Paid employment: residence permit only
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).
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.
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Extra requirements for mass media correspondents
open minus- 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.
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Extra requirements for paid employment on board a Dutch seagoing vessel or mining installation
open minus- 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.
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Extra requirements for spending leave in the Netherlands after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
open minusSpending 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.
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Extra requirements for waiting for recovery after work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
open minus- 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.
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Extra requirements: looking for work on a seagoing vessel or mining installation
open minus- 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:
- 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.
- You worked for some time outside the sector. Added together, these periods did not last more than 12 months.
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Extra requirements for paid employment as non-privileged military or civilian personnel
open minus- 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.
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Extra requirements for paid employment under an employment contract
open minus- 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:
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusThe 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.
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3. Apply open minusYour 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.
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4. Pay for application open minus
The application costs € 405,00. 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.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. 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.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe 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, 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.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe 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, 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.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou 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.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou 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.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minusYour can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
You will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. You have to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Biometrics
You must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. You will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. You also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.
Valid passport required
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
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7. Collect residence permit open minusWhen 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.
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8. Collect residence permit open minusWhen 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
Written application forms
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:
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.
Read more about the legal obligations of recognised sponsors and the foreign national’s 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.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
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.