Where and how to apply

Highly skilled migrants

To travel to the Netherlands, you need a provisional residence permitSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• (mvv). Your recognised employer submits an application both for an mvv and a residence permit at the same time. The forms are at the bottom of this page for your recognised employer. Your recognised employer sends the application form together with the required documents to the IND. This application costs € 285 (in 2019).

For more information on how to enter the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant, please check hereSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••, or contact your (future) employer as to the procedures to be followed.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

You apply for the mvv and the residence permit at the same time. This application costs € 171 (in 2019).

For more information on how to enter the Netherlands for the orientation year for highly educated persons, please check hereSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••.

Blue Card

Your employer submits an application both for an mvv and a residence permit at the same time. The forms are at the bottom of this page for your employer. Your employer sends the application form together with the required documents to the IND.

This application costs € 285 (in 2019).

For more information on how to enter the Netherlands as the holder of an EU Blue Card, please check hereSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••, or contact your (future) employer as to the procedures to be followed.

Documents required

Highly skilled migrants

To apply for the Entry and Residence Procedure (TEV) or the residence permit as a highly skilled migrant your recognised sponsor (employer) needs certain documents. Please check with your employer as to which documents are needed.

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translatedSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• into Dutch, English, French or German.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

The application formSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• lists the documents you need for your application if you submit your application for a residence permit in the Netherlands.

The information formSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• lists the documents you need for your application and indicates how you can pay the costs if you apply for a provisional residence permitSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• (mvv) at the Dutch representation abroad.

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translatedSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• into Dutch, English, French or German. Your diploma does not have to be legalised.

Blue Card

Please check with your employer as to which documents are needed.

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translatedSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• into Dutch, English, French or German.

Duration of validity of permits

Highly skilled migrants

The period of validity of your residence permit is the same as the length of your employment contract or assignment. With a maximum of 5 years.

Unemployment: If you become unemployed during this period, you are eligible for a search period of up to three months to find a new job as a highly skilled migrant. The search term can not exceed the validity of your residence permit and is less than three months if your residence permit expires earlier.

The search period begins on the day the contract is terminated.

Procedure: if your residence permit is valid throughout the search period (and there is no notification of a new employer), you will receive an intention to withdraw the residence permit. Herein (or in the final withdrawal decision) granting the search period is recorded.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

The residence permit for the orientation year for highly educated persons is valid for a maximum of 1 year.

To students completing several programmes of study, the orientation year can be granted after each programme of study or scientific research. You can therefore apply for another orientation year at a later date if this is done on the basis of another completed programme of study or scientific research. This programme of study or scientific research must have been completed after your previous orientation year.

Blue Card

The residence permit is valid for the duration of your employment contract or assignment with an additional 3 months. With a maximum period of 4 years.

Further requirements

Upon arrival, you must:

• make an online appointmentSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• to collect the residence document in person from an Immigration and Naturalisation Service deskSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••. You can also collect your residence document at an expat centre. Please make an appointment there;
• register in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) in the municipality where you will be living;
• make an appointment within three months after the permit has been granted with the Area Health Authority (GGD) to undergo a tuberculosis test if required;
• take out health insurance within 4 months following your arrival in the Netherlands. You are not obliged to take out Dutch public health care insurance if you have not found a job yet, or your internship allowance is less than € 150 gross per month. Your foreign health care insurance will be sufficient in those cases. You can find more information on the website of the Zorgverzekeringslijn.

Appeals

If the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has rejected your application, this will be specified in an official letter (= Decision) from the IND. If you do not agree with the decision, you can register an objection to it, or authorise someone in the Netherlands to do so on your behalf. The official letter explains how to start the procedure for this.

In some cases, the IND is not able to reach a decision in time. The IND may be in default. You can then send a written notice of default to the IND.

If after having registered an objection, the IND has stated your objections to be unfounded, it is possible for you to appealSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• against this decision to the Dutch court.

