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Employee of an international non-profit organisation

You wish to work in paid employment for an international non-profit organisation in the Netherlands. You need a residence permit for this. What are the conditions for this residence permit? And how does the application procedure work?

​You or your employer apply for a Single Permit. This is a permit that entitles a foreign national to stay and work in the Netherlands. The Single Permit combines the residence permit and the TWV. You only have to apply for one permit, to one authority: the IND. The IND asks advice from the Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency (UWV) about the labour market aspect. UWV assesses the request for advice based on the criteria of the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Wav). The IND takes a decision on the basis of the advice of UWV. If the decision is positive and the Single Permit is issued, the IND will inform you accordingly.

The Single Permit consists of a residence document and an additional document. The additional document shows for which employer the foreign national may work and under which conditions.

Your employer can choose to become a recognised sponsor. This is not obligatory. Recognition as sponsor has various advantages.

Other conditions apply to persons with the nationality of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and their family members.

Conditions

There are certain conditions that apply to everyone. In addition, you and your employer have to meet the following conditions:

  • You are going to earn sufficient income.

  • Your employer is established in the Netherlands as a company, organization or the official Dutch branch of a foreign company.

  • The organisation of your employer is entered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce (if required by the Commercial Registers Act 2007).

Criteria Foreign Nationals Employment Act

  • The organisation is established in multiple countries.
  • Worldwide, the organisation has at least 50 FTEs on permanent employment contracts.
  • Company representatives are managerial or specialist positions at higher educational level at least.
  • The wage must be in line with market conditions and be at least the minimum wage of a 23-year-old employee.
  • The duration is no more than 3 years.

Please visit www.werk.nl/werkvergunning for more information on the conditions based on the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Wav).

Other conditions may apply for Turkish nationals and their family members.

Costs

This application costs € 285. 

Checklist documents

The application form lists the documents that you must enclose with your application.

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

 

Steps in the application procedure

1. Submit application and payment

To travel to the Netherlands, you need a provisional residence permit (mvv). The mvv is a sticker that the Dutch representation places in the passport. In some cases, you do not need an mvv.

You apply for the mvv and Single Permit at the same time. This can be done in 2 ways:

  • Your employer applies to the IND in the Netherlands.
    Your employer can find the forms at the bottom of this page. Your employer sends the application form together with the required documents to the IND. After the application has been received, the IND sends a letter stating how the fees are to be paid.
  • You apply to the Dutch representation in your country of origin or the country of continuous residence.
    You submit the application to the Dutch representation in your country of origin or country of continuous residence. The Dutch representation forwards your application to the IND. After you have submitted the application, you will get a letter from the Dutch representation stating how you have to pay the fees. For the application form, to submit the form and pay the fees, please contact the Dutch representation.

The IND recommends your employer to start the application. This helps save you travel costs for the journey to the Dutch representation.

2. Receipt and check application

After your application has been received, the IND sends a confirmation letter to your sponsor in the Netherlands. The confirmation letter states the date the IND has received the application. It also states the period within which the IND makes a decision.

The IND will then check to see if your application is complete and if the fees have been paid. Are documents missing, or are documents not correct? In that case, the IND will send a letter: a request to rectify the omission. This letter lists the documents that still need to be sent. Send the requested documents before the mentioned date to the IND.

3. Decision

​The IND checks if you and your employer meet all the conditions and asks advice from UWV about the labour market aspect.  The IND has to make a decision within a period of 90 days. UWV has a legal period of 5 weeks for the advisory procedure. UWV will contact your employer directly if more information is needed. UWV provides an opinion and sends it to the IND

  • Negative decision
    If you or your employer do not meet the conditions, you will not get an mvv and a Single Permit. This decision is given in the formal decision. The IND will send the decision by post. You can apply for a review of this decision.
  • Positive decision
    If you meet all the conditions, you will get an mvv and a Single Permit. The IND will inform your employer. The IND also informs the Dutch representation.

4. Collect mvv

​You collect the mvv from the Dutch representation that your employer filled in on the application form, or where you have submitted the application form.

You have 3 months to collect the mvv. Please make an appointment for this with the representation. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the day you get the mvv.

Did your employer apply in the Netherlands? You then have to give your biometric information upon collecting the mvv.

5. Travel to the Netherlands

​Once you have collected your mvv, you can travel to the Netherlands. The mvv is valid for 90 days. The validity is shown on the mvv sticker. The mvv sticker shows 2 dates:

  • Effective date: as of this date the mvv is valid.
  • End date: as of this date the mvv is no longer valid.
The mvv allows you to travel within the Schengen Area.

Steps in the application procedure

1. Submit application and payment

​You do not have an mvv-required nationality. You are travelling to the Netherlands in your permit-exempt term. This means that you do not need a visa to travel to the Netherlands. You then have 3 months to apply for a Single Permit in the Netherlands.

You apply for a Single Permit. This can be done in 2 ways:

  • Your employer applies to the IND. This is also possible if you are still abroad.

    Your employer can find the forms at the bottom of this page. Your employer sends the application form together with the required documents to the IND. After the application has been received, the IND sends a letter stating how the fees are to be paid. 

