In this guide
Quick overview: use our visa and permit finder tool to get a first indication of which route applies to your specific situation.
The basics: who needs a work permit?
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are free to work in the Netherlands and do not need a residence permit for work (IND). Anyone with another nationality, including UK and US citizens, needs a residence permit or work permit. The main routes are:
- GVVA, the gecombineerde vergunning verblijf en arbeid (single permit): a combined residence and work permit
- TWV, the tewerkstellingsvergunning: a work permit only, applied for by the employer at UWV
- Highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant): a residence permit for highly skilled work, with a salary requirement
- Other routes, such as the intra-corporate transferee permit, the European Blue Card, the orientation year and the permit for self-employed persons
Understanding which one applies to you is the starting point.
TWV vs GVVA: the key difference
| TWV | GVVA | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Work authorisation only | Residence permit and work permit combined |
| Who applies | Employer, at UWV | Employer, at the IND |
| When | Employee works at most 90 days in the Netherlands (UWV) | Employee works longer than 90 days (UWV) |
| Decision | UWV: within 5 weeks | IND: legal decision period of 90 days |
| Cost | See uwv.nl | €423 IND fee in 2026, including the single permit |
UWV adds that it differs per situation which work permit the employer has to apply for. The employee cannot apply for a TWV themselves.
When a TWV applies
A TWV is the work permit that UWV issues to an employer who employs someone from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland. Some employees need a TWV alongside a residence permit, such as a student who wants to work next to their studies: the IND says a student may work a maximum of 16 hours per week, or full time in June, July and August, and the employer needs a TWV for this.
When a GVVA applies
If an employee works in paid employment for longer than 90 days, the employer applies for a GVVA. The GVVA combines the residence permit and the work permit. The employer starts the application; you cannot apply for it yourself.
The highly skilled migrant route (kennismigrant)
A highly skilled migrant needs a residence permit, and only an employer recognised by the IND can apply for it (IND). A salary requirement applies. The thresholds for 2026 are:
| Category | Minimum gross monthly salary (without holiday allowance) |
|---|---|
| Age 30 and over | €5,942 |
| Under 30 | €4,357 |
| Reduced criterion (recent graduates, orientation year) | €3,122 |
| Scientific researchers / EU Blue Card | Separate criteria |
These are the amounts valid from 1 July 2026 up to and including 31 December 2026 (IND, required amounts). The IND decides on an application from a recognised sponsor within a legal decision period of 90 days; if the application is complete, the target decision period is 2 weeks.
Read the full breakdown in our highly skilled migrant visa guide.
Employer responsibilities: what your company must do
1. Recognised sponsor, or a work permit request at UWV
For the highly skilled migrant route the employer must be recognised by the IND as a sponsor. You can check the IND public register, which is updated once a month. For a regular work permit, the employer applies for the TWV or GVVA.
2. Labour market test for a regular work permit
For a regular work permit (reguliere arbeidsplaats), UWV requires the employer to:
- look for a suitable candidate in the EU/EEA or Switzerland for at least 3 months, for example online, via (international) employment agencies and through advertisements;
- report the vacancy to UWV at least 5 weeks before applying for the work permit;
- send documents with the application, such as a copy of the draft employment contract or employer’s declaration, copies of diplomas with a translation into Dutch or English, an assessment of the diploma by IcDW or Nuffic, evidence of the search for a candidate and an explanation of the selection procedure.
UWV states that it checks whether the work can be done by an employee from the EU/EEA or Switzerland. The permit for a regular work position is valid for a maximum of 2 years (UWV). Conditions differ per group of employees, so check UWV’s conditions for your category.
3. Application and fees
The employer submits the application and pays for it. For the IND, a decision period of 90 days starts once the application has been paid; if the employer used direct debit a decision is often taken within two weeks, according to the IND. The fees in 2026:
- TWV via UWV: see uwv.nl
- MVV (entry visa, if required): applied for together with the residence permit
- IND residence permit: €423 for a GVVA (including the single permit) and €423 for a highly skilled migrant
Required documents
The documents depend on the permit. UWV lists the documents the employer sends for a regular work permit (see above). For the IND, the employer states on the application form that the employee meets the conditions and keeps the supporting documents.
Official foreign documents for an IND application usually have to be legalised and translated (IND). The IND does not legalise or translate documents itself:
- Translation: a document that is not in Dutch, English, French or German must be translated into one of these languages. In the Netherlands the translator must be sworn in by a Dutch court (register: bureauwbtv.nl); you can also have it translated abroad, in which case you usually have to legalise both the document and the translation.
