European Blue Card (BC)
The 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. It allows individuals to work in the Netherlands under certain conditions and can be a pathway to long-term residence in the EU, as well as family reunification.
To be eligible for the European Blue Card in the Netherlands, specific income and educational requirements apply, in addition to the conditions applicable to everyone:
You have a valid passport and no antecedents in the Netherlands.
If applicable, you declare to undergo a TB (tuberculosis) test upon arrival.
You will be doing highly qualified work in the Netherlands and have either a higher education degree (at least a Bachelor's Degree or foreign equivalent, required for the work you'll be doing) or can demonstrate you have at least three years of relevant work experience as an IT professional. If you have obtained your degree abroad, Nuffic will have to evaluate the diploma to ascertain its Dutch equivalent.
In 2024, you meet the salary threshold of €6,245.00 gross per month, excl. vacation allowance and other non-regular payments, such as overtime pay.
Your employment contract is valid for at least six months.
It is recommended your employer applies for a European Blue Card on your behalf. If needed, your employer will simultaneously apply for a provisional residence permit (MVV) to allow you to enter the Netherlands. Recognition as a sponsor is not necessary for the European Blue Card. The processing time for a European Blue Card application is 2-3 months. Please take note this is an estimate and can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of the IND at the time of application.
Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM)
The highly skilled migrant permit is a work and residence permit intended for highly educated professionals from outside the European Union (EU). It is meant for employees who are experts in their field and who would like to contribute to the Dutch labour market and economy. As a highly skilled migrant, you can be the sponsor for your family's immigration process. Holding a higher education degree is not a requirement for the permit.
To be eligible for the highly skilled migrant permit, specific situational and income requirements apply, in addition to the conditions applicable to everyone:
You have a valid passport and no antecedents in the Netherlands.
If applicable, you declare to undergo a TB (tuberculosis) test upon arrival.
Your employer is a sponsor recognised by the IND. Recognised sponsors are included in the Public Register Regular Labour and Highly Skilled Migrants.
In 2024, you meet the salary threshold of €3,909.00 gross per month (if you are younger than 30 years), €5,331.00 gross per month (if you are 30 years or older), or €2,801.00 gross per month (if the reduced salary criterion is applicable to your situation). These amounts are excl. vacation allowance and other non-regular payments, such as overtime pay.
Your employment contract is valid for at least three months.
It is recommended your employer applies for a highly skilled migrant permit on your behalf. If needed, your employer will simultaneously apply for a provisional residence permit (MVV) to allow you to enter the Netherlands. Recognition as a sponsor is required. The processing time for the permit application is 2-3 months. Please take note this is an estimate and can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of the IND at the time of application.
Intra-Company Transferee (ICT)
The intra-corporate transferee permit is a work and residence permit which allows managers, specialists, and trainees from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland and working for a company established outside the EU, to be transferred to a branch of this company in the Netherlands. It might also be the case the company is located within the EU and you hold an intra-corporate transferee residence permit from a different EU member state. If you will be transferred to branches in various EU member states, your employer will then need to apply for the residence permit in the country where you will work the longest.
To be eligible for the intra-corporate transferee permit, specific situational and income requirements apply, in addition to the conditions applicable to everyone:
You have a valid passport and no antecedents in the Netherlands.
If applicable, you declare to undergo a TB (tuberculosis) test upon arrival.
At the time of the application, you either live in a country outside the European Union (EU) or you live in a country within the EU with an intra-corporate transferee residence permit. Your transfer to a branch in the Netherlands will be for a period of more than 90 days.
You have worked for at least three months for the company located outside the EU.
You have a valid employment contract with the company outside the EU and have received an engagement letter from your employer.
Your income meets the salary criteria set for highly skilled migrants.
It is recommended your employer applies for an intra-corporate transferee permit on your behalf. If needed, your employer will simultaneously apply for a provisional residence permit (MVV) to allow you to enter the Netherlands. Recognition as a sponsor is not necessary for the intra-company transferee permit. The processing time for the permit application is 2-3 months. Please take note this is an estimate and can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of the IND at the time of application.
Important: For all residence and work permit applications, additional time may very well be needed to gather, translate, and legalise the required documents, for the documents to be verified, and for the applicant to attend a visa interview, if required. It is crucial for applicants to apply well in advance of their intended start date to account for the processing times and any potential delays.