  • You apply in the Netherlands.

    You submit the application to the IND. Please use the application form. The form is at the bottom of this page. Send the application form together with the required documents to the IND. The IND then sends a letter stating how the fees are to be paid.
    After the IND has received your application, you must visit an IND Desk within 2 weeks to provide your biometric information. Make an appointment online to visit an IND Desk.

2. Receipt and check application

After your application has been received, the IND sends a confirmation letter. The confirmation letter states the date the IND has received the application. It also states the period within which the IND makes a decision.

The IND will then check to see if your application is complete and if the fees have been paid. Are documents missing, or are documents not correct? In that case, the IND will send a letter: a request to rectify the omission. This letter lists the documents that still need to be sent. Send the requested documents before the mentioned date to the IND.

3. Decision

​The IND checks whether you and your employer meet all the conditions and asks advice from UWV about the labour market aspect. The IND has to make a decision within a period of 90 days. UWV has a legal period of 5 weeks for the advisory procedure. UWV will contact your employer directly if more information is needed. UWV provides an opinion and sends it to the IND

  • Negative decision
    If you or your employer do not meet the conditions, you will not get a Single Permit. This decision is given in the formal decision. The IND will send the decision by post. You can apply for a review of this decision.
  • Positive decision
    If you and your employer meet all the conditions, you will get a Single Permit.

Are you still abroad? Upon arrival in the Netherlands, you then go to an IND desk to give the biometric information.

Application forms and costs
Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (erkend referent)7042

Your employer recognised as sponsor uses this form to start your application. This form is only available in Dutch.

Checklist documents

Your employer has a list of documents that you need.

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

Costs application

This application costs € 285.

  • Are you from San Marino or Israel? Based on the Benelux Treaty you do not pay for the application.
  • Are you NATO personnel or personnel of TRON? You do not pay for the application.
  • Do you have the Turkish nationality? Your application costs € 66.​​​

Download  

Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (referent) 7044

Your employer as sponsor uses this form to start your application. This form is only available in Dutch.

Checklist documents

The application form lists the documents that you have to enclose with the application. 

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

How to send documents to the IND:

  • You only send copies of your documents, single-sided and on A4 paper.
  • The copies must be complete and legible.
  • Write down your V-number or client number on each copy. If you do not know these numbers, then please write your name and date of birth on each copy.
  • Do not send USB sticks, CDs or DVDs.
  • You keep the original documents yourself. You have to show these documents to the Dutch representation abroad.

Costs application

This application costs € 285.

  • Are you from San Marino or Israel? Based on the Benelux Treaty you do not pay for the application.
  • Are you NATO personnel or personnel of TRON? You do not pay for the application.
  • Do you have the Turkish nationality? Your application costs € 66.​​​​

Download  

Application forms and costs
Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (erkend referent) Single Permit7042

Your employer recognised as sponsor uses this form to start your application. This form is only available in Dutch.

Checklist documents

Your employer has a list of documents that you need.

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

Costs application

This application costs € 285.

  • Are you NATO personnel or personnel of TRON? You do not pay for the application.
  • Do you have the Turkish nationality? Your application costs € 57.​​​​

Download  

Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (referent)7044

Your employer uses this form to start your application. This form is only available in Dutch.

Checklist documents

The application form lists the documents that you have to enclose with the application. 

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

How to send documents to the IND:

  • You only send copies of your documents, single-sided and on A4 paper.
  • The copies must be complete and legible.
  • Write down your V-number or client number on each copy. If you do not know these numbers, then please write your name and date of birth on each copy.
  • Do not send USB sticks, CDs or DVDs.
  • You keep the original documents yourself. You have to show these documents to the Dutch representation abroad.

Costs application

This application costs € 285.

  • Are you from San Marino or Israel? Based on the Benelux Treaty you do not pay for the application.
  • Are you NATO personnel or personnel of TRON? You do not pay for the application.
  • Do you have the Turkish nationality? Your application costs € 57.​​​​​

Download  

Aanvraag voor een gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid (GVVA) (vreemdeling) Single Permit7046

Use this form to start your application. This form is only available in Dutch.

Checklist documents

The application form lists the documents that you have to enclose with the application. 

You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

How to send documents to the IND:

  • You only send copies of your documents, single-sided and on A4 paper.
  • The copies must be complete and legible.
  • Write down your V-number or client number on each copy. If you do not know these numbers, then please write your name and date of birth on each copy.
  • Do not send USB sticks, CDs or DVDs.
  • You keep the original documents yourself. You have to show these documents to the Dutch representation abroad.

Costs application

This application costs € 285.

  • Are you from San Marino or Israel? Based on the Benelux Treaty you do not pay for the application.
  • Are you NATO personnel or personnel of TRON? You do not pay for the application.
  • Do you have the Turkish nationality? Your application costs € 57.​​​​​​

Download  

After the application

Collect your residence permit

The IND aims to have the Single Permit ready for you within 2 weeks following your arrival in the Netherlands. You receive a letter when you can collect the Single Permit. For this, you have to make an appointment online at the IND desk stated in the letter. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to visit an IND desk at short notice. Therefore, please schedule an appointment in time, but at least within 4 months after having received the letter.