- Validity: for most documents the IND does not look at the issue date; a declaration of unmarried status is only accepted if it is not older than 6 months.
- Legalisation takes time, so start early. Information on where to legalise is on the website of Netherlands Worldwide.
For apostille and legalisation, see our apostille and document legalisation guide.
After approval, you will need to register at your municipality (gemeente) and get your BSN. See the BSN registration guide for the full process.
Decision periods
The IND must decide within a legal decision period (IND, decision periods):
| Application | Legal decision period |
|---|---|
| Paid employment (GVVA) | 90 days |
| Highly skilled migrant | 90 days (target 2 weeks if a recognised sponsor submits a complete application) |
| Change of employer with a valid permit | 45 days |
| Orientation year and other regular temporary permits | 90 days |
For a TWV, UWV decides within 5 weeks after the application. A decision can take longer when the IND or UWV still needs documents or information. The total time from job offer to arrival also depends on the labour market test above, which takes at least 5 weeks for the vacancy notification alone.
The MVV: entry visa requirements
An MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf) is an entry visa, a visa sticker (type D) in your passport, for people who want to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days (IND). You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time, usually via your sponsor. With the MVV you travel to the Netherlands and collect your residence permit.
You do not need an MVV if you have the nationality of one of these countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, Switzerland or an EU/EEA member state (IND, checked 8 October 2026). There are also exemptions for specific situations; see the IND page on MVV exemptions. The IND does not recommend staying in the Netherlands while the MVV procedure runs.
Other routes
Seasonal work
The IND has a residence permit for seasonal work in the agricultural sector for a maximum of 24 weeks. Family members cannot come with a seasonal worker.
Intra-corporate transferees (ICT)
If your company transfers you from outside the EU to a branch in the Netherlands as a manager, specialist or trainee, the intra-corporate transferee permit is a separate route. The IND fee is €423. Check the IND page for the conditions.
Freelancers and self-employed
A GVVA is for paid employment. If you want to work as a self-employed person, you need the IND residence permit for self-employed persons. Read our ZZP and freelancer guide for the full picture.
Work permit vs residence permit
- Work permit (TWV): authorises an employer to employ you; issued by UWV
- Residence permit: authorises you to live in the Netherlands; issued by the IND
A GVVA combines both. The highly skilled migrant permit is a residence permit that does not run through the TWV procedure.
If you are not sure which route applies to your situation, use our visa and permit finder tool.
Costs and fees
| Fee | Who pays | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| TWV (UWV) | Employer | See uwv.nl |
| IND residence permit (GVVA) | Employer | €423 |
| IND residence permit (highly skilled migrant) | Employer | €423 |
| IND orientation year (first application) | Applicant | €254 |
| Legalisation and translation of documents | Applicant | Depends on the country and the translator |
Protecting yourself during the gap period
Dutch basic health insurance must be arranged as soon as possible and no later than 4 months after you arrive; coverage applies from the day of arrival. Read the Dutch health insurance guide for expats to understand your options and obligations.
The 30% ruling
If you are recruited from abroad, your employer may be able to apply the 30% ruling, which lets part of your salary be paid tax-free. For 2026 the salary norm is €48,013 per year, and €36,497 if you are under 30 with a Dutch academic master’s degree or an equivalent degree obtained abroad. The maximum tax-free allowance is €78,600. The Belastingdienst also sets conditions on where you lived before you came; read them before you count on it.
If you apply within 4 months of starting work, the ruling applies retroactively from the start of employment; a later application means you lose the benefit for the earlier period.
Read the full conditions in our 30% ruling guide.
Checking your salary against the market
Before you sign, compare your offer against Dutch market data with our salary checker tool. Salary also matters for the permit itself: the highly skilled migrant route has a salary requirement, and the employer states on the IND application form that the employee meets it.
After your permit expires
When your permit approaches expiry, your employer must apply for an extension in time. If you change jobs, the IND has a change-of-employer procedure (see decision periods above), so contact the IND or your new employer before you start the new job. For employment contract rights and conditions, read our Dutch employment contract guide.
Common reasons for delay
These follow from the conditions above rather than from a published list of refusal reasons:
- Salary below the requirement: for a highly skilled migrant the gross monthly salary, without holiday allowance, must reach the amount for your category. Confirm with your employer which components count.
- Employer is not a recognised sponsor: only a recognised employer can apply for a highly skilled migrant permit. Check the IND register before the application.
- Documents not legalised or translated: see the document section above, and start legalisation early.
