How to Apply for Netherlands Work Visa?

4. Highly-skilled migrant

This program often gets called “knowledge workers.” It is for foreign nationals who will benefit from the Dutch science-based economy. If you want to get this type of visa, you must meet the income standard. Under 30 people have to get at least €3,299, and over 30 people must get at least €4,500.

The other conditions for a Highly-skilled migrant are:

• A contract of employment with a Dutch research institution or employer in the Netherlands.
• Your employer must get recognized by the IND.

For scientific researchers

• The contract of employment must get signed on behalf of the institution
• The employment contract must contain the code and job description according to the UFO ( University Job Classification system ).

For doctors in training:

The Individual Healthcare Professions (also gets called the BIG-register) must register your name.

The institute you will be training in must be set out by one of the following:

• The Medical Specialists Registration Committee (MSRC)
• Social Medicine Physicians Registration Committee (SGRC)
• General practitioner
• Nursing home Physicians Registration Committee (HVRC).

5. European Blue Card

European Blue Card is a type of work permit. It lets non-EU citizen work and lives in the EU except:

• Denmark
• Ireland
• The UK

You need a Netherlands work visa and work permit to work with an EU Blue Card in this country. The following requirements are also needed:

• Contract of employment must be valid for at least one year (12 months)
• A diploma of higher education from a program for at least three years.
• Nuffic (Dutch organization for internationalization in education) must have evaluated your certificate of higher education.
• You have to prove that you fulfill the standards to practice your profession.
• You must receive the least wage amount that got set, EU Blue Card. It is €5,272 per month.
• The branch you will get transferred to:
  
  • Must not have violated the law
  • Have a clean tax record
  • The employer insurance premiums must be complete and clean

6. Self-employment and start-up

In case you want to start a new business in the Netherlands, you can apply for a Self-employment and start-up visa.

7. For an orientation year for highly educated people

If you finished your studies in the Netherlands and your Dutch student visa has expired, you can request an extension of one year to search for work. You can file for a Netherlands work visa for three years after your education. You must have finished one of the below activities to be qualified for an orientation year:

• Finished an authorized BA or MA program in the Netherlands
• Finished a year of postgraduate study in the Netherlands
• Have previously held a Dutch visa for scientific research in the Netherlands.
• Obtained an MA degree as part of an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course.
• Finished a higher education study approved by the Ministerial Decree
• Finished a study presented regarding the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ development cooperation strategy
• Finished research following the Cultural Policy Act in the Netherlands.
• Finished MA or postdoctoral studies or a Ph.D. from an approved educational institution abroad

8. For researchers under Directive (EU) 2016/801

To perform as a researcher in the Netherlands within Directive (EU) 2016/801, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have a sufficiently advanced educational background to be admitted to the doctoral program
• The IND acknowledges the Dutch research institution where you will be doing research as a sponsor.
• The institution has accepted the research project on which you will be working.
• You have a research contract/host agreement with a university.
• You will get adequate monthly money through your employer or a grant/sponsor.

Discover how to work and immigrate to the Netherlands as a software engineer

Netherlands work permit

In general, if you want to work in the Netherlands, you need a work permit. Your employer has to apply for your work permit. If you want to get a start-up or entrepreneur visa, then you should apply for a work permit yourself. Please note that requirements and conditions might change on the type of visa you apply for. The requirements for a Netherlands work permit are as follows:

• A travel document or valid passport.
• A clean criminal record.
• Proof/evidence that the information on the application is true.
• A medical test for tuberculosis
• Enough income earning
• Your employer must get recognized by the Netherlands government officials.

Netherlands residence permit

If you need a Netherlands residence permit or not depends on if you need a long-stay visa or not. Often you can apply for a Netherlands residence permit and a work permit together. It is called GVVA or the Single Permit.

Netherlands Work Visa Requirements

As there are different types of Netherlands work visas, there might be different requirements for them. The Dutch embassy might ask for specific documents based on the type of visa you are applying for and your nationality. Yet, you should collect the general requirements for a Netherlands visa including:

1. Passport
2. Application form. This one varies by the visa you apply for.
3. Photo
4. Health insurance
5. Proof of having enough funds
6. Cover letter 
7. Clean criminal record 

Netherlands Work Visa Application Process

Working in the Netherlands requires a work visa that is dependent on your nationality and the nature of the job.

You need to get a residence permit to remain in the country and a work permit to work at a job. Some candidates, however, may apply for a Single Permit, which integrates those permits into one. This is known as a GVVA and can be valid for one to three years.

Your company must usually apply for your Single or work permit. After receiving all of the necessary documentation from you, they may do this immediately to the IND. The IND will then transmit the application to the Dutch employment agency (UWV), which will evaluate it and notify the IND of the outcome.

