Highly skilled migrant

• 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. Do you have a recognised foreign diploma and do you first have to work under the supervision of a BIG-registered healthcare provider in the same profession for 3 months? 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. Go to the BIG register website for the overview of healthcare professions subject to BIG registration.

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. 

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.

• Living in the Netherlands
• Travelling with a residence permit and a return visa Travel and return visa (terugkeervisum or TKV)
• European Blue Card
• Intra Corporate Transferees
• Recognition as a sponsor