Netherlands Work Visa Process 2023 – Welcoming you all with another deal to travel abroad to work and make your future. All international candidates looking forward to finding work and a career in the Netherlands are therefore informed to apply for a Netherlands Work Visa to be eligible to enter the country premises. 

If your intention of working or staying is longer than three months, you will have to acquire a work visa for the Netherlands. It is a kind of residence permit that allows foreign visitors to stay for a certain period of time. In many cases, you will also need a work permit and a Dutch residence permit. But not everyone requires a work visa or Permit.

This post will explain who is exempted from the Netherlands Work visa and who requires it for a stay. Furthermore, we will also explain the procedure for getting your hands on your Permit. So, to know more details, please continue reading.

Netherlands Work Visa Process 2023 Details

• Country: Netherlands
• Eligible Countries: Foreigners
• Category: Work Visa

Who is exempted from Netherlands Work Visa?

Those from EU/EEA countries or Switzerland are exempt from acquiring a Netherlands work visa. However, you will still need to register with the personal record database in your local area and get a Citizen Service Number on the condition that your stay succeeds for four months.

People of other nationalities must hold a work visa before entering the country.

Family members of those who belong to EU/EEA countries and Swiss nationals are also exempted from acquiring a residence visa but are required to get a verification against EU law.

Any other candidate of non-EU/EEA countries is bound to get a residence and work permit; otherwise, they are not eligible to enter the country. You can also opt for a Single Permit (known as GVVA) which combines the work permit and residence permit into one. The validity of a single permit is one to three years.

Netherlands Work Visa Requirements?

The requirements for a work visa depend upon the nature of the work you are applying for and the availability of the Dutch Residence permit. However, certain terms and rules must be followed to qualify for a work visa.

Netherlands Work Visa Types 2023.

There are the following types of work visas with each of their requirements, such as;

1. Regularly paid worker
2. Seasonal Labor
3. Intra Corporate transfer
4. Highly Skilled Migrant
5. European Blue Card
6. Orientation year for highly educated persons
7. Researchers under Directive (EU) 2016/801
8. Self-employed individuals/Entrepreneurs/Freelancers

Let’s Discuss these work visa types and check their requirements and conditions.

#1. Regularly paid worker (employee).

This type of work visa is for those international candidates willing to work as labor migrants or regular employees for a company or employer in the Netherlands. Candidates need to fulfill the following requirements,;

• You must have a contract of employment with a company or employer in the Netherlands.
• You must earn the minimum wage for employees over the age of 23.
• Your employer must present proof of ineligibility or incapability of Dutch nationals to perform the job.

#2. Intra Corporate transfer.

Those candidates who work for a company outside the EU countries and need to be transferred to another branch of the company in the Netherlands will be issued an Intra Corporate Transfer work visa for the Netherlands. This visa has the following requirements;

• Applicants must not be a citizen of EU/EEA states or Switzerland.
• Applicants must be citizens of non-EU countries at the time of application.
• Applicants must be working as a specialist or a trainee in management.
• Before transfer, an applicant must have completed three months at a company.
• Applicants must have expertise and qualifications for their position
• Your salary must meet the criteria for workers of highly skilled migrants.
• Your employer or company must show economic activities between both branches.
• The company’s branch in the Netherlands must follow the tax rules 
• Trainee employees must be placed under training programs and not in regular employment programs.

#3. Seasonal Labor.

This type of visa is issued to those international workers who work in the agriculture sector of the Netherlands in particular seasons. The validity of this visa is a maximum of 24 weeks. It requires the following things from an applicant;

• Contract of employment
• Applicants must obtain a Single Permit (a combination of a work permit and residence permit)
• Applicants must earn minimum wage.

#4. Highly Skilled Migrant.

The Highly Skilled Migrant visa is for those candidates who work and serve the Dutch knowledge-based economy. To qualify for this visa, applicants under 30 years old must earn a minimum wage of €3,299, and those over 30 years must earn a minimum of €4,500. The following requirements need to be fulfilled as well;

• Employment contract from your employer or research institute in the Netherlands.
• The candidate must be a recognized sponsor by the IND.
• If you are applying as a scientific researcher, then your employment contract must be signed on behalf of the institution.
• The contract must include the job description and code following the University.
• Suppose you are applying as a doctor in training. In that case, the institute you are training in has to be set out by the Social Medicine Physicians Registration Committee (SGRC), Medical Specialists Registration Committee (MSRC), or General practitioner and Nursing home Physicians Registration Committee (HVRC).
• Training doctors must be registered with the Individual Healthcare Professions, also known as the BIG register.

#5. Self-employed individuals/Entrepreneurs/Freelancers.

Self-employed individuals/Entrepreneurs/Freelancers can apply for a work visa or residence permit in the Netherlands to start their own business. This visa is also called a “startup visa”.

#6. Orientation year for highly educated persons.

The visa is for those students who have completed their education in the Netherlands and whose study visa is expired; then, you are allowed to extend your visa under the orientation year and look for employment opportunities. To obtain this visa, you must have obtained any of the following;

• BA or MA degree from an accredited institute in the Netherlands.
• One year or post-graduate studies.
• Have a previous Dutch visa for scientific research in the Netherlands.
• Obtained an MA degree within an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course.
• Completed education within the Cultural Policy Act.
• Completed postdoctoral studies or Ph.D. at a designated educational institution abroad.

#7. Researchers under Directive (EU) 2016/801.

Candidates who want to work in the Netherlands as a researcher, then you will need to fulfill the following requirements;

• The institute you are going to apply to must be recognized by IND.
• You must have enough qualifications to be allowed as a researcher.
• The institution must approve the research project.
• You have an employment contract with a research institution.
• You must be receiving sufficient monthly income from your employer.

#8. European Blue Card.

The EU (European Union) blue card is issued to non-EU citizens, which allows them to live and work in EU countries except Denmark, UK, and Ireland. You will still need a work permit and visa to work in the Netherlands. There are also a few conditions, such as;

• The contract of employment must be valid for at least 12 months.
• You must hold a higher education diploma from a program of at least three years.
• Nuffic must evaluate the applicant’s higher education certificate.
• Applicants must present proof of meeting the standards of practicing professionals.
• You must earn the minimum of €5,272 per month required wage for EU Blue Card holders.
• The company’s branch in the Netherlands must follow the tax rules and abide by the rules of the Aliens Employment Act.

How to apply for Netherlands Work Visa 2023?

The following steps will explain the procedure for acquiring a work visa;

• Get a job offer or apply as a self-employed individual.
• If you have a job offer, then in this case, your employer will ask for the necessary documents from you and apply for a work permit to IND on your behalf.
• IND will forward your application to the Dutch employment agency (UWV).
• After evaluation, the results will be forwarded to IND.

Those candidates who are not eligible for the Single Permit are:

• Labor migrants on a short-stay visa
• Seasonal workers
• Students
• Asylum seekers
• Intra-company transferees
• Refugees
• Workers in an orientation year
• Family members of single permit holders
• Service providers
• Croatian nationals
• Seafarers