If your employer applies for you, he/she completes the application and fills it in with your information. You two should be in contact by phone or email. Then the Closest Dutch embassy will ask you to submit your requirements and do an interview. You should attend it in person and go through the interview. If your application gets accepted, they will send you the visa.

If you apply individually, you download the application form from the Dutch embassy in your country. You complete, sign, and date it. Then gather the requirements. You must make an appointment at the Dutch embassy too. When the time comes, you should attend in person, deliver the requirements, pay the fees, and go through the interview. Now you must wait until Dutch authorities send you the visa if the application is accepted. If denied, they will send you a letter explaining.

Can You Apply for a Single Permit (GVVA)?

Foreign employees with a visa who apply for a single permit and come to work in the Netherlands are:

• Religious ministers and spiritual leaders
• Regular migrant workers
• Teachers of international education
• Interns
• Some foreign workers in the Asian restaurant business
• Practitioners

Who Needs Both a Residence Permit and a Work Permit (TWV)?

A separate work permit must be applied for on your behalf if you cannot apply for a single permit. However, the Dutch residence permit can be applied for by you or your employer. In addition, the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country will accept your application if you apply yourself.

Those who are not eligible for the Single Permit are:

• Students
• Labor migrants on a temporary visa
• Those seeking asylum
• Seasonal employees
• Refugees
• Intra-company transferees
• Providers of services
• Seafarers
• Employees in an orientation year
• Single permit holders’ family members
• Croatian citizens

How Long is the Netherlands Work Visa Valid?

The validity for different Netherlands Work Visa is from three months to five years. It depends much on the type of visa you apply for.

Can You extend your Netherlands Work Visa?

In most cases, you can extend a Netherlands Work Visa. Yet it depends on some factors. Your behavior during your stay, the type of visa and residence you have, your nationality, etc., are determining factors.

Netherlands Work Visa Processing Time

Since there are different types of Netherlands work visas, the processing time for each one is different. The required time also depends on your case and your nationality. If your employer gets recognized by the IND, the processing time can be lower. The least processing time is two weeks, and the most required time is 90 days.

Can You Bring your family Under a Netherlands Work Visa?

If you are an EU citizen and your family members are not, you can apply for a residence certificate. In case you are not a citizen of the EU, then you have to apply for residence permits for the family to join you in the Netherlands. Yet, it can be a bit hard.

Now you have the tools to immigrate to Netherlands  as a Software Engineer by reading our comprehensive guide.

Can You Get Permanent Residence with a Netherlands Work Visa?

The EU/EAA or Swiss nationals must live in the Netherlands for five years to get permanent residence. If one of your family members is from Switzerland or one of the EU/EEA countries, you are also fit for this type of processing.

If you are not an EU/EAA national and want to get a Netherlands permanent residence permit, you must live in this country for at least five years without major interruptions. Once you have finished the five years, you can apply for:

• permanent residence
• long-term resident EC status in the Netherlands.

The difference between the two residences is that with a long-term resident EC status, you can easily apply for a long-term residence in another EU country.

Netherlands Work Visa interview questions

During your appointment to deliver the application and requirements to the Dutch embassy, you will go through an interview. The visa officer will ask you a few questions about your background and the purpose of your visit. The question might include:

1. The place you live
2. Family
3. Background
4. Previous studies or work experience
5. Marital status
6. Your purpose after your visa expires
7. Financial means
8. The reason you have chosen the Netherlands
9. Insurance
10. will you return to your home country after your work permit
11. Your plans after finishing your studies
12. Your hobbies.
13. Your children, etc.

The cost of the Netherlands work visa

The costs are different and depend on the visa you apply for and your nationality. You should ask the Dutch embassy or consulate you apply at. However, the cost of a few types is as follows:

• Self-employed, €1348
• Start-up €326
• Foreign investor, €2173
• Seasonal labor €171
• Employment €285
• Highly skilled migrant €285

Please note that the cost of a Netherlands work visa changes if your conditions change.

Considerations

During the first five days of your stay in the Netherlands, you have to make an appointment with the local city office. They will grant you a Dutch citizens service number. If you don’t get this number, your stay in the Netherlands would be illegal. It can hurt your company.

Can a foreigner work in the Netherlands?

Yes, international workers can work in the Netherlands if they receive a job offer from an employer. But they also need to receive a Netherlands work visa and residence permit as well.

The job offer is the cornerstone of the work visa application process.

There is another requirement with the employer that he/she needs to advertise the job offer in the country and EU. If there is no one available, the employer can recruit a non-EU national.

There are two types of work permits for foreign nationals who want to work in the Netherlands:

• An employment permit (TWV)
• A single permit (GVVA),

How can I get a job in the Netherlands?

The answer is up to your conditions and the skill you have. If you know someone or have a relative in the Netherlands, he/she can find a job for you and introduce you to an employer. Putting a good word with someone could have a huge influence and increase the possibility of finding a job.

