Do I need a visa to move to the Netherlands as an EU citizen?

No. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens have the right to live and work in the Netherlands without any visa or permit. You simply need to register at your local gemeente (municipality) within 4 months of arrival and obtain a BSN number.

What is the Highly Skilled Migrant permit and who qualifies?

The Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) permit is the main work permit route for non-EU professionals. You need a job offer from an IND-recognised employer paying above the salary threshold (€5,008/month gross in 2025). Your employer applies on your behalf and processing typically takes 2–4 weeks.

What is the 30% ruling and do I qualify?

The 30% ruling (now 27% from January 2027 for new applicants) allows up to 27% of your gross salary to be paid tax-free as an expatriate allowance. You qualify if you were recruited from abroad, lived more than 150km from the Dutch border for 16 of the 24 months before your first working day, and meet the minimum salary threshold (€46,107 gross in 2025). Apply within 4 months of starting work.

How long does it take to get permanent residency in the Netherlands?

You can apply for permanent residency after 5 years of continuous legal residence in the Netherlands. You will need to pass the civic integration exam (Dutch language at A2 level minimum), demonstrate sufficient income, and have no serious criminal record.

Can I bring my family to the Netherlands on a work permit?

Yes. If you hold an HSM permit or equivalent, your partner and dependent children can receive family reunification permits. Your partner will also have the right to work in the Netherlands without needing a separate work permit.

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🇳🇱 Netherlands

Visa & Residency

No visa required

EU/EEA Freedom of Movement

€5,008/mo gross

HSM Salary Threshold (2025)

For workers under 30: €3,672/mo

27% tax-free allowance

30% Ruling Benefit

On qualifying salary; max 5 years

2–4 weeks

Permit Processing Time

Via IND for most employer-sponsored routes

After 5 years

Permanent Residency

Continuous legal residence required

5 years

Path to Citizenship

Plus language (B1) and civic integration requirements

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🚲Amsterdam 🏗️Rotterdam 🏛️The Hague

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Overview

EU and EEA citizens move to the Netherlands freely — no visa, no permit, just register at the municipality within 4 months. For non-EU nationals, the Netherlands offers a structured set of pathways designed to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, students, and family members. The most significant route for professionals is the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) permit, which allows multinational companies and recognised sponsors to fast-track top talent. The 30% ruling — a tax benefit now set at 27% — is available to most qualifying incoming workers and represents one of the most generous expatriate tax breaks in Europe.

Key Takeaways

Register at your local gemeente (town hall) within 4 months of arrival — bring passport and proof of address
Employer must be a recognised IND sponsor — most large multinationals and scale-ups already hold this status
Allows 27% of gross salary to be paid tax-free as an extraterritorial cost reimbursement
ICT permit: for employees transferred within a multinational group; requires 3+ months with the company and a salary above the HSM threshold
Permanent residency available after 5 continuous years of legal residence with a valid permit

EU and EEA Citizens — Free Movement

If you hold an EU or EEA passport (including Switzerland), you have an automatic right to live and work in the Netherlands. There is no visa application, no work permit, and no salary threshold. You simply need to register at your local municipality (gemeente) within 4 months of arrival. The municipality will provide a BSN (citizen service number) — your essential identifier for tax, healthcare, and banking.

Register at your local gemeente (town hall) within 4 months of arrival — bring passport and proof of address
Receive a BSN (Burgerservicenummer) — required to open a bank account, access healthcare, and pay taxes
No minimum salary requirement and no sponsoring employer needed
EU nationals may register at the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) for a residence document after 3 months if desired
Family members from non-EU countries can accompany you under EU free movement rules
After 5 years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency

Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) Permit

The Highly Skilled Migrant permit is the primary route for non-EU professionals moving to the Netherlands for a skilled job. It requires a recognised employer-sponsor (IND-recognised) and a gross salary above the annual threshold. Processing times via the IND are typically 2–4 weeks. The HSM permit is valid for the duration of your employment contract and is renewable.

Employer must be a recognised IND sponsor — most large multinationals and scale-ups already hold this status
Salary threshold 2025: €5,008/month gross (workers under 30: €3,672/month; recent graduates on orientation year: lower threshold applies)
Application submitted by the employer to the IND — individual applicants do not apply directly
Permit duration matches the employment contract (maximum 5 years); renewable
HSM permit holders can switch employers without losing status if the new employer is also recognised
Eligible for the 30% ruling tax benefit (now 27%) if you meet salary and distance criteria
Family members receive a dependent residence permit with full right to work

The 30% Ruling (Now 27%) — Expatriate Tax Break

The 30% ruling — officially now a 27% tax-free allowance — is one of the most valuable financial benefits available to incoming expat workers in the Netherlands. It allows qualifying employers to pay up to 27% of an employee's gross salary as a tax-free compensatory allowance for extraterritorial costs. It applies for a maximum of 5 years and is available to most HSM and other incoming skilled workers.

Allows 27% of gross salary to be paid tax-free as an extraterritorial cost reimbursement
Eligibility: employed in the Netherlands, recruited or transferred from abroad, lived more than 150km from the Dutch border for at least 16 of the 24 months prior to starting work
Minimum salary requirement applies (€46,107 gross in 2025, excluding the tax-free component)
Applied for jointly by employee and employer within 4 months of first working day to receive full benefit; can apply later but retroactive period is lost
Maximum duration: 5 years from first working day in the Netherlands
Holders can also opt to be treated as partial non-residents, excluding certain foreign income from Dutch taxation
The ruling was reduced from 30% to 27% effective January 2027 — those already holding it retain existing terms until expiry

Other Permit Types — ICT, Self-Employed, Partner, and Student

Beyond the HSM route, the Netherlands offers a range of additional permit types for different situations. The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) permit serves multinational transferees, the self-employed (zelfstandige) permit is available for entrepreneurs, and partner and family reunification permits allow dependants of permit holders to join them.

ICT permit: for employees transferred within a multinational group; requires 3+ months with the company and a salary above the HSM threshold
Orientation Year permit (Zoekjaar): available to recent graduates of top-ranked universities worldwide for 12 months to find work in the Netherlands
Self-employed (zelfstandige) permit: requires demonstrating added value to the Dutch economy, viability of the business, and a minimum income level — assessed case by case
Partner/family reunification: available to partners and children of permit holders; partners receive a right to work
Student visa: required for non-EU students enrolled at a Dutch institution; straightforward application via the institution
Asylum and humanitarian routes: available but outside the typical expat pathway

Permanent Residency and Dutch Citizenship

After 5 years of continuous legal residency in the Netherlands, most non-EU permit holders can apply for permanent residency (verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd). Permanent residency grants the right to work for any employer without a permit and to remain in the Netherlands indefinitely. Dutch citizenship follows after 5 years of legal residency combined with civic integration requirements.

Permanent residency available after 5 continuous years of legal residence with a valid permit
Requirements: sufficient income (above social assistance level), no criminal record, and passing the civic integration exam (inburgeringsexamen) or holding a qualifying Dutch language diploma
Civic integration exam covers Dutch language (A2 minimum for PR, B1 for citizenship) and knowledge of Dutch society (KNS module)
Citizenship: available after 5 years of legal residence; requires B1 Dutch language, renunciation of previous nationality in most cases
Dual nationality exceptions: citizens of countries where renunciation is impossible or unreasonably difficult may keep their original passport
EU citizens are exempt from the civic integration requirement for permanent residency after 5 years

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