Residence permit 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.
 

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? Then you must be listed in the register of individual healthcare professionals (in Dutch: BIG-register).

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

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 following form 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. 

• Living in the Netherlands
• Travelling with a residence permit and return visa
• Short-term mobility as a researcher
• Recognition as a sponsor
• Coming to work in the Netherlands 3086(PDF, 576.24 KB)
• 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)

Responsible organisation

Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

Questions?​

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