Residence and work permit
Expats who enter, reside and/or work as foreign nationals in the Netherlands are subject to complicated immigration regulations. These regulations change often. We offer advice and services across the entire range of residence and employment in the Netherlands.
We emphasize the importance of timely following the right procedures in order to avoid the risk of not having the documents or permits in time.
The permit(s) required to enter, reside and/or work in the Netherlands depend(s) on the nationality of the foreign national and on the period that the foreign national intends to reside in the Netherlands.
- Application for a work permit
According to the general rule of the Aliens Employment Act within, an employer is not allowed to employ foreign nationals in the Netherlands without a work permit. Please note, that depending on the nationality and circumstances, several exceptions apply to this rule.
- Application for temporary residence permit (‘MVV’)
Most non-Europeans who intend to stay in the Netherlands for a period exceeding three months, must obtain an authorization for temporary residence, or MVV, prior to entering the Netherlands.
- Application for a residence permit (non–Europeans)
After the foreign national has entered the Netherlands, he needs to apply for a residence permit in case he would like to reside for more than three months.
- Application for verification against Community Law (an EU-residence document)
Family members of EU citizens who themselves are not nationals of one of the EU or European Economic Area member states or Switzerland, need to submit an application for verification against Community Law.
- Application for a residence permit for highly skilled migrants
Highly skilled migrants are employees whose incomes lie above a certain level. They must only obtain a residence permit to legally work in the Netherlands. This group of migrants is exempt from the need for a work permit. In order to submit a request for the permit in question, the employer must enter into a guarantee agreement with Dutch Immigrations.