Residence permit for seasonal work
What is seasonal work?
Seasonal work is temporary work in agriculture or horticulture. A residence permit for seasonal work is only required for seasonal workers from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. The permit is a single permit for both residency and work (in Dutch: gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid or GVVA). This means that the IND must always ask the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) for a recommendation.
Employer: sponsor or recognised sponsor
Your employer in the Netherlands is your sponsor. The IND can also recognise your employer as a sponsor. Recognition is not required for the seasonal work residence permit.
Requirements
These are the requirements for a residence permit for seasonal work:
- You meet the requirements that apply to everyone.
- You will be working as a seasonal worker in agriculture or horticulture for no more than 24 weeks.
- You meet the income requirements.
- You have not been in the Netherlands illegally in the 3 years before your application.
- You will work for a Dutch company or organisation. Or for the Dutch branch of a foreign company.
- Your employer’s company or organisation is registered in the Commercial Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel or KvK). This only applies if this registration is compulsory under the Commercial Register Act 2007 (in Dutch: Handelsregisterwet 2007).
- Your employer has first looked for an employee in the Netherlands and the EU/EEA member states. The employer has reported a vacancy for this purpose to an employer’s service point of the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV).
- Your employer will pay the standard wage that applies under the collective labour agreement (CAO) for this organisation or company.
Your employer arranges proper housing for you.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit:
-
1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
-
1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
-
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.
-
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.
-
3. Apply open minusThe IND advises you to have your employer apply in the Netherlands. Your employer must apply to the IND for the MVV and the single permit at the same time. Your employer must submit the application in writing by post.
You may also apply yourself to the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.
-
3. Apply open minusYour employer must apply to the IND for the single permit. This is possible even if you are not yet in the Netherlands. Your employer must submit the application in writing by post.
You may also apply to the IND yourself.
-
4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
-
4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
-
5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
Did you previously have a residence permit for seasonal work in the Netherlands? And was this no longer than 5 years ago? Then the IND will take a decision on your application within 60 days.
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.
UWV advice
In some situations advice from the UWV is needed for the decision. UWV assesses whether the work meets the conditions of the Foreign Nationals (Employment) Act (Wav). Does UWV need more information? Then UWV will contact your employer directly. UWV has a statutory period of 5 weeks to provide advice.
Follow the application in My IND.
What if the IND decides late
Has the decision period passed and you still do not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.
-
5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
Did you previously have a residence permit for seasonal work in the Netherlands? And was this no longer than 5 years ago? Then the IND will take a decision on your application within 60 days.
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.
UWV advice
In some situations advice from the UWV is needed for the decision. UWV assesses whether the work meets the conditions of the Foreign Nationals (Employment) Act (Wav). Does UWV need more information? Then UWV will contact your employer directly. UWV has a statutory period of 5 weeks to provide advice.
Follow the application in My IND.
What if the IND decides late
Has the decision period passed and you still do not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
Written application forms
Written application forms
The residence permit
Find out what else you need to know about the single permit (GVVA).
TB test
Did you or 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 this appendix to the appointment:
Working with the residence permit for seasonal work
The GVVA consists of a residence permit and a supplementary document. On the residence permit, it says in Dutch, 'Arbeid toegestaan conform aanvullend document' (work permitted as per supplementary document). The supplementary document also says for which employer you are allowed to work. And under which conditions you may work. With the residence document and supplementary document, you may live and work for your employer in the Netherlands. Your employer will receive a copy of the supplementary document.
Legal obligations
As a recognised or non-recognised sponsor, your employer has the obligation to provide information and keep records. Only the 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. If you do not, you may get an administrative fine.
Validity of residence permit
The GVVA is valid for up to 24 weeks. The GVVA is never valid for longer than the supplementary document.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
Replace residence permit
Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have your residence permit replaced. Visit the web page Residence permit damaged or change details or Residence permit lost or stolen.
See also
