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Highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands

The highly skilled migrant permit is a Dutch residence permit for work with an employer that the IND immigration service has recognised as a sponsor. It is granted on the basis of an employment contract with a market-level salary, without any requirement for a diploma or work experience — you cannot file the application yourself, only the employer can.

Visa term
Issued for the term of the employment contract, for a maximum of 5 years.
Processing time
The IND must take a decision within 90 days.

Source: IND — Immigration and Naturalisation Service of the Netherlands

Who gets the status

Only the employer — an IND recognised sponsor — files the application; you cannot apply on your own.

Main conditions

  • An employment contract with an employer or research institution in the Netherlands recognised by the IND as a sponsor
  • A salary at or above the set threshold and at market level for the position
  • Only the employer files the application
  • A passport valid for at least another 6 months when the MVV visa is affixed

Additional requirements by profession

  • Listed medical professions — registration in the BIG register
  • Researchers — a job title and code in the employment contract under the UFO system (University Job Classification System)
  • Trainee doctors — training at an institution accredited by the relevant committees and an entry in the BIG register

What it costs

Application fee423 EUR

Documents to gather

Checklist of documents for the online application on the IND website.

  • A copy of the highly skilled migrant’s passport
  • Certificate of conduct (antecedents) — only if there is a criminal record or the certificate was not signed by the migrant themselves, form 7601
  • For a marriage or registered partnership — the marriage or partnership certificate
  • For unregistered partners — legalised declarations of unmarried status from both partners’ countries, appendices 7608 and 7625
  • For minor children — documents on legal custody and a consent statement with a copy of the other parent’s identity document
  • Appendix on the employer’s guarantee and sponsorship — form 7621, for family members

How the process runs

Only the employer — an IND recognised sponsor — can file the application.

  1. 1

    The employer registers as an IND recognised sponsor

    If the employer is not yet in the public register of recognised sponsors, a separate application for that status is filed first.

  2. 2

    The employer files the application for highly skilled migrant status

    The application is filed online or by post; the migrant cannot file it themselves.

  3. 3

    The IND assesses the application

    90 days

    The IND must take a decision within 90 days of the filing date.

  4. 4

    Applying for the MVV visa, if the applicant’s nationality requires one

    You must make an appointment at a Dutch mission within 3 months of the IND decision.

  5. 5

    Collecting the residence permit

    The permit is issued for the term of the employment contract, for a maximum of 5 years.

Timelines and rights

Work

The document states: work as a highly skilled migrant and self-employment are permitted, other work only with a work permit. After 5 years unrestricted access to paid employment opens up.

Who you can bring with you

The partner and minor children apply through the same recognised sponsor employer.

Spouse or registered partner
a marriage or partnership certificate, a copy of the passport and the sponsor’s guarantee appendix (form 7621) are required
Unregistered partner
legalised declarations of unmarried status from both partners’ countries, the “Declaration of relationship” appendix (form 7608) and the cohabitation questionnaire (form 7625) are required
Minor children
documents proving legal custody and a consent statement with a copy of the identity document of the parent remaining abroad are required

Renewal and the grace period

The same recognised sponsor files for an extension for a new term of the employment contract, for a maximum of another 5 years; at the time of the extension the salary must meet the threshold in force on that date. After 5 years with this status you become entitled to apply for a permanent residence permit.

Frequently asked questions about Highly skilled migrant

Who can obtain highly skilled migrant status in the Netherlands?
You need an employment contract with an employer or research institution that the IND has recognised as a sponsor, and a salary at or above the set threshold that matches the market level for the position. Only the employer files the application — the migrant cannot approach the IND themselves.
How much do you have to earn in 2026 to obtain the status?
From 1 January to 31 December 2026 the thresholds are: EUR 5,942.00 gross per month for migrants aged 30 and over; EUR 4,357.00 for those under 30; EUR 3,122.00 is the reduced threshold for graduates who apply within 3 years of the orientation year, the defence of their thesis or the end of a research permit.
How much does the application cost and how long does the assessment take?
The application fee is EUR 423.00. The IND must take a decision within 90 days.
What happens if I lose my job?
As a rule you have up to 3 months to find a new sponsoring employer. If the job was lost on 22 May 2026 or later and the status had already been held for 2 years or more by then, the search period is extended to 6 months. In any case the search period cannot be longer than the remaining validity of the residence permit.
Can my partner and children move with me?
Yes. For a spouse or registered partner you need the marriage or partnership certificate and a copy of the passport. For an unregistered partner — legalised declarations of unmarried status and forms 7608 and 7625. For minor children — documents on legal custody and the consent of the other parent.
How does this status differ from the EU Blue Card?
For a highly skilled migrant no diploma or relevant work experience is required — only the salary at the threshold matters. The EU Blue Card, by contrast, requires a higher education diploma from a programme of at least 3 years in the field of the position, or at least 5 years of relevant experience (3 years for IT specialists), and the employment contract must run for at least 6 months.
What happens after 5 years with this status?
The status lasts a maximum of 5 years — for the term of the employment contract. After 5 years of residence with this status you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Other ways to move to Netherlands

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Netherlands.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.