Netherlands Work Visa 2027: Highly Skilled Migrant

What the Highly Skilled Migrant Permit Is

The Netherlands offers a residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (often called the kennismigrant route) to foreign professionals who have a job with a Dutch employer. The permit is tied to an employment contract, and the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND), the Dutch immigration service, decides on the application. Only an employer recognised by the IND can apply for this permit on your behalf. This means the process starts with finding the right employer rather than with the immigration form itself.

Requirements You Need to Meet

You generally need an employment contract with a Dutch employer or research institution that is a recognised sponsor, and you must meet the general requirements that apply to every applicant. Your salary must also be in line with the market rate for the job and must reach the minimum income requirement. If you work in an individual healthcare profession listed under the BIG Act, you may also need registration in the BIG register. Meeting the salary threshold does not replace the need for a recognised sponsor. The IND checks both points before it approves an application.

2026 Salary Thresholds and Costs

The IND publishes gross monthly salary amounts that change every January. For 2026, the amount is EUR 4,357 for applicants younger than 30 and EUR 5,942 for applicants aged 30 or older, and a reduced criterion of EUR 3,122 applies in certain cases, such as recent graduates and orientation-year holders. The application fee listed by the IND for a highly skilled migrant permit is EUR 423, and the amount that applies is the one on your application date. Always confirm the current amounts on the IND website, because the Dutch government has also announced plans to tighten parts of the scheme. Those plans mainly concern higher salary levels for younger applicants and stricter checks on sponsors, and details can change.

Steps to Get the Permit

First, search for a job with an employer that appears in the IND public register of recognised sponsors. Next, once you receive an offer, your employer submits the application, usually through the IND Business Portal. Then, if the decision is positive, you can start working once the decision states that you may, and you must book your biometrics or permit collection within two weeks of your employer receiving the decision. If you apply from abroad, you may also need to collect an entry visa sticker before you travel. Check the IND instructions for your nationality, because the exact route can vary.

Duration, Family and Permanent Residence

The permit is valid for the length of your contract, up to a maximum of five years. If you lose your job, you generally have up to three months to find a new one, and longer periods apply in some cases, but the search period cannot go beyond the permit's validity. Your employer can also apply for your family members. After five years you may be able to apply for a permanent residence permit, which also requires a civic integration exam at level A2 or higher and enough income. A highly skilled migrant permit does not automatically lead to permanent residence.

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