Is your tech company bringing a highly skilled migrant to the Netherlands? Their partner often wants to come along. In this guide, we explain how the partner permit works, what the benefits are, and how you as an employer can help.
Introduction
When Rajesh, an AI specialist from India, received an offer from a tech startup in Eindhoven last year, his first question wasn’t about the salary. Nor about the benefits or vacation days. His first question was: “Can my wife come with me? And is she allowed to work?”
For many international professionals, this is THE deciding question. Because a job in the Netherlands is fantastic, but not if your partner sits at home without prospects. For Priya, Rajesh’s wife, who is herself a software engineer, it would be unthinkable to give up her career.
The startup didn’t know immediately. “Um, that should be possible, right?” the HR manager said hesitantly. “Let us look into that.”
Three weeks later, after consulting three different lawyers, came the liberating answer: yes, Priya can come. Yes, she can work. Yes, she can work at any company she wants. No work permit needed. No salary requirements. No restriction to recognized sponsors.
That’s the good news about the partner permit. But there are conditions, there’s a procedure, and things can go wrong. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about the partner permit for highly skilled migrants.
1. What Is a Partner Permit and Why Is It So Valuable?
The big advantage: free access to the labor market
A partner permit is a residence permit based on family reunification. If your highly skilled migrant has a residence permit to work in the Netherlands, the partner can apply for their own residence permit to come along.
But here’s the beautiful part: a partner of a highly skilled migrant automatically gets free access to the Dutch labor market. This means concretely:
✓ No work permit needed
Other foreign workers often need an employment permit (TWV). The partner of a highly skilled migrant doesn’t. It literally states on the residence permit: “Labor freely permitted”.
✓ Work at any company
The partner is not limited to recognized sponsors. Small café, large multinational, startup, freelance – everything is allowed. This is in contrast to the highly skilled migrant themselves, who can only work for the recognized sponsor who sponsored them.
✓ No salary requirements
Highly skilled migrants have strict minimum salaries (in 2025: €5,688 per month for people 30+). These don’t apply to the partner. The partner can work for minimum wage if necessary.
✓ No job requirements
The highly skilled migrant must have a position at HBO/university level. The partner doesn’t. The partner can become a cleaner, barista, mover – whatever.
✓ Even studying is allowed
The partner can also decide to first learn Dutch or follow an education before starting to work.
Why this is crucial for employers
As an employer who wants to attract international top talent, the partner permit is your secret weapon. Because the reality is: highly educated professionals almost always come with a highly educated partner.
Rajesh would never have come to the Netherlands if Priya couldn’t work. And Priya is herself a software engineer – exactly the kind of talent that the Netherlands needs. By hiring Rajesh, you’re actually getting two highly educated professionals to the Netherlands.
Companies that understand this and actively communicate about the partner permit have an enormous advantage when recruiting international workers. It’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s often a dealbreaker.
2. Who Qualifies for a Partner Permit?
The basic requirements
Not everyone qualifies for a partner permit. There are several conditions:
For the highly skilled migrant (the “sponsor”):
- Has a valid residence permit as a highly skilled migrant
- Or: has a residence permit as a scientific researcher (EU Directive 2016/801)
- Lives in the Netherlands
For the partner:
- Is 21 years or older (both partners must be at least 21)
- Has a valid passport
- No criminal record that poses a danger to public order
- Has a durable and exclusive relationship with the highly skilled migrant
What is a “durable and exclusive relationship”?
This is where it gets interesting. The IND must be convinced that the relationship is real and serious. There are different possibilities:
Option 1: Being married
If you’re married, it’s simple. You submit the marriage certificate (legalized and translated) and that’s sufficient proof.
Option 2: Registered partnership
In some countries you can enter into a registered partnership. This is also accepted, provided it’s an official document.
