Landing a job offer from a Dutch ‘recognized sponsor’ unlocks the Highly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant) residence permit. This visa lets non-EU/EEA/Swiss professionals live and work in the Netherlands as long as their contract meets the updated 2025 salary and education conditions.
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide that walks you from the first eligibility check through salary thresholds, document prep, and the two-week fast-track application employers can request. You’ll also see what happens after landing, how to renew or switch jobs, and how the permit leads to permanent residence or even a Dutch passport. All figures and fees reflect the 1 January 2025 IND update, so you can plan with confidence. Use it as your checklist before signing any contract or booking flights.
Step 1: Confirm You Qualify as a Highly Skilled Migrant
Before you worry about payslips or paperwork, make sure the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) sees you as a “highly skilled migrant.” The label is narrower than many think: it revolves around your nationality, the type of employer hiring you, and the economic value you bring.
Who the visa is for
The permit targets non-EU/EEA/Swiss professionals hired by an IND-recognised sponsor on a Dutch employment contract. According to the Aliens Decree, you must be a knowledge worker whose expertise cannot be easily sourced within the EU. Scientists, IT engineers, fintech analysts, medical trainee specialists, and guest lecturers often fit the bill. Do not confuse this route with the EU Blue Card, the Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) permit, or a regular TWV work permit—each has its own salary test and paperwork.
Minimum education and expertise criteria
Dutch law sets no formal degree rule, yet your sponsor must justify why you are “highly skilled.” In practice, the IND expects at least a bachelor’s—often a master’s—or five plus years of demonstrable high-level experience. Collect diplomas, transcripts, and reference letters; have foreign documents translated by a sworn translator and, if required, legalised or apostilled. A Nuffic credential evaluation strengthens borderline cases.
Exceptions and special categories
Some groups enjoy lighter rules. Scientific researchers under Directive 2016/801, guest lecturers, and medical trainee specialists follow their collective labor agreement instead of the standard salary thresholds. Graduates who completed an Orientation Year in the Netherlands can switch to the highly skilled migrant visa at a reduced salary level within three years of finishing their studies or research. Finally, founders in tech start-ups sometimes choose this route over the start-up visa once they can pay themselves the threshold salary.
Step 2: Check the 2025 Salary Thresholds and Employment Contract
Salary is the make-or-break element of the highly skilled migrant visa. The IND audits not only the amount but also how and when it is paid. Before signing, compare the gross figure in your Dutch contract with the indexed 2025 thresholds and verify the wording covers all statutory elements.
Current gross monthly salary amounts
| Category | Condition | Monthly salary 2025* |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 30 years or older | € 5,688 |
| Reduced rate | Under 30 years | € 4,171 |
| Orientation-Year graduates / Dutch-educated | Within 3 years of graduating | € 3,652 |
| Scientific researchers & medical trainees | CLA applies | Not subject to HSM threshold |
*Amounts exclude the mandatory 8 % holiday allowance and apply to full-time contracts (≥32 h/week).
How to prove salary compliance
The IND expects a signed employment contract stating:
- fixed gross monthly salary (no variable bonuses),
- working hours, start date, and payment frequency,
- confirmation that wage will be transferred to a Dutch or SEPA bank account.
Sponsors usually attach the IND model appendix and first month’s payslip as evidence that the wage is actually paid.
Planning for future threshold increases
Thresholds rise every 1 January, typically 2–3 %. Add a clause that your salary will adjust automatically to the new IND minimum. Employers should schedule an annual HR check; employees can track forecasts via CPB inflation reports and negotiate an index-linked pay rise well in advance.
Step 3: Secure a Recognized Sponsor in the Netherlands
Even the fattest salary offer is useless if the company is not an IND-approved “recognised sponsor.” This status is the magic key that unlocks the two-week fast track and spares you—and the HR department—mountains of additional paperwork.
What is a recognized sponsor?
Under Article 1c of the Aliens Act Implementing Decree, a recognized sponsor is an employer listed in the IND Public Register that meets strict reliability and solvency checks. Benefits for you:
- IND decides on your application within 2 weeks instead of 90.
- One combined MVV + residence-permit request, submitted entirely by the employer.
The flip side is accountability: sponsors must store your files for five years and notify the IND of changes; each breach can trigger a €2,957 fine.
How employers become recognized
Companies apply online to the IND, submitting their Chamber of Commerce extract, articles of association, latest financials, and paying the €4,732 registration fee (2025). Processing takes roughly 6–8 weeks and may include an audit. Recognition is granted for five years but can be revoked for non-compliance.
Tips for applicants without a sponsor yet
- Filter LinkedIn or IamExpat Jobs with the tag “IND recognised sponsor.”
- Target sectors that heavily use HSM talent: software, semiconductors (Brainport Eindhoven), fintech, life sciences, clean energy.
- Attend TechLeap and university alumni meet-ups; recruiters there often work exclusively with recognized sponsors.
Landing an offer from such an employer saves months of waiting and keeps your relocation on schedule.
Step 4: Gather the Required Documentation
Your application will only move at the promised lightning speed if every scan and signature is present and readable. Start collecting early; some apostilles or sworn translations can take weeks, especially over summer holidays.
