Dutch Visas and Work Permits
Our tax guide for freelance contractors working in Netherlands (Holland)
Citizens of the old EU Member States and the Member States who joined on 1 May 2004 have full access to the Dutch labour market and do not need a work permit.
According to transitional rules in place until at least 31 December 2008, a Dutch employer still has to apply for a work permit if he wants to hire a citizen from Bulgaria or Romania. The employer has to prove that the position could not be filled by a Dutch citizen or a citizen from the old EU Member States.
Citizens from all other countries need to go through a full work permit and residence permit application (unless they are highly skilled migrants, see below). In general, the Dutch client must be able to show that it has advertised the position for several months and has been unable to find anyone on the local Dutch market or from any of the EU member States. The skills therefore have to be rare and in demand, and the person generally highly qualified. For some sectors and occupations (for example international transport, inland navigation, health care sector and slaughtering sector) an abridged procedure applies. The employer has to apply for the work permit before the employee can come to the Netherlands and the process is lengthy (months rather than weeks) and a successful outcome not guaranteed. Usually, the employer can at the same time apply for a provisional residence permit (MVV) which the individual will need to enter the Netherlands. After arrival, he has to register with the alien’s police and/or the town hall (depending on the area).
In 2004, the Netherlands introduced an accelerated procedure for highly skilled migrants. The future employer has to have concluded a general agreement with the Dutch authorities, the minimum salary in 2008 is EUR 47’565 for graduates over 30 years old and EUR 34’881 for applicants under 30. If the criteria are fulfilled, the applicants do not need a work permit, but only a provisional residence permit (MVV) which is usually issued for 5 years if the employment contract is open ended. The procedure is supposed to take only 2 weeks.