Highly Skilled Migrant Lawyer

Law & More advises highly skilled migrants (kennismigranten) and their employers on the residence permit, the EU Blue Card, the orientation year and what happens when someone changes jobs or loses a job. We work for employees and for companies that recruit from outside the EU, throughout the Netherlands and in Dutch and English. The first step is a free introductory meeting in which we check the route, the employer's position and the salary against the applicable threshold.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

• choosing between the highly skilled migrant scheme, the EU Blue Card and the orientation year;
• checking the employment contract and the salary against the IND threshold before the application is filed;
• preparing the application and answering requests for further information from the IND;
• changing employer without a gap in lawful residence;
• losing your job and using the search period; see lost your job as a highly skilled migrant;
• residence for your partner and children through family reunification;
• recognised sponsorship, reporting duties and record keeping for employers;
• an objection or appeal against a refusal or withdrawal; see objections against IND decisions.

How do the highly skilled migrant permit, the EU Blue Card and the orientation year differ?

The highly skilled migrant permit requires an employer recognised as a sponsor by the IND and a salary at or above the IND threshold. The EU Blue Card has its own conditions and does not require recognition, and the orientation year (zoekjaar) gives graduates one year of free access to the labour market.

Under the national scheme only a recognised sponsor (or its representative) can file the application. The salary threshold differs by age group and is lower for graduates who start work shortly after their studies or orientation year. The thresholds are adjusted periodically and are published on ind.nl; the IND also assesses whether the salary is in line with the market.

The EU Blue Card is based on European rules: an employment contract of at least six months, higher education or equivalent relevant experience, and its own salary threshold. Because recognition as a sponsor is not required, it can be the practical route for an employer that is not recognised.

The orientation year is valid for one year, cannot be extended, and allows work without a work permit. Someone who moves into a highly skilled migrant job during or shortly after that year qualifies for the reduced salary threshold, so the timing of the next application matters.

What does the law require from employers?

An employer may not have a foreign national work in the Netherlands without a work permit or a single permit for work with that employer, unless an exception such as the highly skilled migrant scheme applies (Article 2 of the Aliens Employment Act). The administrative fine can run up to the fifth-category amount under Article 19d.

A recognised sponsor also has reporting duties, for example when the employment ends, and must keep records that hold up in an IND audit. We prepare the application for recognition, set up the reporting and record keeping, and act when there is an audit visit, a fine or an intended withdrawal of the recognition. See the Aliens Employment Act for the statutory text.

What happens when you change jobs or lose your job?

A highly skilled migrant permit is tied to the sponsor, so a new employer must be a recognised sponsor and must notify the IND. If you lose your job, the permit does not end at once: you have a search period of three months, or up to six months if you became unemployed on or after 22 May 2026 and have held the permit for at least two years.

On a change of employer, the IND checks whether the conditions are still met, including the salary threshold applicable at that moment. The outgoing employer has its own duty to report the end of the employment. Working for an employer that is not a recognised sponsor removes the basis for the permit and exposes that employer to a fine, so check the public register of recognised sponsors before signing anything.

The search period starts when the employment ends and never runs beyond the validity of your residence permit, as published by the IND on ind.nl. If your permit expires soon, the real search period may be much shorter. A new employer must register you with the IND before the search period ends. If the end of your employment is being negotiated, the end date in a settlement agreement also determines when the search period starts. Read more on our page lost your job as a highly skilled migrant.

How long does the IND take, and what can you do after a refusal?

The IND decides within 90 days, a period that may be extended by up to six months where advice or investigation by third parties or the public prosecution service is needed (Article 25 of the Aliens Act 2000). An objection or appeal must be lodged within four weeks (Article 69).

For complete applications from recognised sponsors the IND publishes a shorter service standard. If a refusal or withdrawal follows, the four weeks start the day after the decision is notified. Send us the decision itself rather than a summary, so that the deadline and the grounds can be assessed immediately. Where needed, we also request interim relief so that you can await the outcome in the Netherlands.

How does working with Law & More work?

1. Introductory meeting: we discuss your situation or your recruitment plans, free of charge.
2. Advice and cost estimate: we assess the route, the salary threshold and the position of partner and children, and estimate the costs.
3. Application and contact with the IND: we prepare and file the application, answer questions and plan any change of employer.
4. Decision, objection or appeal: we review the decision and, after a refusal or withdrawal, file an objection or appeal.

What does a highly skilled migrant lawyer cost?

The introductory meeting is free of charge. After that we work on an hourly basis, and we agree the rate and the expected effort with you in advance.

• Lawyer: 250 to 350 euros per hour, excluding VAT.
• Partner: 300 to 400 euros per hour, excluding VAT.
• One-off advice meeting without further assistance: 300 euros including VAT.

Law & More does not work on legal aid (toevoeging). Legal aid exists through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis. The IND charges its own application fees in addition; the current amounts per permit type are published on ind.nl.

Who handles your case?

Your case is handled by Ruby van Kersbergen and Michelle Marjanovic. You can read more about their background on our team page.

Which related services may be relevant?

Your question may touch on other areas as well. These pages explain how we can help.

• Immigration lawyer in Eindhoven
• Dutch citizenship lawyer
• Lost your job as a highly skilled migrant?
• Immigration lawyer Amsterdam

Frequently asked questions

Does my employer have to be a recognised sponsor?

For the national highly skilled migrant scheme, yes: only a recognised sponsor can file the application. The EU Blue Card does not require recognition. If your employer is not in the public register, recognition has to be applied for first, or another route has to be considered. We check this before anything is signed.

How long does the IND take?

The statutory period is 90 days, extendable by up to six months where advice or investigation is needed. In practice, complete applications from recognised sponsors are decided considerably faster; the IND publishes its service standards on ind.nl. If the period is exceeded, the IND can be given written notice of default.

Can I change jobs without losing my residence right?

Yes, provided the new employer is a recognised sponsor and notifies the IND in time. The salary threshold is tested again, and a different threshold may apply than at your first application. It is safer to have the route confirmed before signing a new contract, so that no gap arises in lawful residence.

What happens to my permit if I lose my job?

You have a search period of three months to find a new job with a recognised sponsor. If you became unemployed on or after 22 May 2026 and have held the permit for at least two years, it is up to six months. The search period never runs beyond the validity of your residence permit.

Does the 30% ruling come with the permit?

No. The 30% ruling is a tax facility with its own conditions and is separate from your residence permit. We do not advise on tax matters; a tax adviser or the Dutch tax authorities can help with that. The residence permit itself depends only on the immigration conditions described on this page.

Can my partner come with me and work here?

A partner and minor children can apply for residence as family members, in most cases together with your own application. Whether your partner may work without restriction depends on the permit granted. It is worth settling this before the move, so that the family does not end up in a separate procedure afterwards.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know within one working day what your options are. Use our contact form, call +31 40 369 06 80 or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.