- Labour market test not met: for a regular work permit, UWV needs the evidence of the 3-month search and the vacancy notification at least 5 weeks before the application.
- Application incomplete: the IND and UWV decide after they have all documents and information.
After you arrive: the first steps
- Register at your gemeente within 5 days of arrival if you come to live in the Netherlands for longer than 4 months; registration is free and gives you a BSN (Rijksoverheid). If you are still waiting for a residence permit you do not have to register within 5 days. See our BSN registration guide.
- Follow the instructions in your approval letter about collecting your residence permit.
- Arrange Dutch health insurance within 4 months of arriving. See the Dutch health insurance guide.
- Check whether an integration obligation (inburgering) applies to your permit type.
Working holiday visa in the Netherlands
What it is
The working holiday programme is a cultural exchange programme for young people aged 18 to 30 from certain countries. The main purpose is to get to know Dutch society and culture (IND, checked 6 October 2026). You do not need a sponsoring employer, but the work you may do is limited (see below).
Which countries are eligible?
You can only apply if you have the nationality or a passport of one of these countries or territories: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Uruguay and South Korea. With any other nationality you cannot apply for this permit (IND). The UK and the US are not on the list.
| Country or territory | How you apply |
|---|---|
| Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong, Taiwan | MVV needed; apply at a Dutch representation. Maximum 100 participants per country per year |
| Japan, South Korea | No MVV; apply directly online. Maximum 200 participants per country per year |
| Australia, New Zealand, Canada | No MVV; apply for the residence permit directly (online, by post or at an IND desk if you are in the Netherlands) |
The IND says that for 2026 the maximum for Japan was reached on 7 April 2026, so Japanese applicants can apply again from 1 January 2027. Check the IND page for the current position.
Age limits
The age limit is the same for all nationalities: you must be at least 18 and no older than 30 at the time of the application (IND). The age is checked on the date of the application, so leave yourself enough time.
How to apply
The process depends on your nationality (see the table above). The requirements include:
- You have not previously held a residence permit in the Netherlands
- A return ticket, or enough money to buy one
- Enough money for your stay, without social benefits from Dutch public funds
- Insurance that covers healthcare costs in the Netherlands
- You meet the conditions of the agreement with your country, for example that you live in your country of nationality when you apply
The application costs EUR 85 (IND, checked 6 October 2026). Applicants from Australia, New Zealand and Canada who are still abroad can apply online no earlier than 90 days before they travel.
Work restrictions
- Occasional work only: the permit says that work is allowed only to financially support your stay. You may work full-time, but not the whole year for the same employer, and you may not work as a self-employed person
- Duration: the permit is valid for a maximum of 1 year and cannot be extended
- Not for permanent settlement: it is a temporary regular residence permit (type I) with the purpose of cultural exchange
For health cover during the working holiday period, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is a flexible option: it can be started from your home country before you travel and continued month-to-month while you settle in. Once you are registered in the Netherlands and have a BSN, you will need to switch to a Dutch basisverzekering.
Post-study work rights: the orientation year (zoekjaar)
What the orientation year allows
The orientation year is a residence permit for highly educated people who want to look for work in the Netherlands after graduating, doing a doctorate or carrying out scientific research (IND). It is for one year at most, and you do not need a sponsoring employer. According to Government.nl, graduates and researchers with this permit are free to work in the Netherlands during the orientation year. Freelance work and starting a business are covered by their own IND conditions, so check them before you invoice clients.
Who qualifies?
The permit is meant for foreign students who studied in the Netherlands, foreign students who graduated from a top university outside the Netherlands, and foreign scientific researchers who carried out research in the Netherlands (Government.nl). You can apply within three years of graduating, so you can also apply straight away. According to the IND, a degree from a foreign institution qualifies if the institution is in the top 200 of at least two of the general rankings (Times Higher Education, QS, ARWU).
The reduced salary criterion for a highly skilled migrant permit after the orientation year is €3,122 gross per month in 2026 (without holiday allowance, IND, valid from 1 July 2026).
How to apply
You apply to the IND yourself, not through an employer. The IND fee for a first application is €254. The IND website asks a few questions about your nationality and situation and then shows the conditions that apply to you.
Freelancing
If you work as a freelancer, register with the KvK (registration fee €85.15 in 2026) and register for income tax and, where it applies, VAT with the Belastingdienst. Our ZZP and freelancer guide covers the setup.
After the orientation year
After the year you can switch to a different residence purpose if you meet its conditions, for example a highly skilled migrant permit with a recognised sponsor at the reduced salary criterion, or the permit for self-employed persons. Otherwise you have to leave the Netherlands. The orientation year runs for one year at most, so use it purposefully.
