Business Newsletter

Due to changing circumstances, the temporary MVV exemption for people with Russian nationality no longer applies since 2 October 2025. The IND will again assess applications from Russians according to the regular procedures. It remains possible for applicants to be exempted from the MVV requirement on the basis of personal circumstances. The applicant must demonstrate that travelling to their country of origin is not possible or unsafe.

Highly skilled migrants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the reduced salary criterion:

• The highly skilled migrant has or had a residence permit for the search year for highly skilled migrants in the past. Or meets all the conditions for the search year for highly skilled migrants; and
• The residence permit as a highly skilled migrant must have been applied for within 3 years of the graduation date or PhD date. Or within 3 years of the date on which the residence permit for scientific research expired.

When assessing the application, carefully consider whether the highly skilled migrant is eligible for the reduced salary criterion. The 3-year period may not have expired at the time of application.

The new salary norms for highly skilled migrants were published in the Dutch Government Gazette on 18 December (in Dutch: Staatscourant). These are the gross standard amounts per month without holiday allowance for 2026:

• Highly skilled migrants over 30 years of age: €5,942
• Highly skilled migrants under 30 years of age: €4,357
• Highly skilled migrant with reduced salary criterion: €3,122
• European Blue Card: €5,942
• European Blue Card reduced salary criterion: €4,754.

The new standard amounts will be available on the Income requirements standard amounts page as of 1 January 2026. Or read the public information notice (only in Dutch) Informatiebericht 2025/55 Normbedragen per 1 januari 2026 in advance.

The salary of a highly skilled migrant must meet the required amount applicable on the date of application

Are you submitting a first-time application or an application for the renewal of a highly skilled migrant residence permit? In that case, the salary of the highly skilled migrant must meet the required amount applicable at the time you submit the application.

The costs of applications (fees) will change as of 1 January. The new amounts will be available on the Fees: costs of an application page from that date. Or view the new amounts in advance in the public information notice (only in Dutch) Informatiebericht 2025/50 Legeswijzer en codes aangepast per 1-1-2026.

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