Paid employment: residence permit only

Last update: 18 December 2023

You need a residence permit for paid employment in the Netherlands. You often have to apply for a single permit (in Dutch: Gecombineerde vergunning verblijf en arbeid or GVVA), but this is not always possible. Then you can apply for a residence permit for paid employment. Find out what the requirements are and how to apply for the residence permit.

Do you want to know if you have to apply for a single permit (GVVA)? Visit the web page Other work in paid employment under single permit. The single permit combines the residence permit and the work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV).

Residence permit for paid employment

Are you going to work in paid employment in the Netherlands, but it is not possible for you to apply for a GVVA? For example, because you will work in one of the specific jobs or situations you will read below? Or you no longer need a work permit because you have worked for 5 years in a row in the Netherlands? Then you or your employer can apply to the IND for a residence permit for paid employment, if you want to work in any of these specific jobs:

Paid employment as a mass media correspondent
Paid employment as non-privileged military or civilian personnel
Paid employment under a Headquarters Agreement
Paid employment on a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation
You spend leave in the Netherlands after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
You are recovering from illness after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
You are looking for work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
You are allowed to work without a work permit (TWV)

Requirements for paid employment

These requirements apply to you and your employer:

You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
You meet the income requirements.
Your employer’s company or organisation is registered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel or KvK). This applies only if such registration is required under the Commercial Register Act 2007 (Hrw 2007).
Your employer pays you a normal salary under the collective labour agreement that applies to your organisation or company.
Your employer arranges right housing for you.

Apply for a work permit

Usually, your employer also needs a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). Your employer itself must apply to the UWV for a TWV. The UWV is the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV).

You are sometimes allowed to work without a TWV. Then you are free on the labour market. For example, because you have a valid residence permit and have worked for 5 years in a row in the Netherlands.

Show details Hide details

Extra requirements for mass media correspondents
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- You work as a correspondent.
- Your employer is a publicity medium.
- Your employer has applied to the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) for a work permit (TWV) for you. Is your employer established abroad? Then a work permit is not needed.
Extra requirements for paid employment on board a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation
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- You have worked for 7 years or more on board of a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation on the continental shelf.
- You have an employment contract to work on board of a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation. This employment contract is still valid for at least 1 year.
Extra requirements for spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
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Spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a seagoing vessel
- You have worked for 7 years or more on board of a Dutch seagoing vessel.
- In this period you have not interrupted your work for more than 18 months in total.
- During these working years you have spent all your leave days in the Netherlands.
- You have an employment contract to work on a Dutch seagoing vessel. This employment contract is still valid for at least 1 year.
Spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a mining installation
- You have an employment contract to work on a mining installation on the continental shelf. This employment contract is still valid for at least 1 year. And it is still valid for at least 1 year at the time you apply. And also still valid at the time the IND takes a decision.
Extra requirements for waiting for recovery after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
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- You have worked on board of a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation on the continental shelf.
- Based on these years of work, you have the right to receive sick leave benefits (in Dutch: Ziektewet-uitkering).
- Your sick leave benefits (in Dutch: Ziektewet-uitkering) meet the income requirements.
Extra requirements: looking for work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
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- You have worked for 7 years in a row or more on board of a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation on the continental shelf.
- Based on these years of work, you are have the right to receive unemployment benefits (in Dutch: WW-uitkering).
- Your unemployment benefits (in Dutch: WW-uitkering) meet the income requirements.
Your 7-year work history is not interrupted in one of these 2 situations:
1. You have lost your job in the meantime. You spent the time that you did not have a job in the Netherlands. Each of these periods when you did not have a job in the Netherlands did not last more than 6 months.
2. You worked for some time outside the sector. Added together, these periods did not last more than 12 months.
Extra requirements for paid employment as non-privileged military or civilian personnel
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- You are a non-privileged soldier or non-privileged civilian staff member of armed forces stationed in the Netherlands. Or you are of armed forces that are passing through.
- You are employed at international military headquarters. These headquarters are in the Netherlands.
Do you meet these 2 requirements? Then the IND assumes that you also meet the income requirements.
Extra requirements for paid employment under an employment contract
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- You work at the International Criminal Court in The Hague or at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
- You do not have to meet the income requirements.

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for a residence permit:

Show details Hide details

1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

The IND advises you to have your employer apply in the Netherlands. Your employer must apply to the IND for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time. Your employer must submit the application in writing by post.

You may also apply yourself to the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.

Apply for a work permit (TWV)

Are you only allowed to work with a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsverginning or TWV)? Then your employer must apply to the UWV for the TWV. You cannot do this yourself. Your employer must apply for the TWV and your MVV and residence permit at the same time.
3. Apply open minus

Your employer must apply to the IND for the residence permit. This can also be done if you are not yet in the Netherlands.

Or you may apply to the IND yourself.

You or your employer will submit the application in writing by post.

Apply for a work permit (TWV)

Are you only allowed to work with a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV)? Then your employer must apply to the UWV for the TWV. You cannot do this yourself. Your employer must apply for the TWV and your residence permit at the same time.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 380,00. See the web page about Fees: costs of an application.

The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 380,00. See the web page about Fees: costs of an application.

The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called a decision period.

We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.