You could also get help from employment agencies inside the country and ask them to help you find a job.

There are also online websites and platforms where you can find a job and then apply for a Netherlands work visa.

The following websites are the most famous ones where you can find a job in the Netherlands.

• Expatica jobs
• &Work
• Good Company
• Jouw ICT Vacature
• LinkedIn
• ExpatJobs
• College Life
• European Employment Services
• Stepstone
• Top Language Jobs
• Careerjet
• AngelList
• Honeypot
• Werk.nl
• Nationale Vacaturebank
• Intermediair
• Mundialz
• Monsterboard.nl
• Indeed.nl
• Glassdoor

How much does a work permit cost in the Netherlands?

The cost of the Netherlands work permit is up to the type of visa you apply for. Remember that the employer needs to apply for a work permit, so he/she needs to pay for it. The fee might change on the skill or expertise of the employee. Also, the applicant needs to pay for the work visa in his/her home country. When moving to the Netherlands, the applicant needs to apply for a residence permit and pay the fee, which is up to change.

What documents do I need to work in the Netherlands?

The answer needs to be clarified a bit. The document you need to apply for the work permit is the employment contract signed by the employer and employee. Then the applicant needs to apply for a Netherlands work visa. The required documents are explained in the above section.

When you have passed all the above procedures, you need the following documents before working in the Netherlands:

A Citizen Service Number (BSN or Burgerservicenummer)

Anyone who wants to work in the Netherlands needs a Dutch Citizen Service Number. You need to register with the Basic Registration Persons (BRP). The BRP is like a database that holds all the information of all the people working in the country.

When you register with the BRP for the first time, you will receive the service number and contain all your personal information and data. You need the number when visiting or contacting the government, health insurers, and employers.

A Dutch bank account

Your salary will be transferred to a dutch bank account so you need it to work in the country. You can do it by visiting the nearest bank and providing the requirements they need.

Residence permit or work permit

Working up to 90 days in the Netherlands

If you want to work in the Netherlands for up to 90 days, you need a work visa and a complementing work permit (TWV). Apply for the visa to the embassy or consulate and apply for the permit at the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).

Working longer than 90 days in the Netherlands

In this case, the employer applies for a combined permit for residence and work (GVVA). The authorities evaluate the case and issue the GVVA which includes a residence document and a complementing document. It mentions which employer you can work for in the country.

How much bank balance is required for a Netherlands visa?

According to the released information by the EU, an individual who wants to live in the area needs to have €34 per day. You need to state to the embassy or consulate that you have enough funds for the duration of your stay.

Also, the employer can state that he/she will cover expenses until you begin your work and receive the payment. You also need to have enough funds to rent a place and pay the initial costs.

What jobs are in demand in the Netherlands?

The following jobs are in demand in the Netherlands and you might get a Netherlands work visa if your skill is among them:

• Engineers
• Data
• Dentistry
• Teaching
• ICT specialists
• The healthcare specialist
• Specialist in law
• Aviation and pilot
• Innovators in creative industries
• Customer Success Specialists
• Cyber Security
• Health care specialists

What is the cost of living in the Netherlands?

The cost of living in the Netherlands depends on which city you will reside in and your level of standards. But the estimated costs for a single person are $962 (€850) to€2427 without rent. The cost of living inside the country is higher not only in the US but also in more than 65% of countries in Western Europe (7 out of 17). The cost is also higher than 85% of the countries in the world.

The cost of living for a family consisting of four people needs 3,033.27€ to €4,303 per month without considering rent.

The statistics indicate that the average income expenses are as follows:

• Transportation, 13.1%
• Clothing And Shoes, 2.7%
• Sports And Leisure, 4.9%
• Markets, 28.5%
• Utilities (Monthly), 6.1%
• Rent Per Month, 29.8%
• Restaurants,15%

The cost of living index for the highest cities in the Netherlands is as follows:

1. Amsterdam
2. Breda
3. Utrecht
4. Haarlem
5. Eindhoven
6. Groningen
7. Leiden
8. Tilburg
9. Nijmegen
10. Rotterdam

How can I get PR in the Netherlands?

You need to live in the Netherlands under one of the legal Netherlands visas or Netherlands work visas for five years to become eligible for Permanent Residency. Then you can apply for the PR, and your family is also eligible to apply.

After living in the country for 10 years, you can apply for Netherlands citizenship.

Let’s sum up …

In this blog, we explained all about the Netherlands work visa.

We covered the people who need and don’t need a work visa, requirements of different types, Netherlands work permits, costs, validity, FAQs, etc.

You can find all the Netherlands visa information in the world here. To find out more about the visa that suits you, go through the menu of the site. You can find all types of Netherlands visas in the left sidebar.

You can check the Visa library to find more information about other countries’ visas. On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other Netherlands visas like au-pair visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries.

In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.