Further information

More on the admission as a highly skilled worker in the NetherlandsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

More on the admission for the orientation year for highly educated persons in the NetherlandsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

More on the admission with an EU Blue Card

Extension of stay

Highly skilled migrants

Is your residence permit due to expire soon? Apply for an extensionSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

A residence permit for the orientation year for highly educated persons cannot be extended. If you wish to stay in the Netherlands, you will have to apply for a change of status.

Blue Card

If you wish to extendSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• your stay, you must apply for this. The application for an extension of your residence permit can be submitted in writing. The IND will assess whether you meet the requirements for prolonging your stay.

Change of status

Highly skilled migrants

Has something changed in your situation that influences your residence permit? Please reportSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• this immediately to the IND. It may mean that the residence permit has to be changed.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

Have you found work? You can changeSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• your residence permit to a residence permit to work. You can, for example, apply for a residence permit as highly skilled migrantSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••, start-upSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• or work on a self-employed basisSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••. Changing to a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant means a lower income requirementSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• applies to you. This lower amount also applies if you switch to highly skilled migrant directly within 3 years after having graduated in the Netherlands.

Blue Card

Has something changed in your situation that influences your residence permit? Please report this immediately to the IND. It may mean that the residence permit has to be changed.

Employment

Highly skilled migrants

The back of your residence permit shows if you are allowed to work. Your residence permit states ‘arbeid als kennismigrant en als zelfstandige toegestaan, andere arbeid toegestaan met TWV’. Having this residence permit means that you are allowed to work as a highly skilled migrant. In addition you are allowed to work as a self employed person. For all other work, your employer needs a TWVSearch for available translations of the preceding linkNL•••.

Have you worked in the Netherlands for 5 years? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You do not need an TWV anymore.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

The back of your residence permit shows if you are allowed to work. You are free to work. Your residence permit states ‘arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist’ (work freely permitted, no work permit required).

Have you enclosed a certified copy of a (foreign) diploma or the ‘Statement on completion of study’ with your application for a residence permit ‘orientation year highly educated persons’? Then, you are free to work in the Netherlands while awaiting the decision on your application. You can collect a residence endorsement sticker at an IND desk. This sticker states ‘arbeid vrij toegestaan, tewerkstellingsvergunning (TWV) niet vereist’ (work freely permitted, no work permit required). To collect the sticker, you have to make an appointment onlineSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••.

Blue Card

The back of your residence permit shows if you are allowed to work. Your residence permit states ‘arbeid als kennismigrant en als zelfstandige toegestaan, andere arbeid toegestaan met TWV’. Having this residence permit means that you are allowed to work as a highly skilled migrant. In addition you are allowed to work as a self employed person. For all other work, your employer needs a TWVSearch for available translations of the preceding linkNL•••.

Have you worked in the Netherlands for 5 years? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You do not need a TWV anymore.

Permanent residence

Highly skilled migrants

If you have lawfully lived in the Netherlands for an uninterrupted period of five years and you have a valid residence permit for a non-temporary purpose of stay, such as highly skilled migrant, you can apply for a permanent residence permitSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••. Certain conditions will have to be met in order to be eligible for permanent residence.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

It is not possible to qualify for permanent residence on the basis of a residence permit for the orientation year for highly educated persons.

Blue Card

Having had a residence permit for a period of 5 years, you may apply for a permanent residence permitSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••. You can also apply if you fall under an exemptSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• category.

Family reunification

Highly skilled migrants

As the holder of a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant, it is possible to bring your spouse, (registered) partner or minor child(ren) to the Netherlands. Certain conditionsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• will have to be met in order to be allowed to bring your family members.

Orientation year for highly educated persons

As the holder of a residence permit for the orientation year for highly educated persons, it is possible to bring your spouse, (registered) partner or minor child(ren) to the Netherlands. Certain conditionsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• will have to be met in order to be allowed to bring your family members.

Blue Card

As the holder of a residence permit as a holder of an EU Blue Card, it is possible to bring your spouse, (registered) partner or minor child(ren) to the Netherlands. Certain conditionsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• will have to be met in order to be allowed to bring your family members.