Check to see if the information on the Single Permit is correct while you are still at the IND desk. If something is incorrect, inform the IND staff member at once.

Registration with the municipality

Upon arrival in the Netherlands, you must register in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BPR)  in the municipality you are going to live.

To register with the municipality you need a legalised and translated  birth certificate. Take this therefore with you when you travel to the Netherlands.

TB test

You have indicated your intent to undergo a tuberculosis test (TB test) when you applied. You have to make an appointment for this with the Area Health Authority (GGD). You do this within 3 months after having received your residence permit. Please take the 'TB test referral form' with you to the appointment.

In some cases you are exempt from taking a TB test.

Take out health insurance

Anyone living in the Netherlands must take out health insurance. You do this within 4 months following your arrival in the Netherlands.

Validity residence permit

The period of validity of the Single Permit is up to 1 year.  

Right to work /Please submit a renewal application GVVA in time!

The Single Permit consists of a residence permit and an additional document. The residence permit states 'Arbeid toegestaan conform aanvullend document' (work permitted according to additional document). The additional document states for which employer you may work and under which conditions. The residence document and additional document allow you to live and work for your employer in the Netherlands. Your employer receives a copy of the additional document.

Please submit a renewal application GVVA in time!

For employees for whom, after 5 April 2017, a renewal application GVVA has been submitted, it is, under specific conditions and pending the decision of the application, possible for them to keep working for their employer.

They must have a residence sticker (VA sticker) with an indication of work status placed in their passport. With this VA-sticker in the passport, the employee can then show that he is staying legitimately in the Netherlands and is allowed to work. If the application for renewal can be granted, then the GVVA (including the supplementary document) will be linked, in principle, to the earlier GVVA.

Conditions
The worker may, pending the decision on the application for renewal, keep working if:

  • the application is submitted in time, that is, if the request is received by the IND before expiration of the period of validity of the previously granted GVVA;
  • the employee continues to do the same work for the same employer; and
  • there is a VA sticker placed in the passport, with which it can be demonstrated that he is allowed to keep working for his employer.

Requesting an extension on time
It is advisable to submit a renewal request for the GVVA for your employee on time, that is about 3 months before the expiration of the GVVA. The IND will then, in most cases, have ruled on the request before the period of validity of the previously granted GVVA has expired. In that case, the employee does not need to apply for a residence endorsement sticker. The IND needs a total of 90 days to process a GVVA request, the so-called 'statutory period.' The statutory period of 5 weeks, in which the UWV formulates an opinion, is part of this. The IND does strive to make a decision on a fully submitted GVVA application within 7 weeks.

Making an appointment

To request a residence endorsement sticker at the IND Desk, the employee must make an appointment online. Please take into account that it may take some time before you are given an appointment at the IND desk.

Labour market notification 'work freely permitted'

Have you worked in the Netherlands for 5 years? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You do not need a TWV anymore.

Is your residence permit still valid for a least 4 months? You can replace your residence permit for a document with the labour market notification 'arbeid vrij toegestaan' (work freely permitted).

Does your permit expire within 3 months? Apply for extension. Write on the form that you wish to have the labour market notification 'arbeid vrij toegestaan' on your new residence permit.

Legal obligations

There are a number of legal obligations that apply to you and your employer.

The IND monitors your compliance with these legal obligations. Failure to meet these legal obligations may have consequences.

Further applications (extend or change) / return visa

Replace residence permit

Is your residence permit damaged, lost or stolen? In that case, have the residence permit replaced.

Extend residence permit

Is your residence permit due to expire soon? Apply for an extension.

Change residence permit

Has something changed in your situation that influences your residence permit? Please report this immediately to the IND. It may mean that the residence permit has to be changed.

Permanent stay

Having had a residence permit for a period of 5 years, you may apply for a permanent residence permit.

Becoming a Dutch citizen

Having had a residence permit for a period of 5 years, you may apply for Dutch citizenship.

Return visa

If you are awaiting a procedure, you do not have a valid residence document at present and you wish to travel outside the Netherlands, you may need a return visa to re-enter the Netherlands. This could be the case if your current residence permit is no longer valid or your current residence permit will expire during your stay outside of the Netherlands. To apply for a return visa you must meet certain conditions. ​

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TWV

​A TWV is a work permit. The employer applies for a TWV with UWV (Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency). UWV examines among other things if there is no employee with the Dutch, EU/EEA or Swiss nationality that is qualified for the job.

Provisional residence permit (mvv)

​The provisional residence permit (mvv) is a visa you need if you wish to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. For more information, check Regular provisional residence permit (mvv).

Dutch representation

​This is the Dutch embassy or consulate.

Country of continuous residence

​A country of continuous residence is a country (other than the country of origin) where you may lawfully live for more than 3 months. This means you have a valid residence permit for that country. Or that you are waiting for your application for a residence permit to be approved.

Are you in a country in your free term? Of with a visa for short stay (maximum of 3 months)? This is not continuous residence.

formal decision

​A formal letter with the decision on your application.