An employer who wants to employ someone from outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland needs work authorisation for that person. For stays of up to 90 days, a work permit (TWV) from the UWV is usually required. For longer stays, your employer applies for a single permit (GVVA) combining a residence permit and work authorisation, at the IND. Highly skilled migrants are the main exception: no separate work authorisation is needed, and a salary threshold applies instead. For employment of more than 90 days, a single permit (GVVA) is therefore usually required.
British nationals have been third-country nationals since the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 and fall under these rules like any other non-EU citizen. The main exception is British citizens who already lived in the Netherlands before that date: they keep their position under the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
What changed for British citizens after Brexit?
Until 31 December 2020, EU rules applied to the United Kingdom, and British citizens could start working in the Netherlands without a residence or work permit. Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, that is no longer the case. If you are a British citizen and want to work in the Netherlands, a number of rules now apply to you as they apply to other non-EU citizens.
Since 1 January 2021, your position is no longer governed by EU free movement rules but by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
That agreement contains few specific rules on British citizens working in the Netherlands. As a result, the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Wet arbeid vreemdelingen, WAV) applies to you as it applies to other non-EU citizens: your employer needs a work permit before you can start working.
Which permit does your employer need?
There are two types of authorisation, depending on how long you will work in the Netherlands. You cannot apply for either yourself; your employer applies at the relevant authority.
- a work permit (TWV) from the UWV, if you will work in the Netherlands for less than 90 days;
- a single permit (GVVA) from the IND, combining residence and work authorisation, if you will work in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days.
For both types of permit, a number of conditions must be met before it is granted for your position in the Netherlands. Once granted, a single permit (GVVA) is valid for a maximum of three years; if you have already held a valid residence permit for work for five years, it can be granted for up to five years.
Is there no suitable candidate on the Dutch or European labour market?
One condition for a TWV or GVVA is that there is no “priority offer” on the Dutch or European labour market. Your employer must first try to find staff in the Netherlands and the EEA, including by making the vacancy known to the UWV, for example through its own recruitment channels and the UWV’s employer service point. Only if those recruitment efforts do not lead to a suitable candidate can your employer offer you the position. The UWV reviews this labour market test as part of its assessment of the TWV or GVVA application.
This condition is applied less strictly when staff are transferred within an international group, and for academic staff, artists, guest lecturers or interns. These groups are not expected to enter the Dutch labour market on a permanent basis.
Do you have a valid residence permit?
A second condition is that you hold, or will receive, a valid residence permit that allows you to work in the Netherlands. Which residence permit applies depends mainly on how long you want to work here.
If that is shorter than 90 days, a short-stay visa usually suffices. You can apply for this at the Dutch embassy in your country of origin or habitual residence. If you want to work in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, the permit that applies depends on the type of work.
What are the main routes for longer stays?
- Transfer within a company. If you work for a company outside the EU and are transferred to its Dutch branch as a trainee, manager or specialist, your employer can apply for a residence permit for you at the IND under the GVVA. Conditions include a valid proof of identity, a certificate of good conduct and a valid employment contract with the company outside the EU. For more on intra-corporate transfer, contact Law & More.
- Highly skilled migrant. This route is available to highly qualified employees taking up a senior or specialist position in the Netherlands. Your employer applies at the IND under the GVVA; you do not apply yourself. A minimum gross monthly salary applies, set by the IND each year: for 2026 this is €5,942 for migrants of 30 years and older, €4,357 for migrants younger than 30, and a reduced amount of €3,122 for graduates who apply within three years of completing a degree or PhD research in the Netherlands. See our page on the knowledge migrant scheme for the full conditions. A separate regime applies to researchers under Directive (EU) 2016/801; if that applies to you, contact Law & More.
- European Blue Card. The Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit for highly educated non-EU migrants, also applied for by your employer at the IND under the GVVA. For 2026, the standard minimum gross monthly salary is €5,942, with a reduced amount of €4,754 for recent graduates. After at least 12 months of legal residence with a Blue Card in a participating EU country, you may move to work in another participating member state under the same scheme, subject to that state’s conditions. A Blue Card can also give faster access to long-term EU residency, in some cases after two years instead of five. See our page on the knowledge migrant scheme for more information.
- Other paid employment. If your situation does not fit the above, for example work in art and culture or as a correspondent for a Dutch media outlet, a different residence permit is likely to apply, with its own conditions. At Law & More we can determine together with you which permit fits your situation and what you need to show.
When is no work permit required?
In some cases you do not need a TWV or GVVA. Note that in most of these cases you still need a valid residence permit, and your employer may still have to report to the UWV. The two most relevant exceptions are:
- British citizens who already lived in the Netherlands before 31 December 2020. You are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands/EU. You can continue to work in the Netherlands without a work permit, provided you hold a valid residence document, such as a permanent EU residence document.
- If you fall into this category but do not yet hold a valid document, it is wise to apply for a residence permit for a fixed or indefinite period, so your access to the Dutch labour market is secure and you can show your status to your employer or the UWV if asked.
- Self-employed professionals. If you want to work in the Netherlands as a self-employed person, you need a residence permit for self-employment. To qualify, your activities must be of essential importance to the Dutch economy and the product or service you offer must have an innovative character for the Netherlands. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) assesses this on behalf of the IND using a points system that looks at your personal experience, your business plan and the economic value of your activities for the Netherlands, such as innovation and job creation.
Would you like to know which residence and work permit, or which exception, applies in your case, and whether you meet the conditions? Contact Law & More; we determine this together with you, based on your personal situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a work permit myself?
No. Both the TWV and the GVVA must be applied for by your employer, not by you personally. Your employer is also the party that must show the labour market and salary conditions are met.
What happens if I start working without the right permit?
Working without the required permit is an offence under the Foreign Nationals Employment Act and can lead to a fine for your employer, as well as problems for your own residence status. It is worth checking your position before you start work, not afterwards.
Does a GVVA or TWV guarantee my application will be approved?
No. The IND and UWV assess each application against the conditions described above, such as the labour market test and, where applicable, the salary threshold. Meeting the conditions on paper does not guarantee approval; each case is assessed individually.
In summary
- A stay of up to 90 days usually requires a work permit (TWV) from the UWV; a longer stay requires a single permit (GVVA) from the IND, valid for up to three years (five years in some cases).
- Highly skilled migrants and Blue Card holders do not need separate work authorisation, but must meet an annual gross salary threshold set by the IND.
- Your employer must usually show first that no suitable candidate is available on the Dutch or European labour market.
- British citizens who lived in the Netherlands before 31 December 2020 keep their position under the Withdrawal Agreement and do not need a work permit.
- Self-employed professionals need a separate residence permit and must show their activities are of essential importance to the Dutch economy.
Law & More’s immigration and employment lawyers assess your situation and work out with you which residence and work permit fits, and which conditions apply. We are also happy to help you apply for a residence permit or arrange a work permit.
Unsure where you stand? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know your options within one working day.
How Law & More can help you with this is explained on our immigration lawyer page.