Decision on application for work permit (TWV)

Are you only allowed to work with a TWV? Then the IND first checks with UWV whether your employer will receive a TWV for you. Afterwards the IND decides on the application for your MVV and residence permit.

Follow the application in My IND.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called a decision period.

We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.

Decision on application for work permit (TWV)

Are you only allowed to work with a TWV? Then the IND first checks with UWV whether your employer will receive a TWV for you. Afterwards the IND decides on the application for your residence permit.

Follow the application in My IND.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive a message with the decision. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive an MVV and residence permit. You can object against this decision.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
7. Collect MVV and travel to the Netherlands open minus

You can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV. You collect the MVV at the Dutch representation that is filled in on the application form.

The MVV is valid for 90 days.

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Make an appointment at the Dutch representation to collect the MVV.

Valid passport required

When the Dutch representation places the MVV in your passport, your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months.

Biometrics

You must have your biometrics taken when you collect the MVV. You must take 1 new passport photo with you. You will also provide your signature and have your fingerprints taken.
7. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
8. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.

Application forms

Written application forms

Download the right form. Fill in the form and send it by post.

I am an employer and recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment' (recognised sponsor) 7510 (PDF, 584.66 KB)

I am an employer and not a recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment regular' (sponsor) 7516 (PDF, 977.26 KB)

I am an employer and recognised sponsor (you can also submit this application online):

Application for family members of your employee via recognised sponsor 7514 (PDF, 707.27 KB)

I am the employee and am applying myself:

Application for admission and residence for working purposes (foreign national) 9532 (PDF, 357.32 KB)

Written application forms

Download the right form. Fill in the form and send it by post.

I am an employer and recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment' (recognised sponsor) 7510 (PDF, 584.66 KB)

I am an employer and not a recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment regular' (sponsor) 7516 (PDF, 977.26 KB)

I am an employer and recognised sponsor (you can also submit this application online):

Application for family members of your employee via recognised sponsor 7514 (PDF, 707.27 KB)

I am the employee and am applying myself:

Application for the purpose of residence 'working as an employee regular' (foreign national) 7522 (PDF, 828.52 KB)

I am an employer and sponsor, my employee has EU long-term resident status:

Application for a residence permit for a 'long term third country national from outside the EU' (sponsor) 7519 (PDF, 690.51 KB)

I am a long-term EU-resident third country national and am applying myself:

Application for a residence permit for a 'long term third country national from outside the EU' (foreign national) 7528 (PDF, 845.08 KB)

The residence permit

Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:

TB test

Did you indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:

Appendix TB test referral form 7604(PDF, 230.36 KB)

Working with the residence permit

It says on the back of the residence permit whether you are allowed to work. Your residence permit says in Dutch Arbeid toegestaan mits TWV verleend (Work allowed if work permit granted). This means that you are allowed to work only if your employer has a work permit (TWV) for you.

Work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation

Do you have a residence permit because you work or have worked on a seagoing vessel or mining installation? Your residence permit says in Dutch TWV niet vereist voor specifieke arbeid, andere arbeid toegestaan mits TWV verleend (Work permit not required for specific work, other work allowed if work permit granted). This means that you do not need a work permit for your work on the seagoing vessel or mining installation, but you do need one for other work.

Work on the basis of a Headquarters Agreement

Do you work on the basis of a Headquarters Agreement? Your residence permit says in Dutch TWV niet vereist voor specifieke arbeid, andere arbeid niet toegestaan (Work permit not required for specific work, other work not allowed). This means that you are only allowed to work for the International Criminal Court or the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Free on the labour market

Are you free on the labour market? Your residence permit says in Dutch Arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist (Free to work, work permit not required). This means that you are allowed to work without a work permit.

Legal obligations

As a sponsor, your employer has an obligation to provide information and an obligation to keep and retain records. Is your employer a recognised sponsor? Then your employer also has a duty of due care. You only have an obligation to provide information.

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not, you may get an administrative fine.

Validity of the residence permit

The residence permit is valid for a maximum of 3 years.

Are you free on the labour market? Then the residence permit is valid for a maximum of 5 years.

Are you going to work as a foreign correspondent? Then the period of validity of your residence permit is the same as the period of validity of your employment contract or appointment.

Other applications

Replacement of the residence permit

Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page Residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Extend the residence permit

Will your residence permit expire soon? Then you can extend the residence permit.

Paid employment: residence permit only

Residence permit for paid employment

Requirements for paid employment

Apply for a work permit

Extra requirements for mass media correspondents

Extra requirements for paid employment on board a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation

Extra requirements for spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation

Spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a seagoing vessel

Spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a mining installation

Extra requirements for waiting for recovery after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation

Extra requirements: looking for work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation

Extra requirements for paid employment as non-privileged military or civilian personnel

Extra requirements for paid employment under an employment contract

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for a residence permit:

Apply for a work permit (TWV)

Apply for a work permit (TWV)

Decision on application for work permit (TWV)

Decision on application for work permit (TWV)

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Valid passport required

Biometrics

Application forms

Written application forms

Written application forms

The residence permit

Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:

TB test

Working with the residence permit

Work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation

Work on the basis of a Headquarters Agreement

Free on the labour market

Legal obligations

Validity of the residence permit

Other applications

Replacement of the residence permit

Extend the residence permit

See also