A Guide to the Netherlands Immigration Process

If you are planning to relocate to the Netherlands, then you must have all the right paperwork to legally reside and work there.

Here is an overview of Dutch immigration policy.

The Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) handles residence permits, Netherlands visa, asylum requests and work permits. Their website has a comprehensive English section and a ‘residence wizard’ which details the route you need to take to obtain the relevant Netherlands visas and permits to make your stay legal.

If you are from a European Union (EU) member state, one of the countries from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland then you do not need a work permit to work in the Netherlands.

You are, however, asked to register with the immigration service showing proof of registration in the municipal register and health care insurance, and your passport

In order to legally work in the Netherlands expats (from outside EU/EEA/Switzerland) need a work permit.

The work permit process is initiated and completed by the employer and in most cases can only be applied for once the company has shown that it has taken reasonable steps to secure an employee from within the Netherlands or the EU or EEA.

Exceptions to these requirements include the recruitment of highly skilled migrants in sectors where there are labour shortages; the permit process is then streamlined and no work permit is needed.

When you receive your work permit, note that it is job specific and should you change employer during your stay you will need to apply for a new work permit. The work permit is also granted for a specific duration.

Some expats need to apply for a MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) before they may travel to the Netherlands and apply for a residence permit. This may involve passing a citizen integration exam..

For some expats coming to the Netherlands a basisexamen inburgering is necessary as part of the Dutch immigration process. This is an exam, in Dutch, that tests language skills, knowledge of Dutch society and its culture.

In order to legally live in the Netherlands you must be in possession of a residence permit or verblijfsvergunning. Before you can start this process you must first register with your local municipality to be added to the gemeentelijke basisadministratie (GBA). For this, you will need a legalised, translated copy of your birth certificate, which you will have to obtain in your country of origin.

With proof of your registration in the GBA you can start the residence permit process. You will be notified of the documentation you will need to bring with you to your first appointment.

Once you have applied for the residence permit you will be given a sticker in your passport that allows you to legally stay in the Netherlands for six months whilst a final decision is made on your application.

After a maximum of six months you will be notified of the IND’s decision about your permit application, and if successful you will be issued with a residence permit valid for either 5 years, or the same validity period as your work permit.