Highly-skilled migrants

A highly-skilled migrant is defined by the Immigration Service as an employee who works for a recognized sponsor in the Netherlands on the basis of a work contract and fulfills specific age, salary and experience requirements. See this link for further details.

For highly-skilled migrants from the age of 30 upwards, a higher income requirement applies than for highly-skilled migrants under the age of 30 or for those who have graduated in the Netherlands. The amounts are index-linked on a yearly basis. For 2023, the monthly gross income excluding vacation pay is €5,008 for employees 30 years and older, €3,672 for employees under 30, and €2,631 for a highly-skilled migrant employed during the Orientation Year for graduates/highly educated persons. For a EU-blue card holder, the amount is €5,867.

This income requirement does not apply to highly-skilled migrants performing scientific research or to physicians in training to become specialists. In these cases, the income must at least meet the provisions listed in the Dutch Minimum Wage Act (wml).

A family member of a highly-skilled migrant is defined as a spouse, registered partner, or unmarried partner, and any minor children. Family members may also use the accelerated formalities services.

Nuffic has also produced a handy flow-chart to determine what sort of visas and permits an international employee would require.

Companies wishing to hire an employee as a highly-skilled migrant must be a recognized sponsor of the IND. The conditions and application form for hiring a highly-skilled migrant can be found at this link.

A general flowchart of the highly-skilled migrant process can be found here in English and in Dutch.

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