Highly skilled migrant
Do you have an employment contract with a company located outside the EU? And are you going to be transferred as a manager, specialist or trainee? Then you are an intra corporate transferee and other requirements apply to you.
Requirements
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- You have an employment contract with an employer or research institution in the Netherlands. This employer is a sponsor recognised by the IND. A recognised sponsor is listed in the public register of recognised sponsors.
- You meet the income requirements.
- The agreed salary is 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.
- Are you going to work in individual healthcare? And do you practise a medical profession that is listed in Article 3 and Article 36a of the Individual Healthcare Professions Act (BIG Act)? If so, you must be registered in the BIG register. See the BIG register website for the overview of healthcare professions subject to BIG registration. Do you have a recognised foreign diploma and do you first have to work for 3 months under the supervision of a BIG-registered healthcare provider in the same profession? Then, you must be in the BIG register with a conditional registration. Read more about working under supervision (only available in Dutch) on the BIG register website.
Would you like to work on assignment for a BIG-registered healthcare provider? You cannot get a residence permit for this. Only if you are already in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit you can work on assignment (only available in Dutch).
Other rules may apply to Turkish citizens and their family members.
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Extra requirements for researchers
open minus- You have enough or sufficient income if your gross monthly salary is at least equal to the minimum salary. Gross means without deduction of tax.
- You have an employment contract with a research institution in the Netherlands. Or a decision letter to appoint you. This document must contain the job title and job code as listed in the University Job Classification System (In Dutch: Universitair Functieordeningssysteem or UFO).
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Extra requirements for medical doctors in training
open minus- You have sufficient income if your gross monthly salary is at least equal to the minimum salary.
- The school or organisation where you are training is recognised by one of the following committees (merged to committee RGS):
- Medical Specialists Registration Committee (in Dutch: Medisch Specialisten Registratie Commissie or MSRC)
- Social Insurance Doctors Registration Committee (in Dutch: Sociaal-Geneeskundigen Registratie Commissie or SGRC)
- General Practitioners and Nursing Home Doctors Registration Committee (in Dutch: Huisarts en Verpleeghuisarts Registratie Commissie or HVRC)
- You are listed in the BIG-Register.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the 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 minusYour employer has a list of documents that you need.
Are you an employer and do you want to submit the application online? The documents checklist for highly skilled migrants shows you which documents you need to upload.
Have foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusYour employer has a list of documents that you need.
Are you an employer and do you want to submit the application online? The documents checklist for highly skilled migrants shows you which documents you need to upload.
Have foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusYour employer can submit this application online or in writing by post. Your employer applies for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time.
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3. Apply open minusYour employer can submit this application online or in writing by post. Are you already in the Netherlands? Then your employer must do this within 3 months after you have travelled to the Netherlands.
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4. Pay for the application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
Your employer pays automatically by direct debit.
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4. Pay for the application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
Your employer pays automatically by direct debit.
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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 you a letter.
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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 you a letter.
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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
Your employer can submit this application online. You must have DigiD with SMS verification and internet banking (iDEAL).
More information on access to and the possibilities in Business Portal
Written application forms
More information on access to and the possibilities in Business Portal
Written application forms
The residence permit
Other things you need to know about the residence permit:
TB test
Did your employer say at the time of the application that you must take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment at the Municipal Health Service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after obtaining the residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:
Working with the residence permit
It is stated on the back of the residence document that you are allowed to work. It reads ‘Work allowed as a highly skilled migrant and as a self-employed person, other worked allowed with a work permit (in Dutch: Arbeid als kennismigrant en als zelfstandige toegestaan, andere arbeid toegestaan met TWV).’ This means that with this residence permit, you are allowed to work as a highly skilled migrant and as a self-employed person. For other work, your employer needs a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV).
Working while waiting for your residence permit
Did your employer receive a positive decision on the application? And is your residence document not ready yet? Depending on your situation, the following applies:
- Are you waiting for your first residence permit as a highly skilled migrant?
You may start working if this is stated in the positive decision (kennisgeving) received by your employer. You may work as a highly skilled migrant without a residence document for a maximum of 4 months. This period starts on the date stated in the decision letter. - Are you waiting for your extended residence permit as a highly skilled migrant?
With your expired residence document you may continue to work as a highly skilled migrant.
In both cases you need to make an appointment for your biometrics. And to pick up your residence permit. Do this as soon as possible. At least within 2 weeks after your employer has received the positive decision.
Doing other work
Have you worked in the Netherlands for 5 years? Then you are allowed to work as an employee besides your job as a highly skilled migrant. Your new employer will not need a work permit (TWV) for you. You do however need a work permit with the work status 'free to work' (in Dutch: arbeid vrij toegestaan). You can apply for this work status as follows:
Is your residence permit valid for at least 4 months? You can replace your residence document with a document with the work status free to work (in Dutch: arbeid vrij toegestaan).
Will your residence permit expire within 3 months? Then apply for extension of your residence permit. Indicate on the form that you want to have the employment status free to work (in Dutch:arbeid vrij toegestaan)on your residence document.
Legal obligations
A recognised sponsor has several obligations: an obligation to provide information, an administrative obligation and a duty of care. Only an obligation to provide information applies to you as the employee.
Read more about the legal obligations of a recognised sponsor and the foreign national’s obligations.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not, you may get an administrative fine.
Validity of the residence permit
Your residence permit will be valid for the same period of your contract or job. The residence permit is valid for a maximum of 5 years.
Unemployment and finding a new job
If you become unemployed, you have up to 3 months to find a new job as a highly skilled migrant. This job search period cannot be longer than the period that your residence permit is valid. If your residence permit expires sooner, you have less than the 3 months’ time. The period for finding a job starts on the day on which your contract has ended.
Have the 3 months passed without you notifying us of a new employer? Then, the IND can withdraw your residence permit.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement of residence permit
Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extend your residence permit
Will your residence permit soon expire? You can extend the residence permit.
Permanent residence permit
Do you have a residence permit for 5 years? You can apply for a permanent residence permit.