Option 3: Unmarried cohabitation
This is more complicated. You must then prove that you have a durable and exclusive relationship. Think of:
- Proof of cohabitation (rental contract, mortgage in both names)
- Joint bank account
- Photos of important moments together
- Statements from family and friends
- Trips taken together
- Birth certificate of common children
The IND has an extensive questionnaire that you must complete about how you met, how the relationship developed, why you want to live together in the Netherlands, etc. Be honest and thorough here – it’s not a formality.
Note: Sham relationships are severely punished. If the IND suspects it’s only about the residence permit, the application is rejected. And that has consequences for future applications.
Same-sex partners
The Netherlands recognizes marriages and partnerships of same-sex couples. So it doesn’t matter to the IND whether you’re a heterosexual or homosexual couple. The conditions are identical.
This is not self-evident – in many countries where highly skilled migrants come from, relationships between same-sex people are not recognized or even prosecuted. For these people, Dutch policy can be an enormous relief.
Children
Children under 18 can come along as part of the same family reunification application. They also get “labor freely permitted” on their residence permit, although they probably won’t use it until they’re 16+ and want a part-time job.
Children 18+ are more complicated. They’re not automatically seen as part of the family and must make a separate application, which is usually not granted unless there are special circumstances.
3. The Procedure: Step by Step
Step 1: Apply simultaneously or separately?
You have two options:
Option A: Together with the highly skilled migrant application
The employer submits both applications simultaneously to the IND. This is the fastest option. The IND processes both applications in parallel and gives a decision within 2-3 weeks.
Advantages:
- Faster (2-3 weeks vs. 4-8 weeks)
- One procedure
- Partner can come to the Netherlands immediately
Disadvantages:
- More documentation at once
- If highly skilled migrant application is rejected, partner application is also rejected
Option B: Partner comes later
The highly skilled migrant is already in the Netherlands and the partner applies for family reunification later. This takes longer (4-8 weeks formally, in practice 2-3 months) but gives more flexibility.
Advantages:
- Partner can take time to wrap up affairs in home country
- Highly skilled migrant can first arrange housing
- Less hectic
Disadvantages:
- Longer procedure
- Partner must wait longer
- Emotionally more difficult (being separated)
Advice for employers: If the partner wants to come immediately, apply for everything simultaneously. Most employers have experience with this and it saves the highly skilled migrant a lot of stress.
Step 2: Apply for the MVV (if needed)
For partners from outside the EU/EEA (except Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, South Korea, and the US), an MVV (authorization for temporary stay) is needed. This is a visa that’s valid for 90 days.
Where do you apply?
At the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where the partner lives. But note: you submit the application in the Netherlands to the IND, not at the embassy. The IND then sends the MVV sticker to the embassy, where the partner can pick it up.
How long is it valid?
90 days. Within those 90 days, the partner must travel to the Netherlands. Once in the Netherlands, the partner can then convert the residence permit into a residence card that’s valid for the duration of the highly skilled migrant permit.
Step 3: Collect documents
This is most of the work. You need:
For both partners:
- Copy of valid passport (all pages)
- Recent passport photos
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, partnership registration, or proof of cohabitation)
For the highly skilled migrant (sponsor):
- Copy of valid residence permit
- Copy of employment contract
- Proof of income (pay slips, employment contract)
- Proof of housing in the Netherlands (rental contract, deed of purchase)
For the partner:
- Certificate of Conduct (IND form about criminal record)
- Proof of nationality (birth certificate)
- If applicable: proof of termination of previous relationships (divorce certificates)
- For unmarried relationships: extensive relationship questionnaire + supporting documents
All foreign documents must be:
- Legalized (apostille or embassy legalization)
- Translated into Dutch, English, German, or French by a sworn translator
- Not older than 6 months (for certain documents)
Practical tip: Start this early. Obtaining an apostille in some countries can take weeks. Translation by a sworn translator isn’t cheap (count on €50-100 per document).
Step 4: Submit the application
Who submits?
Formally the highly skilled migrant as “sponsor”. But in practice the employer often does this, especially if it’s done simultaneously with the highly skilled migrant application.
