The Dutch permit for skilled staff

This is the most common permit. The immigration service skips the labour market test and checks a salary level, as set out in salary levels in 2026. Your company must already have approval from the immigration service. This is often a problem for young companies. Only companies within the scheme can use this permit.

Employing staff from abroad? See Dutch payroll services for companies from abroad.

The European permit for highly qualified staff

This permit is European, and approval as an employer is optional. For a company that has just been set up, this is often the practical choice. Its figures are usually too limited for the approval assessment.

The conditions for the employee are stricter. A higher education qualification is expected. Managers and professionals in information technology may also qualify with experience. They need at least three years of relevant work in the seven years before the application.

The salary level matches the general one, with a reduced level of €4,754 available in defined situations.

Side by side

  • Approval as employer: required for the Dutch permit, optional for the European permit.
  • Education: for the Dutch permit, the salary counts. The European permit expects a qualification, or experience for information technology roles.
  • Speed: approved employers get a decision in about two weeks on either permit. Companies outside the scheme wait the statutory period.
  • Movement within Europe: the European permit can be used in other EU member states. The Dutch permit applies only in the Netherlands.
  • Permanent residence: available after five years under either permit.

Which permit to choose

A company that hires several people a year from outside Europe usually applies for approval. It then uses the Dutch permit for every hire. For a first hire with a degree, the European permit is often faster. The company can apply for approval at the same time.

Staff with Turkish citizenship may also work for an employer outside the approval system. See Turkish employees and the employer approval that is set aside.

You set the salary once. The payroll has to be done every month. See what we take over each month on payroll and administration for a Dutch BV.

Your company and your residence permit

We arrange both. We set up your company: the entity, the salary and the tax position. An immigration lawyer from our network prepares your residence application and files it with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The lawyer follows the case law and the forms every week. We plan the company and the application together, so your company meets what the IND asks for.

Who arranges which part of your relocation? See how we work with our partners.