Personal documents
- Passport valid for at least six months past the intended start date
- Birth certificate, fully legalised/apostilled and, if not in Dutch, English, French or German, translated by a sworn translator
- Updated résumé plus copies of diplomas and transcripts (include Nuffic evaluation where relevant)
- Completed IND antecedents declaration (part of the TEV form)
- Tuberculosis test declaration for nationals of risk-listed countries
- Two recent color passport photos (35 × 45 mm); biometrics are taken again at the IND desk
Employer documents
- Signed employment contract or assignment letter stating role, gross monthly salary, hours (≥ 32), start date, payment frequency
- IND model appendix “Employment Conditions” bearing both parties’ wet signatures
- Extract from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) and the sponsor’s IND recognition number
- If requested: company articles of association and most recent financial statements
Additional documents for dependents
- Legalised marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership; birth certificates for each child
- Evidence of parental custody where applicable
- Proof the highly skilled migrant salary covers family living costs
- Dutch health-insurance policy to be activated within four months of arrival
Step 5: Submit the MVV and/or Residence Permit Application
Once every scan, signature, and salary clause is double-checked, the next move is filing the actual request with the IND. For the highly skilled migrant visa, your Dutch employer – not you – submits the paperwork, often bundling the entry visa (MVV) and residence permit into one streamlined package.
When an MVV is required
An MVV sticker is obligatory for nationals of most countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. The big exceptions—Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the USA—may skip the sticker and enter visa-free, but still need the residence permit approved before starting work. Current Dutch residents switching status also follow the “residence-permit-only” route.
Application timelines and fees
Recognised sponsors enjoy a statutory two-week decision period; all others face up to 90 days. Fees for 2025 are €354 for the main applicant and €207 per dependent, MVV included. Delays most often stem from missing salary evidence, diploma verification outside the EU, or routine security checks.
Online vs. paper submission steps
Most employers upload the TEV bundle via the MyIND portal (PDFs under 10 MB). After approval, candidates collect the MVV sticker at the Dutch embassy or consulate within 90 days, then travel to the Netherlands and pick up the residence card at an IND desk. Paper forms remain possible for edge cases like diplomatic postings or unaccompanied minors.
Step 6: Prepare for Arrival and IND Formalities
Permit approved? Great—now the clock starts. Your first days in the Netherlands involve a few mandatory appointments securing legal identity, tax number, and health coverage.
Collecting your residence permit card
Book a time slot on the IND website, then show up with your passport and MVV sticker. Check spelling, validity, labor status; report mistakes immediately. The MVV allows entry only within 90 days.
Municipal registration & BSN number
Within five days of moving into your Dutch address, visit the gemeente to register in the BRP. Bring your rental contract, passport, and legalised documents. You receive your citizen service number (BSN) on the spot or by post.
Health insurance and other legal obligations
Arrange Dutch basic health insurance no later than four months after registering; CAK fines latecomers. Create DigiD for online dealings, and schedule the GGD TB test within three months if your nationality is on IND’s risk list.
Step 7: Maintain, Renew, or Switch Your Permit
Securing the card is only halftime. The IND keeps tabs on your salary, employer, and residency gaplessness; slipping up can jeopardize your highly skilled migrant visa and wipe out the years you’ve banked toward a permanent permit. Staying compliant is therefore just as important as getting approved.
Extension before expiry
Apply no sooner than 3 months and no later than the day your card lapses. Upload:
- new employment contract or addendum,
- last three payslips that meet the latest threshold, and
- copy of your passport.
Fee for 2025: €354. The renewed card covers the contract term plus three extra months, up to five years at a time.
Changing employer or job role
Your next employer must also be a recognized sponsor. File the IND “Change of Employer” form within 4 weeks of starting; you may work during processing. If you’re laid off, a 3-month grace period lets you job-hunt without losing status, but unemployment benefits don’t count toward the salary test.
Pathway to permanent residence or Dutch citizenship
After 5 continuous years on any legal permit, switch to:
- Permanent stay (Type II) or long-term EU resident—requires income at or above minimum wage and passing the civic-integration exam (B1 level from 2025).
- Naturalization—same five-year clock, plus integration, clean criminal record, and usually renouncing prior citizenship.
Keep registrations uninterrupted; even a short gap resets the timer.
Step 8: Common Questions and Troubleshooting
Even the most organized application can hit a snag. Below are the issues we hear about most often—plus the quick fixes that keep you legal and employed.
What if my salary dips below the threshold?
Salary under IND minimum? Employer gets 2 months to fix and inform IND; else permit risks revocation—consider an EU Blue Card.
Application rejected – most frequent reasons
Rejections usually stem from salary shortfalls, unrecognised sponsors, missing documents, or overstays. File a detailed bezwaar within four weeks, then court appeal.
Dependents’ work and study rights
Partners may work anywhere without a TWV; children attend school free and, after 18, need their own permit.
Moving Forward
Here’s the nutshell version you can bookmark:
- Check you fit the “highly skilled migrant” definition.
- Confirm the 2025 salary that matches your age or orientation-year status.
- Make sure the future employer is an IND-recognised sponsor.
- Gather every legalized diploma, passport scan, and signed contract.
- Let the sponsor submit the combined MVV + residence-permit request and pay the fees.
- After approval, register with the municipality, pick up the residence card, take out health insurance, and collect your BSN.
- Keep salary and paperwork up to date so renewals, job switches, and your five-year path to permanent residence or Dutch citizenship stay on track.
Need tailored help or an urgent second opinion? Reach out to the multilingual immigration team at Law & More for a quick, confidential assessment of your highly skilled migrant application, renewal, or appeal.