Residence permit under EU-UK Trade Agreement

Last update: 9 September 2024

You want to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). You are a British independent professional or contractual service supplier. Find out what the requirements are and how to apply for the residence permit.

Requirements

These requirements apply to you.

You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
You need to be in the Netherlands temporarily to supply your services.
You supply services in a sector mentioned in Annex 22 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the website of the European Union.
You, or your employer in the UK, have concluded a contract for services for a maximum of 12 months. The contract was concluded with the client of the service supplier in the Netherlands. The client is the person, organisation or company to which you supply services.
Your contract was not concluded via an agency for job placement and staffing.
You supply your services directly to the client of the service supplier in the Netherlands.
You have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences when you apply. Or proof that your knowledge is on the same level.

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Extra requirements for an independent professional (independent service supplier)
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- You are established in the UK as an independent service supplier.
- You do not have a branch in the Netherlands.
- Your income as a service provider in the Netherlands is at least 70% of the statutory gross monthly minimum wage. You can find what the amount is of the Dutch minimum wage on the website of the Dutch Government.
- You meet the requirements set by law (professional qualifications) to perform your services in the Netherlands.
- You have had at least 6 years’ experience at the time you apply. This is in the sector specified in your contract for services. This experience has been gained from the age of 18.
Extra requirements for a contractual service supplier
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- You work in paid employment for an employer established in the UK.
- Your employer in the UK does not have a branch in the Netherlands.
- Immediately before you applied, you supplied the same type of services for your employer in the UK for at least 1 year.
- You are going to earn an income in line with the market rate. Salary criteria for a highly skilled migrant are at the least in line with the market rate. In line with the market rate means that you earn the same as what people in the same job earn on average.
- You do not receive any other income in the Netherlands.
- You have at least 3 years’ experience at the time you apply. This is in the sector specified in your contract for services. This experience has been gained from the age of 18.

The single permit (GVVA)

The single permit (in Dutch: GVVA) combines a residence permit (in Dutch: verblijfsvergunning) and a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). You, or your client of the service supplier, apply to the IND for a single permit ‘work in paid employment’ (in Dutch: Arbeid in loondienst). The single permit (GVVA) process will apply until the Netherlands, incorporates the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the UK into national rules.

No single permit (GVVA) needed

If you will live in the Netherlands for less than 3 months, you do not need a single permit (GVVA). In most cases, your employer must, however, apply to the UWV for a TWV (Dutch only).

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

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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 and accompanying form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

Your client in the Netherlands applies to the IND for the GVVA. This is also possible if you are not yet in the Netherlands. Your client submits the application in writing by post.

Or you apply to the IND yourself.
2. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 380,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page 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. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page 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 the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example if the application is not complete. Then the IND will send a letter.
If the application is complete, a target period of 7 weeks applies to the decision.
Advice from UWV
The IND asks the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Weerknemersverzekeringen or UWV) for advice on the labour market aspect. The IND needs this advice to take a decision. UWV assesses whether the work meets the requirements of the Foreign Nationals (Employment) Act (in Dutch: Wet arbeid vreemdelingen or Wav). What if UWV needs more information? Then UWV will contact your client directly. UWV has a statutory period of 5 weeks for the advice process.
Follow the application in My IND.
3. 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 an MVV and a Single Permit.
- Negative decision: you will not get an MVV and a Single 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 Single Permit.
- Negative decision: you will not get a Single Permit. You can object against this decision.
7. Collect residence permit open minus

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

The GVVA consists of a residence document and an additional document. Your client will receive a copy of the additional document.

Application forms

Download the right application form. An accompanying form also belongs to each application form. Fill in both forms and send them by post.

Written application forms

I am a service supplier and submit the application myself (only available in Dutch):

Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (vreemdeling) 7046 (PDF, 981.71 KB)

Accompanying form to the application form (GVVA) for residence within the framework of the EU Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom 7572 (PDF, 137.14 KB)

I am a client of the service supplier (recognised sponsor) (only available in Dutch):

Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (erkend referent) 7042 (PDF, 787.3 KB)

Accompanying form to the application form (GVVA) for residence within the framework of the EU Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom 7572 (PDF, 137.14 KB)

I am a client of the service supplier (non-recognised sponsor) (only available in Dutch):

Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (referent) 7044 (PDF, 1 MB)

Accompanying form to the application form (GVVA) for residence within the framework of the EU Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom 7572 (PDF, 137.14 KB)

The residence permit

Other things you need to know about the single permit:

Working with the single permit

The single permit (GGVA) consists of a residence permit and an additional document. The residence permit says ‘Work allowed in accordance with the additional document’ (in Dutch: Arbeid toegestaan conform aanvullend document. The additional document specifies for which client you are allowed to work. It also says under which conditions you are allowed to work. With the residence document and the additional document, you are allowed to live in the Netherlands and work for your client. Your client will receive a copy of the additional document.

Legal obligations

As a sponsor, your client has an obligation to provide information and an obligation to keep and retain records. And as a recognised sponsor also a duty of care. You as a service supplier only have an obligation to provide information.

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. What if you do not? Then you can get an administrative fine.

Validity of your residence permit

Your single permit (GVVA) is valid for 1 year at most. You cannot extend this permit.

Type of residence permit

The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.

Other applications

Replace 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.

Residence permit under EU-UK Trade Agreement

Requirements

Extra requirements for an independent professional (independent service supplier)

Extra requirements for a contractual service supplier

The single permit (GVVA)

No single permit (GVVA) needed

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

Advice from UWV

Application forms

Download the right application form. An accompanying form also belongs to each application form. Fill in both forms and send them by post.

Written application forms

The residence permit

Other things you need to know about the single permit:

Working with the single permit

Legal obligations

Validity of your residence permit

Type of residence permit

Other applications

Replace residence permit

See also