Where?
- For simultaneous application: the employer submits via the portal for recognized sponsors
- For later application: the highly skilled migrant submits via IND.nl or by post
Costs:
€861 fees for the partner residence permit. This is in addition to the fees for the highly skilled migrant themselves (also €861).
As an employer: discuss in advance who pays these costs. Some employers reimburse this, others don’t. Be transparent about this.
Step 5: Wait for decision
Decision period:
- Simultaneous application: 2-3 weeks
- Later application: officially 90 days, in practice 4-8 weeks
What does the IND do?
- Checks if all documents are complete
- Verifies the relationship
- Checks if there are no contra-indications (criminal record, previous violations of immigration law)
- May request additional information
Can it be rejected?
Yes, but this rarely happens if:
- The relationship is genuine
- All documents are correct
- There’s no criminal record
- The highly skilled migrant has a valid permit
Reasons for rejection:
- Doubt about the genuineness of the relationship
- Serious criminal record
- Incorrect information provided
- Documents not in order
- Highly skilled migrant no longer meets requirements
Step 6: Pick up residence card
If the application is approved, the partner receives a residence card. This is a plastic card (about bank card size) with:
- Photo
- Name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Crucial: the notation “Labor freely permitted”
This card is valid for the same period as the highly skilled migrant permit (usually 5 years, or the duration of the employment contract if shorter).
Collection:
At the municipality where the partner will live. While collecting the residence card, the partner can also register in the BRP (population register) and apply for a BSN (citizen service number).
4. The Partner Goes to Work: What You Need to Know
No employment permit needed
We can’t emphasize this enough: the partner doesn’t need a TWV (employment permit). As an employer, you don’t need to apply for anything at the UWV. The partner simply shows the residence card with “Labor freely permitted” and can start.
This is an enormous advantage compared to hiring other foreign workers, where you do need a TWV (and that’s difficult to get, because then you must prove that no suitable candidate can be found in the EU).
Apply for BSN
To work in the Netherlands, the partner needs a BSN (citizen service number). The partner applies for this when registering in the BRP at the municipality.
What does the partner need:
- Valid residence card
- Valid passport
- Proof of housing (rental contract)
- Appointment at municipality (in some municipalities this can take weeks, unfortunately)
How long does it take:
Usually the BSN is issued immediately upon registration, or within a week thereafter.
As an employer: Help the partner with this. Priya, Rajesh’s wife from the story at the beginning, could only start at her new employer after she had a BSN. The startup where Rajesh worked helped her make the appointment at the municipality and explained which documents she needed to bring. That kind of practical help is greatly appreciated.
Taxes and social security
The partner simply pays Dutch wage tax and social insurance premiums, like any other employee in the Netherlands. There are no special arrangements.
Note: The partner does not automatically qualify for the 30% ruling, even if the highly skilled migrant has it. The partner must themselves meet the requirements for the 30% ruling:
- Employment contract signed while still abroad
- Salary above the threshold (€46,660 in 2025)
- Scarce specific expertise
- Lived more than 150 km from Dutch border in last 24 months
In practice, this means that if the partner applies from within the Netherlands (after already being settled with a partner permit), the 30% ruling is not valid. But if the partner already has a job before coming to the Netherlands, and the contract is signed while still abroad, then it can be valid.
Unemployment benefit (WW)
If the partner works and pays premiums, the partner also builds up unemployment benefit rights. If the job ends, the partner may qualify for unemployment benefits, just like any other employee in the Netherlands.
Note: This only applies if the partner has worked and paid premiums. If the partner doesn’t work, there’s no right to unemployment benefits.
Health insurance
In the Netherlands, health insurance is mandatory for everyone who lives or works here. The partner must insure themselves with a Dutch health insurer within four months of arriving in the Netherlands.
Costs: Approximately €130-150 per month for basic insurance, plus a deductible of €385 per year.
