Residence permit researcher (Directive (EU) 2016/801)
What is the residence permit for researcher Directive (EU) 2016/801
The researcher residence permit under Directive (EU) 2016/801 is a work and residence permit for researchers from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Your employer can apply for a researcher residence permit for you in the following situations:
- You live outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you are going to conduct research in the Netherlands. You are applying for a researcher residence permit for the first time.
- You have a researcher residence permit under Directive (EU) 2016/801 in another EU country. You plan to come to the Netherlands to conduct research for more than 180 days under the Intra-EU mobility scheme. This is called long-term mobility.
Short-term intra-EU mobility for less than 180 days
Do you want to conduct research in the Netherlands for less than 180 days? And you have a residence permit as a researcher under the Directive in another EU country? Then go to our webpage Directive (EU) 2016/801: Short-term mobility of researchers.
Requirements
The following requirements apply to a researcher residence permit under Directive (EU) 2016/801:
- You meet the requirements that apply to everyone.
- You are going to work in one of the following positions:
- Paid researcher.
- Unpaid researcher with a grant.
- Doctoral (Phd) candidate.
- You plan to conduct research at a research institute in the Netherlands. This research institute (hereinafter referred to as: employer) is a recognised sponsor. You can check the public register of recognised sponsors whether your employer has been recognised as a sponsor.
- You have a higher education degree. This degree gives you access to the doctoral programme. Your employer determines whether your degree is suitable. Do you not have a suitable degree? Then your employer must declare that you have the appropriate level.
- Your employer has approved the following components of your research project:
- The aim of the research.
- The duration of the research.
- The amount of money needed to conduct the research.
- You have an employment contract or a host agreement with your employer. The hosting agreement contains the following information:
- The title or aim of the research.
- A statement that you will try to conduct all of the research.
- A statement by the research institute that it will host you with the aim of having the research completed.
- Start date and end date of the research. Or the estimated duration of the research.
- Information on research you are going to do in other EU countries, if this information is known.
- The legal relationship between you and your employer. For example a labour contract.
- Your terms and conditions of employment.
- You are going to earn sufficient income. Will you not receive a salary from your Dutch employer? Then you must have other income, for example a grant, stipend or money from a sponsor. Or you have sufficient money in your bank account for the time you are in the Netherlands.
- Are you going to work as an individual healthcare professional? 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).
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Additional requirements for long-term mobility
open minus- You are going to conduct research in the Netherlands for more than 180 days.
- You have a residence permit for researchers in another EU country under Directive (EU) 2016/801. This residence permit will be valid for the entire period that you are in the Netherlands.
- Your research programme states that you are going to conduct research in 1 or more other EU countries.
Find which other requirements may apply to Turkish nationals and their family members.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the researcher 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 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 application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs for an explanation.
Your employer pays the costs automatically by direct debit.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs for an explanation.
Your employer pays the costs automatically by direct debit.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 60 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. You will then receive a letter.
Follow the application in My IND.
What if the IND decides late
Has the decision period passed? And do you still not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 60 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. You will then receive a letter.
Follow the application in My IND.
What if the IND decides late
Has the decision period passed? And do you still not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.
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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.
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
Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:
TB test
Did your employer 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. Bring the TB test referral form to the appointment.
Working with the residence permit
With this residence permit, you may work without a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). The back of the residence permit says in Dutch 'Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist' (Work permitted without restrictions. TWV not required). However, you must continue to meet the requirements for the researcher residence permit under Directive (EU) 2016/801.
Legal obligations
As a recognised sponsor, your employer has an obligation of due care, an obligation to provide information and an obligation to keep records. Only an obligation to provide information applies to you.
Find out more about the legal obligations of the sponsor or recognised sponsor and the foreign national’s obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. And if you do not do so? Then you can get an administrative fine.
Validity of residence permit
The residence permit is valid just as long as your contract with the research institute. The residence permit is valid for 5 years at most.
In case of long-term mobility, the residence permit is valid for just as long as your host agreement with the research institute in the Netherlands.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Intra-EU mobility: conducting research in another EU country
Under the Directive, you can conduct research temporarily in another EU country (except Denmark and Ireland). This is called intra-EU mobility. There are 2 types of intra-EU mobility:
- Short-term mobility for 180 days at most. As long as your Dutch residence permit is valid, you do not need to apply for a residence permit in the other country. But you may have to report your stay to the immigration service of the other country.
- Long-term mobility for more than 180 days. You must apply for a separate research residence permit in the other country. Inquire at the immigration service of the country where you want to conduct research.
Notification of research in another EU country
Are you also going to conduct research in another EU country? Then your employer must notify the IND of this. This must be done 4 weeks at most before the mobility starts. Your employer must use the Dutch form Meldingsformulier wetenschappelijk onderzoeker Richtlijn 2005/71/EC to do so.
Other applications
Replacement of residence permit
Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence document replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extension of residence permit
Is the residence permit going to expire soon? Then you can extend the residence permit.
Permanent residence permit
Have you had a residence permit for 5 years? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit.
See also
- Living in the Netherlands
- Travelling with a residence permit and return visa
- Short-term mobility as a researcher
- Recognition as a sponsor
- Employing a foreign national
Rules and regulations
- Directive (EU) 2016/801
- Article 3.33 Aliens Decree (Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000)
- B6/2.4 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)
- B6/3.1.3 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)
- B6/4.4 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)
- Article 3.20d Aliens Regulations (Voorschrift Vreemdelingen 2000)
- Article 4.36 Aliens Regulations (Voorschrift Vreemdelingen 2000)
- Article 3 BIG Act (only available in Dutch)
- Article 36a BIG Act (only available in Dutch)
Responsible organisation
Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst
Questions?
