Changes with effect from 1 January 2022

Civic integration in the Netherlands

With effect from 2022, a new civic integration system will apply in the Netherlands based on the new Civic Integration Act 2021. Municipalities will become more relevant in supporting newcomers in the Netherlands who are obliged to participate in a civic integration programme. Together with them, they will draw up an individual civic integration plan. The new legislation raises the desired language level for newcomers on the whole to level B1. From now on, foreign nationals who must participate in civic integration programmes (such as asylum permit holders and family migrants) have three different learning pathways to meet their civic integration obligation. The IND is not in charge of the obligation to integrate. For further information in this respect, go to DUO - Integration or Integration in the Netherlands | Rijksoverheid.nl.

Civic integration abroad

The IND checks whether newcomers passed the civic integration examination abroad when assessing the application for authorisation for temporary stay (mvv) and the residence permit. Simultaneously with the introduction of the new Integration Act, an exception to the integration obligation for Turkish newcomers has been abolished with effect from 1 January.

New standard amounts and fees

The standard amounts within the Minimum Wage and Minimum Holiday Allowance Act (Wml) framework are revised every year on 1 January and 1 July by the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and published in the Government Gazette.

A standard amount is an amount you have to earn to bring a foreign national to the Netherlands. As from 1 January 2022, you will find the new standard amounts in the Required amounts income requirement overview.

Fees are the cost of an application. Fees are indexed annually based on the negotiated wages index, as calculated by Statistics Netherlands. The amount of the fees you can find in the Fees: costs of an application overview.

An extended period of validity of work permits

As from 1 January 2022, the validity period of various permits for employment has been extended from one to a maximum of three years (unless the duration of the employment contract is not as long). This concerns people who want to work in the Netherlands based on a combined residence and work permit (GVVA), (GVVA), the International Trade Regulation and the Regulation for Essential start-up personnel.

Asian cooks

The Asian Catering Industry Scheme expired on 1 January 2022 for new, initial applications. So this concerns foreign nationals who have not been admitted to the Netherlands before as cooks in Asian cuisine. Due to signals of abuse, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment so decided. For the admission of new cooks, a combined work and residence permit (GVVA) application can be made to the IND.