Work permit requirements
There are two main requirements for expats who wish to get a work permit in the Netherlands:
› The company that is about to hire you, initiates the work permit process for you and the HR department has to prove that the job position has been advertised, and both Dutch and EU candidates have been interviewed.
If an expatriate loses his / her job, the permit is no longer valid. If the employee wants to work for another company in the Netherlands then the new employer should initiate the process for a work permit again on behalf of the employee.
› The other way is to have an EU partner. However, you have to prove that you are in a relationship and live together. As in the previous case, if you break up or move out, you are not allowed to work in the Netherlands anymore.
Further information
› CWI Tewerkstellingsvergunningen
Postbus 883
2700 AW Zoetermeer
Tel. +31 (0)79 750 29 03
› Institute for Employee Benefit Schemes
Postbus 58285
1040 HG Amsterdam
Tel. +31 (0)113 75 03 50
› Labour Inspectorate (also in English)
Postbus 820
3500 AV Utrecht
Tel. +31 0800 27 000
Highly skilled immigrants
Every employer should submit a signed statement to the IND in order to be allowed to hire highly skilled immigrants (Kennismigranten). In addition, the employee should have a gross annual income of at least 51.239 or 37.575 euros (2012, updated annually) if he / she is under 30 years old. The salary criterion does not apply if the person is being employed as a researcher or scientist at an educational or research institution, a university lecturer or a specialised doctor.
Graduates who finished their studies at a Dutch educational institution or have obtained an MA / MSc or PhD from one of the top 150 universities worldwide (according to the lists published by Times Higher Education Supplement or Shanghai Jia Tong University in 2007) are qualified for a search year (Zoekjaar). During this year they are free to look for a job without an income criterion. The graduate himself / herself arranges the application for the search year. Graduates, who get employed within the search year, are eligible for a work permit as long as their minimum yearly salary starts from 26.931 euros (2012, updated annually).
For more information about hiring an expat employee in the Netherlands visit workpermit.nl.
