Frequently Asked Questions

Visa & Work Permits in the Netherlands

Hiring international talent in the Netherlands comes with regulatory challenges. Understanding which visa or permit applies can make or break your hiring timeline.
Below we answer the most common questions HR teams ask when managing global talent mobility.

What’s the difference between a visa and a work permit in the Netherlands?

What is the Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) permit?

This is the most common route for hiring non-EU professionals.

Key employer requirements:

Recognised Sponsor status with the IND
Compliant employment contract and salary level.

Key candidate criteria:

Relevant skills not readily available in the EU
Higher education qualifications
Valid passport and TB screening (if applicable)

Bonus: Partners of HSM permit holders can work freely without employer sponsorship.

Do EU citizens need work permits?

What is a Recognised Sponsor—and why does it matter?

Other types of visas HR teams should know:

Orientation Year Permit: For recent graduates from Dutch universities. Great early-career pipeline for future HSM permits.

Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT): For employees transferred from non-EU offices.

Start-Up Visa / EU Blue Card: For innovation hires or senior experts not covered by the HSM scheme.

Partner Permits: For employees relocating with a spouse. EMG supports partner employment and integration to reduce attrition risk.

Tourist/Business Visa: Not suitable for work. Max 90 days stay, no labour permitted.

How long does the permit process take?

What are the employer’s responsibilities after the visa is approved?

What is the 30% ruling and how does it relate to work permits?

What is the Tourist Visa?

What is the Search Year Visa & Permit?

This permit is for non-EU scholars that wish to study in the Netherlands. It is valid until the graduation date of the student. You are allowed to work a maximum of 10 hours per week or during two months during the summer (June, July, and August).
As long as it is part of your education, a work permit is not needed when doing an internship.

For EU/EEA or Swiss scholars, there are no restrictions for working.

What is the Golden Visa?

In 2013 The Netherlands launched a “golden visa” for foreigners willing to invest € 1,25 million into a company in The Netherlands or in certain selected funds that themselves invest into Dutch companies.
Though, due to further aggravating requirements, over the last five years less than 12 Dutch “Golden Visas” have been issued proving this visa to be very uninteresting for foreigners who want to build a future in and are willing to invest extraordinary wealth into The Netherlands.

What is the Business Visa & Permit?

What is the Partner Visa & Permit?

Can I work in the Netherlands without a visa?

Your residency status and nationality will dictate if you need a work permit. In the Netherlands, work and residence authorisation are closely linked. Your reasons for moving to the Netherlands – for example, as a highly-skilled worker, employee, student or family member – will determine what kind of authorisation you need to work in the Netherlands legally.

The Netherlands has one of the most globally focused, highly trained, motivated and multilingual workforces in the world. The demand for highly skilled workers is persistingly high. There are incentives for international employees such as a 30% tax ruling and a fast-track highly skilled migrants program. There are various Dutch permits for receiving permission to work and live in the Netherlands, legally, the highly skilled migrant permit, intra-company transfer permit, orientation year permit for foreign graduates or the general work permit.

How can I get work permit in Netherlands?

For a stay of fewer than 90 days, your employer can apply for a short-term work permit for you, which can be used in combination with a Schengen visa or your passport.

For stays of more than 90 days, your employer will be able to apply for a single permit (gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid or GVVA) in your name, which combines the Dutch residence and work permit in one application via the IND.

Who needs a working permit in the Netherlands?

Citizens from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA – EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland do not need residence permits or work permits, except those from newer EU member Croatia, whose citizens need a Dutch work permit for their first year.

Citizens of Japan do not need work authorisation to work in the Netherlands. They are only required to obtain a residence permit for long-term stays.

What is the IND?