European Blue Card residence permit
What is a European Blue Card
A European Blue Card is a European work and residence permit for highly educated employees from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. Your employer can apply for a European Blue Card for you in these situations:
- You do not yet have a European Blue Card or you have had a European Blue Card for less than 12 months in one of the EU countries that participate in the European Blue Card scheme. You want to apply for a European Blue Card to work in the Netherlands.
- You live with an asylum permit in one of the EU countries that use the European Blue Card. You now want to work in the Netherlands with a European Blue Card.
- You have lived for at least 12 months in one of the EU countries that participate in the European Blue Card scheme, with a European Blue Card. You now want to work in the Netherlands with a European Blue Card. We call this long-term mobility.
Short-term mobility
Do you want to come to the Netherlands for work activities, such as visiting a conference or a short project? And will you not stay in the Netherlands for a total of more than 90 days within a 180-day period? Then you do not need to apply for a work and residence permit.
Highly skilled migrant residence permit
There is also a Dutch residence permit for highly educated employees. This is the highly skilled migrant residence permit. Other requirements apply to this residence permit.
Difference between European Blue Card and highly skilled migrant residence permit
- With a European Blue Card, it is easier to apply for a residence permit in a different EU-country.
- With a European Blue Card, you can in some cases apply for long-term EU residency after 2 years instead of 5 years. Visit the page Exceptions to 5-year term for permanent residency.
- The reduced salary criterion is higher for the European Blue Card in comparison to the criterion for highly skilled migrants.
- Your employer does not need to be a recognised sponsor in order to apply for a European Blue Card. For a highly skilled migrant application, this is mandatory.
Employer: sponsor or recognised sponsor
Your employer is your sponsor. The IND can also recognise your employer as a sponsor. It is faster and easier for a recognised sponsor to apply for a residence permit for employees and their family. Recognition is not required for a European Blue Card.
Requirements
These are the requirements for a European Blue Card residence permit.
- You meet the requirements that apply to everyone.
- You will be doing highly qualified work in the Netherlands and:
- you have a diploma of a programme in higher education. This programme was at least 3 years. The diploma is needed for the profession or sector and is appropriate for the profession or sector. Do you have a foreign diploma? Then Nuffic must evaluate the diploma. This means that Nuffic will examine what the foreign diploma (‘credential’) is worth in the Netherlands, or
- you have a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience. Your work experience is at the level of a higher education diploma. Are you an IT manager or IT professional? A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience is required during the period of 7 years before the application.
- You meet the income requirements.
- Your employment contract is valid for at least 6 months.
- Your employer's company carries out economic activity.
- Your employer has not been fined in the past 5 years for violating one of the following laws:
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act (in Dutch: Wet arbeid vreemdelingen or Wav);
- Working Hours Act (in Dutch: Arbeidstijdenwet or Atw);
- Dutch Workers Allocation by Intermediaries Act (in Dutch: Wet allocatie arbeidskrachten door intermediairs or Waadi);
- Working Conditions Act (Arbowet);
- State Taxes Act (in Dutch: Algemene wet inzake rijksbelastingen or Awr);
- Minimum Wage Act (in Dutch: Wet minimumloon or Wml).
- Do you have a regulated profession, such as doctor or lawyer? Then you must demonstrate that you are allowed to practice this profession in the Netherlands.
- 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).
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 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 recommends that your employer submits the application in the Netherlands. Your employer will apply to the IND for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time. Your employer will submit the application in writing by post.
You may also apply yourself at the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.
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3. Apply open minusYour employer will apply to the IND for the residence permit. Your employer must do this within 3 months after you travel to the Netherlands.
You may also apply to the IND yourself.
You or your employer must submit the application in writing by post.
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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 which says how the employer can pay the fee. Has the employer been recognised as a sponsor? Then the employer pays automatically by direct debit.
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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 which says how the employer can pay the fee. Has the employer been recognised as a sponsor? Then the employer pays automatically by direct debit.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within a decision period of 30 days for:
- An application applied for by a recognised sponsor
- An application for long-term mobility. Has the IND not made a decision after 30 days? And has your application been submitted complete? Then you are already allowed to work in the Netherlands.
- An application for family members. This application is submitted at the same time as the European Blue Card application, for which there is a decision period of 30 days.
A decision period of 90 days applies to all other applications.
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.
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 a decision period of 30 days for:
- An application applied for by a recognised sponsor
- An application for long-term mobility. Did the IND not make a decision after 30 days? And has your application been submitted in full? Then you are allowed to work immediately in the Netherlands.
- An application for family members. This application is submitted at the same time as the European Blue Card application, for which there is a decision period of 30 days.
A decision period of 90 days applies to all other applications.
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.
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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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.
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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.
Application forms
Download the correct form. Fill in the form and send it by post.
Written application forms
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. Take with you to the appointment:
Working with European Blue Card
With this residence permit, you may work for the employer that applied for the residence permit without a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). The back of the residence permit says in Dutch 'Arbeid als houder van de Europese blauwe kaart en als zelfstandige toegestaan, andere arbeid toegestaan met TWV' (Work as a holder of a European Blue Card and on a self-employed basis permitted; other work permitted with TWV).
Work on a self-employed basis
With a European Blue Card you may work on a self-employed basis in addition to your work for your employer. However, you must always continue to meet the requirements for the European Blue Card.
Work permit needed for another employer
Do you also want to work for another employer? Then this employer needs a TWV (work permit) for you. This employer must apply to the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV) for the TWV. Find out more about applying for a TWV to the UWV (only in Dutch).
Unemployment and finding a new job
What if you become unemployed and your residence permit is still valid? You will be given a maximum of 3 months to look as a holder of a European Blue Card for a new job. Have you had your permit for 2 years or longer? You will then be given a maximum of 6 months to find a new job. This is called the search period. The search period starts from the day your contract has ended. The search period is never longer than the validity of your residence permit.
Legal obligations
As a recognised or non-recognised sponsor, your employer has the obligation to provide information, keep records and duty of care. To you, only the obligation to provide information applies.
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 may get an administrative fine.
Validity of residence permit
The residence permit is valid up until 3 months after the employment contract has ended. Your residence permit is valid for 5 years at most.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement 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
Will the residence permit 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. If you have a European Blue Card, you can sometimes do this after less than 5 years. Go to the page Exceptions to 5-year term for permanent residency.
See also
- Living in the Netherlands
- Travelling with a residence permit and return visa
- Highly skilled migrant residence permit
- Employing a foreign national
Laws and regulations
- Directive 2021/1883/EC
- Section 3.30b Aliens Decree 2000 (Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000, only in Dutch)
- B6/2.6 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines 2000 (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000, only in Dutch)
- B6/3.1.5, 3.2.5 and 3.3.5 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines 2000 (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000, only in Dutch)
- B6/4.6 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines 2000 (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000, only in Dutch)
- Article 3 BIG Act (only available in Dutch)
- Article 36a BIG Act (only available in Dutch)