As an employer: inform the partner about this. Many internationals don’t know that health insurance is mandatory and then receive a fine.
5. What If Things Go Wrong?
The highly skilled migrant is dismissed
This is a common concern: what happens to the partner’s residence permit if the highly skilled migrant is dismissed?
Short answer: It depends.
Scenario 1: The highly skilled migrant finds a new job within three months
If the highly skilled migrant finds a new job within three months after dismissal with another recognized sponsor, the highly skilled migrant permit remains valid. And therefore also the partner permit. No problem.
Scenario 2: The highly skilled migrant doesn’t find a new job within three months
Then the highly skilled migrant permit expires. And with it, the basis for the partner permit also lapses. Both must in principle leave the Netherlands.
But: If the partner has meanwhile found their own job, the partner can apply for their own residence permit. The possibilities:
- The partner’s employer applies for a highly skilled migrant permit (if the partner meets requirements)
- The partner applies for another residence permit (for example as a self-employed entrepreneur)
- The partner and highly skilled migrant marry or have a child, and apply for residence based on Article 8 ECHR (right to family and private life)
This is complex and requires customization. Always involve a specialized lawyer here.
The relationship ends
What if Rajesh and Priya break up? Priya’s right to residence is based on her relationship with Rajesh. If that relationship ends, her right to residence in principle also lapses.
Exceptions:
- If Priya has meanwhile lived in the Netherlands for five years, she can apply for a permanent residence permit
- If she meanwhile has Dutch nationality (possible after five years)
- If she has her own job and her employer applies for a highly skilled migrant permit
- If there are children and Article 8 ECHR (right to family and private life) is invoked
In case of domestic violence:
If the relationship ends due to domestic violence, milder rules apply. The victim can get a permit based on Article 8 ECHR, even if they haven’t lived in the Netherlands for five years yet.
The application is rejected
The IND sometimes rejects a partner permit application. Reasons can be:
- Doubt about genuineness of relationship
- Criminal record
- Incorrect information
- Highly skilled migrant no longer meets requirements
What then?
You can file an objection with the IND within four weeks. In the objection you explain why you disagree with the decision and possibly add extra supporting documents.
If the objection is declared unfounded, you can file an appeal with the court within six weeks.
Practical tip: Hire a specialized lawyer for this. A rejection is often repairable if you present the right arguments and supporting documents.
6. Practical Tips for Employers
Communicate proactively about the partner permit
Many companies forget to mention the partner permit in their recruitment process. That’s a missed opportunity. Include it in:
- Job postings: “Partner can come along with free labor market access”
- Job interviews: Ask if the candidate has a partner who wants to come
- Offer letters: Explicitly mention that you help with the partner permit application
- Onboarding: Inform about procedure, timing, costs
Help with practical matters
Go beyond just the IND application. Think of:
- Help finding housing (for two people)
- Provide contacts for sworn translators
- Explain the Dutch healthcare system
- Help with municipality registration and BSN application
- Organize a buddy system with colleagues
- Connect the partner with recruitment agencies or networks
The startup where Rajesh worked organized an “expat dinner” where new international employees and their partners could meet other expats. Priya found her current job through that network.
Don’t expect the partner to work immediately
Some partners want to first learn Dutch or just get used to the Netherlands before starting to work. That’s completely normal and okay. Don’t put pressure on.
Other partners want to get started right away. Facilitate that where possible. If you have connections with other companies, share those.
Discuss finances in advance
Who pays the fees for the partner permit application (€861)? Who pays for sworn translations? For legalizations? For the MVV?
Some employers fully reimburse this. Others partially. Still others not at all. There’s no standard – but be transparent about it so there are no surprises.
Prepare the highly skilled migrant for possible delays
The IND officially has 90 days for a decision. In practice it goes faster (2-8 weeks), but sometimes it takes longer due to:
- Incomplete documents
- Extra investigation into relationship
- Busy period at IND
- Problems at embassy (picking up MVV sticker)
Communicate realistically about this. It’s unpleasant for a highly skilled migrant to have to start without their partner, and then hear that it will take “a few more weeks”.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Can the partner study instead of work?
