Skilled work
Highly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant)
The Netherlands' flagship work route. There is no occupation list and no labour market test: if a recognised sponsor employs you above the salary threshold for your age band, you qualify.
Path to settlementPermanent residence permit after 5 consecutive years, with civic integration at A2 and a sufficient, sustainable income.
Requirements and sources
- Gross monthly salary excluding holiday allowance, 2026 amounts: EUR 5,942 if aged 30 or over; EUR 4,357 if under 30.
- Reduced criterion of EUR 3,122/month applies to recent graduates of Dutch institutions, to current or former orientation-year holders, and to people who never held that permit but meet its requirements (see below).
- The employer must be an IND-recognised sponsor (erkend referent) — this is the key gate, not your qualification.
- Salary must also be in line with the market rate for the role.
- Application fee EUR 423. The IND changes the required amounts once a year, on 1 January.
- Reduced criterion applies if you apply within 3 years of graduating/defending, or while holding the orientation-year permit.
- How the degree matters
- There is no formal degree requirement and no occupation list — eligibility is set by salary and sponsor. A Dutch degree, or meeting the orientation-year requirements (including with a qualifying foreign master's or PhD), unlocks the much lower EUR 3,122 threshold if the application is made within 3 years of graduating.
Sources: Required amounts / income requirements (IND) · Highly skilled migrant residence permit (IND)
Job seeker
Orientation year for highly educated persons (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden)
A one-year permit with free access to the Dutch labour market — no work permit, no employer sponsor, any job or internship. Crucially it is open to graduates of certain highly-ranked FOREIGN universities, not only Dutch ones.
Path to settlementNone directly — it is a search year. Holders can switch to Highly Skilled Migrant at the reduced EUR 3,122 threshold.
Requirements and sources
- Valid for 1 year, not extendable; you must apply within 3 years of graduating or defending your doctorate.
- You may work freely, do an internship, or work as a freelancer/entrepreneur — no work permit (TWV) needed.
- Dutch-qualified route: an accredited Dutch bachelor's or master's, a post-master's of at least 10 months, or Dutch research permission.
- Foreign-university route: only a master's, doctorate or post-master's programme counts (a foreign bachelor's does not), and the institution must be top 200 in the general OR subject rankings of at least 2 of 3 publishers — THE, QS and ShanghaiRanking (ARWU).
- The top-200 placing is assessed as at the date of your graduation or doctoral defence, and a subject ranking must match your actual subject. Graduates of foreign universities must also show English (for example IELTS 6.0) unless the programme was taught in English or Dutch.
- The IND publishes no pre-vetted list; you must evidence the rankings yourself.
- How the degree matters
- For a foreign degree, eligibility needs a master's or doctorate and depends on the ranking of the awarding institution on your graduation date (and, if using subject tables, on your specific field). Rankings change every year, so whether a particular SA university qualifies has to be checked for your own graduation year.
Sources: Residence permit for orientation year (IND)
Skilled work
European Blue Card (Netherlands)
The EU-wide highly qualified route as implemented in the Netherlands. Higher salary bar than the under-30 kennismigrant threshold, but it adds EU mobility and does not require a recognised sponsor in the same way.
Path to settlementCounts toward the 5-year permanent residence permit; Blue Card time in other EU states can also count under EU rules.
Requirements and sources
- Gross monthly salary EUR 5,942 (2026 amount; the IND changes it each 1 January).
- Reduced criterion EUR 4,754/month where the sponsor applies within 3 years of your graduation or doctoral defence.
- Higher education diploma from a programme of at least 3 years, relevant to the role.
- Alternatively 5 years' relevant higher-level work experience (3 years for IT professionals) can replace the diploma.
- Valid for a maximum of 5 years, and up to 3 months after the employment contract ends.
- How the degree matters
- Requires a 3-year-plus higher education qualification relevant to the job, or substantial equivalent experience — stricter on qualifications than the kennismigrant route.
Sources: European Blue Card residence permit (IND) · Required amounts / income requirements (IND)
Other
Confidence: medium · check the official page
Residence permit for self-employed person
For starting your own business in the Netherlands. Scored by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on personal experience, business plan and added value to the Dutch economy. A degree alone does not meet the test: every application also needs enough points for its business plan.
Path to settlementCounts toward the standard 5-year permanent residence permit.
Requirements and sources
- Register with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and show the business serves an essential Dutch interest.
- RVO scores three areas — personal experience, business plan, added value; you need at least 30 points in each, or 45+45 on the first two.
- Application fee EUR 423; decision within 90 days, which the IND can extend by up to 6 months if it asks RVO or OCW for advice.
- A separate 'start-up' permit route exists for innovative businesses working with a registered facilitator/mentor.
- How the degree matters
- A degree helps the 'personal experience' score but is not decisive; demonstrable entrepreneurial track record matters more.
Sources: Residence permit for self-employed person (IND)
General information, not immigration advice: confirm current rules with the official sources. Netherlands overview →