Work permits for specific nationalities
The rules apply to all non-EU nationals, with differences by nationality mainly in:
- whether you need an MVV (see the list above);
- whether the working holiday programme exists for your nationality;
- how your documents are legalised.
UK and US nationals are exempt from the MVV requirement (IND). UK nationals lost EU free movement after Brexit and use the same routes as other non-EU nationals. The UK and the US are not on the working holiday list, so the orientation year (for graduates) or employer sponsorship are typically the main routes.
Use the visa and permit finder tool to check the requirements for your nationality and situation.
Summary: which route is right for you?
| Your situation | Route to check |
|---|---|
| Skilled job with IND-recognised employer and salary at or above the threshold | Highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) |
| Regular employment, more than 90 days | GVVA |
| Short-term work, at most 90 days | TWV |
| Transfer from a non-EU company of the same group | Intra-corporate transferee permit |
| Freelance or self-employed | Residence permit for self-employed persons |
| Partner of a permit holder | Dependent residence permit |
| Recent graduate | Orientation year (zoekjaar) |
| Eligible nationality (AR, AU, CA, HK, JP, NZ, TW, UY, KR), age 18 to 30 | Working holiday visa |
Your employer does most of the application work; your job is to have the right documents ready. If you have just started the process, read our partner visa guide if your partner is also relocating, and our complete moving to Netherlands guide for the full relocation checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a TWV and a GVVA?
A TWV (tewerkstellingsvergunning) is a work permit only; the employer applies for it at UWV. A GVVA (gecombineerde vergunning verblijf en arbeid, the single permit) combines the residence permit and the work permit. According to UWV, an employer applies for a TWV if the employee works in the Netherlands for at most 90 days, and for a GVVA if the employee works longer than 90 days. Which one applies depends on the situation.
How long does a Dutch work permit decision take?
For a GVVA the IND has a legal decision period of 90 days. For a highly skilled migrant applied for by a recognised sponsor, the legal decision period is also 90 days, with a target of 2 weeks if the application is complete. For a TWV, UWV says the employer receives a decision within 5 weeks after applying. A decision can take longer if documents or information are missing.
Who applies for a Dutch work permit, the employer or the employee?
The employer. UWV states that the foreign employee cannot apply for the TWV themselves, and the IND describes the employer (sponsor) as the party that submits and pays for the residence permit application. The current IND fees are shown in the cost section of this guide.
Does my employer need to prove no Dutch worker is available?
For a regular work permit, yes. UWV requires the employer to first look for a suitable candidate in the EU/EEA or Switzerland for at least 3 months, and to report the vacancy to UWV at least 5 weeks before the work permit application. UWV also checks whether the work could be done by an employee from the EU/EEA or Switzerland. Other permits, such as the highly skilled migrant permit, have their own conditions; check the IND page for your situation.
Can I switch jobs on a work permit?
Permits for paid employment are linked to the employer. The IND has a procedure for a change of employer while your residence permit is still valid: with a complete application the legal decision period is 45 days, and if the IND has not decided within that period you may work for the new employer for the rest of the validity period of your current permit. Ask the IND or your new employer before you start the new job.
Is health insurance required before a work permit is approved?
You must arrange Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) as soon as possible and no later than 4 months after arriving; coverage applies from the day you arrived (Government.nl). Travel insurance or a plan such as SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is for the period before you move, not a replacement for Dutch insurance.
Can I get a work permit in the Netherlands without a job offer?
For paid employment, no: the employer applies for the permit. The IND has other routes that do not run through an employer, such as the orientation year permit for recent graduates, which lets you look for work in the Netherlands for up to one year, and the permit for self-employed persons. Conditions for each are on the IND website.
Is there a working holiday visa for the Netherlands?
Yes, but only for citizens of nine countries or territories: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Uruguay and South Korea (IND, checked 6 October 2026). You must be 18 to 30 at the time of the application. The permit is valid for a maximum of 1 year and cannot be extended. It allows occasional work to support your stay, not self-employment, because the main purpose is cultural exchange. Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan need an MVV and apply at a Dutch representation; Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and South Korea apply for the residence permit directly. The application costs EUR 85.
Can I work during the orientation year after graduating?
Yes. According to Government.nl, graduates and researchers with an orientation year residence permit are free to work in the Netherlands during that year. You can apply within three years of graduating. Whether and how you can work as a freelancer is set out in the IND conditions for the permit, so check them before you invoice clients.