Yes. The partner doesn’t have to work. Studying, taking Dutch lessons, volunteer work – it’s all allowed.
Does the partner need to speak Dutch?
No, there’s no language requirement for the partner permit. (There is for naturalization later, if the partner ever wants to become Dutch.)
Can the partner also become self-employed?
Yes, but then the partner needs a separate permit: “labor as self-employed”. The partner can apply for that alongside the partner permit.
What if we’re unmarried but have children together?
Common children are strong proof of a durable relationship. Add the birth certificate to the application.
Can the partner switch employers?
Yes, as often as the partner wants. The residence permit is not tied to a specific employer.
How long is the partner permit valid?
As long as the highly skilled migrant permit. Usually 5 years, or the duration of the employment contract if shorter.
Does it need to be extended?
Yes, three months before expiration. But if the highly skilled migrant permit is extended, the partner permit is usually automatically extended as well.
What does a partner permit cost?
€861 fees for the IND. On top of that come costs for translations (€50-100 per document), legalizations (€20-50 per document), and possibly an MVV (€350).
How long does the total process take?
From application to residence card: 2-12 weeks, depending on whether it’s applied for simultaneously with the highly skilled migrant or separately, and whether all documents are in order.
Can I as an employer deduct the costs?
That depends on how you book it. Discuss this with your accountant. Often it’s seen as relationship costs or as part of reimbursements to the employee.
Conclusion: The Partner Permit Is Your Secret Weapon
If you want to hire international talent in the tech sector, the partner permit is perhaps your most important asset. Because the hard reality is: highly educated professionals rarely come alone. They have partners. And those partners also want a life, a career, prospects.
The Dutch system is surprisingly generous in this regard. The partner of a highly skilled migrant gets:
- Automatic right to work
- At any company, no restrictions
- No salary requirements
- No employment permit needed
- Same validity period as the highly skilled migrant
That’s an enormous advantage compared to many other countries. In the US, for example, the partner of an H-1B visa holder needs a separate work permit that’s complicated to get. In the UK, the procedure is more expensive and slower. The Netherlands really has something good here.
But you do have to arrange it properly. The procedure has its complications. Documents must be correct. Relationships must be proven. Timing is important.
As an employer, you can make the difference by:
- Communicating proactively about the partner permit in your recruitment process
- Helping practically with the application and documents
- Contributing financially where possible
- Also helping after the permit with BSN, health insurance, network for job
When Rajesh finally signed with that startup in Eindhoven, it wasn’t because they offered the highest salary. It was because they were clear about Priya from day one: “She can come, she can work, and we’ll help you with it.” That gave Rajesh the confidence to take the step.
And Priya? She now works as a senior engineer at another tech company in the region. Exactly the kind of talent that the Netherlands needs. Win-win.
Need Help with a Partner Permit?
Applying for a partner permit may seem simple, but many aspects are involved. A missing document, an unclear relationship questionnaire, or wrong timing can lead to delay or even rejection.
Law & More specializes in immigration law for international workers. We help you with:
✓ Assessing if the partner qualifies
✓ Collecting and checking all required documents
✓ Drafting the relationship questionnaire for unmarried relationships
✓ Submitting the application to the IND
✓ Guidance with objection and appeal if rejected
✓ Practical advice about BSN, health insurance, and working in the Netherlands
Contact us:
Law & More Advocaten
Marconilaan 13
5612 HM Eindhoven
The Netherlands
[email protected]
T: +31 40 369 06 80
We speak Dutch, English, German, Turkish, and Russian.
About the author:
This article was written by the immigration law specialists of Law & More, a law firm based in Eindhoven with expertise in highly skilled migrants, work and residence permits, and family reunification.
Disclaimer:
This article contains general legal information and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, please contact a specialized lawyer.
Last updated: December 2025
