🇳🇱Netherlands immigration routes

Every route we track for Netherlands, with the official source behind each one.

7

routes tracked

2

need no employer sponsor

2

map to permanent residence

Routes

• EU Blue Card (Europese blauwe kaart)

  The Netherlands implements the EU Blue Card under the (recast) EU Blue Card Directive (EU) 2021/1883, administered by the IND as a work-and-residence permit for highly educated migrants employed by a Dutch sponsor.

  • Employer sponsor required
  • Leads to permanent residence

  View route details

• Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) — National Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme

  The Netherlands' national Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) scheme is the country's most-used route for knowledge workers, run by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) as an employer-sponsored, salary-based permit: the migrant does not apply independently — only a company the IND has registered as a …

  • Employer sponsor required

  View route details

• Orientation Year for Highly Educated Persons (Zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden)

  The Dutch Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) residence permit, issued by the IND, is a self-sponsored bridge permit: a person who has graduated, obtained a doctorate, or carried out research can use it to look for work in the Netherlands without needing an employer or sponsor up front.

  • No employer sponsor needed
  • Leads to permanent residence
  • About 3 months

  View route details

• Residence permit for partner

  The Dutch partner permit lets a foreign spouse, registered partner or unmarried partner live in the Netherlands with a sponsor who already lives here.

  • Sponsorship not yet read

  View route details

• Residence Permit for Self-Employed Person (Zelfstandige)

  The Dutch Self-Employed Person (Zelfstandige) residence permit, issued by the IND, is for people who want to start a business in the Netherlands, or to work as a self-employed artist there — a self-sponsored route with no employer required.

  • No employer sponsor needed

  View route details

• Start-up (Residence Permit for Start-ups)

  The Dutch Start-up residence permit, issued by the IND, lets a person come to the Netherlands to start an innovative business, referred to by the IND as a 'start-up'.

  • Sponsorship not yet read

  View route details

• Student residence permit for university or higher professional education

  The Dutch student residence permit is unusual in that the student is not the applicant.

  • Sponsorship not yet read

  View route details

Fursa is an independent information service, not a law firm or a registered immigration adviser. We link every figure to the official source so you can check it yourself.