced salary, if eligible

  The 2026 reduced criterion is €3,122.00 gross per month. It applies when the application is made during an orientation-year permit, or in the circumstances stated by the IND for someone who previously held that permit or meets the orientation-year requirements; the stated application deadlines are within three years of the relevant graduation, doctoral defence or research-permit expiry date.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Researcher or doctor-in-training income

  For a researcher, guest lecturer or physician training to be a specialist, the amounts that also apply to a highly skilled migrant from 1 July through 31 December 2026 are €1,635.90 gross SV salary per month without holiday allowance, or €1,766.77 with holiday allowance.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Market-rate pay

  The agreed salary must be in line with the market rate: the same as people in the same job earn on average.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Researcher appointment

  If applying as a researcher, have an employment contract with a research institution in the Netherlands or an appointment decision letter; the document must contain the job title and job code listed in the University Job Classification System.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Recognised medical training

  If applying as a medical doctor in training, the school or training organisation must be recognised by one of the committees listed by the IND, which have merged into the RGS committee, and you must be listed in the BIG register.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Healthcare registration

  If you will work in individual healthcare in a medical profession listed in Article 3 or Article 36a of the BIG Act, you must be registered in the BIG register. The IND describes conditional registration for certain holders of recognised foreign diplomas who must first work for three months under supervision.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Valid travel document

  Have a valid passport or other travel document.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Public order and security

  Do not pose a danger to public order or national security. Everyone over the age of 12 must completely fill in an Appendix Antecedents Certificate and enclose it with the application.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Entry permit if required

  An MVV is needed for this application when the MVV obligation applies to you; the obligation depends on nationality and exemptions. The employer applies for the MVV and residence permit together.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Passport validity for MVV

  If you need an MVV, your passport must remain valid for at least another six months when the Dutch representation places the MVV sticker in it.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• TB test if required

  Take a tuberculosis test after arrival unless an IND exemption applies. If the employer stated in the application that you must take the test, arrange it with the Municipal Health Service within three months after obtaining the residence permit.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• First highly skilled migrant applicationind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource€423 per person
• Decision timeThis is the legal decision period, not a promised processing time. It starts when the IND receives the application; the IND says it may extend the legal decision period for an initial highly skilled migrant application by 30 days and must explain why.About 3 months

1. Get ready

   • Get a contract with a recognised sponsor

     Check that your Netherlands employer or research institution is recognised by the IND and that you have an employment contract.

     You’ll need: Employment contract

   • Check the permit conditions

     Check the applicable income amount, market-rate pay, general requirements and any profession-specific conditions.

     You’ll need: Valid passport or other travel document

   • Gather the required documents

     Ask your employer for its document list and have foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German where required.

     You’ll need: Passport copy, Appendix Antecedents Certificate where required, Other documents requested by the employer

2. Apply

   • Have your employer apply

     Your employer submits the application online or by post and, if an MVV is needed, applies for the MVV and residence permit together.

     You’ll need: Application documents

   • Have your employer pay the fee

     The employer pays the application fee by direct debit.

   • Wait for the decision

     The IND sends a positive or negative decision; the legal decision period for this application is 90 days, subject to an extension.

3. Visa

   • Arrange your MVV sticker if needed

     If granted an MVV, make an appointment at the Dutch representation named in the application within three months of the IND’s decision.

     You’ll need: Passport

4. Travel

   • Travel to the Netherlands

     If you need an MVV, use it to travel to the Netherlands while it is valid.

     You’ll need: Passport, MVV if required

5. Settle in

   • Collect your residence permit

     When the IND tells you the document is ready, make an appointment to collect it at an IND desk.

   • Take a TB test if required

     If your employer stated in the application that you must take a TB test, arrange it with the Municipal Health Service within three months after obtaining the residence permit.

     You’ll need: Appendix TB test referral form

The employer can apply to extend the permit; after holding a residence permit for five years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

• Highly skilled migrant | INDind.nlOfficial
• Required amounts income requirements | INDind.nlOfficial
• Fees: costs of an application | INDind.nlOfficial
• Decision periods | INDind.nlOfficial
• Provisional residence permit (MVV) | INDind.nlOfficial
• Requirements that apply to everyone | INDind.nlOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.