Permits for highly skilled employees
Do you want to employ a highly skilled employee from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland? Then you usually need to arrange a residence permit for them. Find out which residence permits for highly skilled employees are available and when to use them.
What is a highly skilled foreign employee?
A highly skilled foreign employee is a worker from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland who is hired for a specialist, academic, or highly qualified role. These employees are typically recruited because of their specific expertise, qualifications, or experience. And because their skills contribute to the Dutch knowledge economy.
Highly skilled foreign employees may work in the Netherlands under different residence permits. This depends on the nature of the work, the employment relationship, and the legal framework that applies. For some types of permit, an income requirement applies. The income requirements are published on ind.nl and updated annually.
Types of residence permits for highly skilled employees
The most common situations are explained below.
The highly skilled migrant permit is the most used procedure for hiring international talent.
- The employee must meet salary thresholds that are indexed yearly.
- No labour market test applies.
This permit is suitable for many specialist roles in sectors such as IT, engineering, finance, and life sciences.
Read more about the residence permit for highly skilled migrant.
The EU Blue Card is a European residence permit for highly qualified employees.
- The employee must have a recognised higher education qualification.
- The employee must meet salary thresholds that are indexed yearly. The European Blue Card scheme has its own salary requirements.
- The permit offers mobility within the EU after a certain period.
- No labour market test applies.
The EU Blue Card can be a good option if long‑term residence or EU mobility is important to your employee.
Read more about the EU Blue Card on ind.nl.
The intra‑corporate transferee (ICT) permit is used when an employee is transferred to the Netherlands from a company outside the EU within the same multinational group.
- The employee must already be employed by the company outside the EU.
- The transfer is temporary.
- The employee must work as a manager, specialist, or trainee.
- A labour market test does not apply.
This permit is suitable for temporary assignments within international companies.
In practice, there can be overlap between the ICT permit and the residence permit for highly skilled migrant. For example, a transferred employee may meet the salary and skills criteria for the highly skilled migrant procedure. However, if the employee remains employed by a company outside the EU and is sent to the Netherlands temporarily within the same corporate group, the intra‑corporate transferee (ICT) framework applies. In this situation, IND assesses the application under the ICT rules rather than the highly skilled migrant procedure.
Read more about the intra‑corporate transferee residence permit (Directive 2014/66/EU) on ind.nl.
Researchers and some academic staff are covered by a separate residence permit based on Directive (EU) 2016/801.
- This permit applies when the work mainly involves scientific research.
- A hosting agreement or appointment decision with a recognised sponsor is required.
- The salary requirements are lower than the highly skilled migrant scheme.
- A labour market test does not apply.
Researchers are often grouped with highly skilled migrants because they fall under the same knowledge and talent category, but it actually a different immigration route.
Read more about the residence permit researcher (Directive (EU) 2016/801) on ind.nl.
Some recent graduates may already have a residence permit that allows them to stay in the Netherlands temporarily after completing their studies. For example, the residence permit for orientation year.
- Graduates with the residence permit for orientation year permit may work for any employer without a work permit during this period.
- If your business intends to continue employing a graduate after the orientation year ends, it must usually apply for a new work‑related residence permit. Such as the highly skilled migrant permit, EU Blue Card, or another suitable permit.
- In some situations, graduates who do not hold an orientation year permit may still qualify for a reduced salary threshold if the application for their residence permit is submitted within 3 years of graduation.
Choosing the right permit
Applying for the right residence permit depends on:
- the type of work (research, specialist role, internal transfer),
- the employment relationship (a new hire or transfer),
- the required salary level, and
- if the employer is a recognised sponsor.
Are you not sure which permit is right for your situation? Check the list of possible residence permits related to work on ind.nl. For personal advice, you can contact IND by telephone, online chat, or the contact form.
What if your employee does not qualify as a highly skilled employee?
Does your (future) employee come from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland? And do they not meet the requirements for highly skilled employees? Find out more about other permits and procedures when hiring foreign employees.