Continued from our feature Working in the Netherlands (part I)

Any changes in your work or partnership status must be reported to the IND. When applying to extend a residence permit, your circumstances will be assessed again in reference to the original application.

If you change jobs, the same rules apply as for the first permit you were granted. So if you worked with a separate work permit, your new employer needs a new work permit as well. If you worked as a highly skilled migrant, your new employer needs to be eligible to apply for residence permits based on the highly skilled migrant scheme.

The main exception is that, after three years working on any given residence permit which allowed you to work (such as for (marriage)partners or labour with a work permit, excepting highly skilled migrants), you no longer need a separate work permit. After three years of legal stay as a highly skilled migrant you can change your purpose of stay into ‘labour' which allows you to work without a work permit and without meeting the requirements for the highly skilled migrants scheme.

If you have a highly skilled migrant residence permit and you change jobs, you do not need to change your permit. Your new employer will need to send proof to the IND that you still meet the requirements of the highly skilled migrant scheme and send in your contract to prove that you still earn the required salary.

It is essential to apply for a new resident permit before the old one expires. If you wait for more than two years after the expiry date, you will most probably have to leave the country to obtain a new visa (MVV) in your home country.

Highly skilled migrants

To be able to employ expats under the highly skilled migrant scheme, employers must sign a statement with the IND. If the employment contract is issued for an indefinite period, the residence permit will be issued for a maximum of five years. If it is a fixed-term contract, the residence permit will be issued accordingly. Partners of highly skilled migrants can work without a work permit, though they do require a residence permit. If the highly skilled migrant (and/or their partner) has an MVV they can start to work immediately. Otherwise they need to wait until the residence permit comes through. They are legally permitted to work in this interim period if they visit the IND desk and get a sticker for their passport which proves that they have applied for a residence permit.

Self-employed/entrepreneurs

Conditions for granting residency based on self-employment (for non-EU/EEA/Swiss) are that "with your business activities you must be serving a material Dutch economic purpose."  A point system is used to assess  this. Your personal experience, business plan and what you expect to offer to the Netherlands (innovation, job creation, investment etc.) is taken into account. You will also need to prove you have the appropriate qualifications for carrying out your business. If you have a residence permit for an independent entrepreneur, you are also allowed to work as an employee provided the UWV WERKbedrijf has issued a work permit to your employer..

Dutch American Friendship Treaty

American citizens (under 60) who wish to start up a business in the Netherlands can apply under this scheme which has been in operation since 1956. They don't need to satisfy the Dutch economic interest conditions as above, but they do need to be registered at the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, www.kvk.nl), have accounts verified by a qualified accountant, a business plan and substantial capital, and they cannot apply for social welfare.

Students

There are no restrictions on working hours for students who are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; they don't need a work permit. All other nationalities can only work if a work permit has been granted. Regarding the hours these nationals are allowed to work , there are two options: full-time seasonal work in June, July and August or part-time work (max. 10 hours a week) throughout the year. The employer or agency must apply directly to the UWV WERKbedrijf for a work permit and the permit will be valid for the same period as the university registration.

Working holiday schemes

Those (aged 18 to 30) from Australia, Canada or New Zealand can apply under these schemes to live and work in the Netherlands for one year. Conditions include proof of sufficient funds.

Job hunting

Recruitment agencies are big in the Netherlands and several specialise in recruiting non-Dutch nationals. It's worth exploring every avenue, from Internet job engines such as www.intermediair.nl or the popular www.monsterboard.nl, to sector-specific sites (architecture, biotechnology, finance etc.). UWV WERKbedrijf portal www.werk.nl has a useful list including EURES, the European job mobility portal (www.eures.info). Expat forums like Expatica have employment listings (www.jobs.expatica.com/nl). Getting a job through personal contacts is quite common, so don't be shy about making a direct enquiry to a company or dropping in to a branch of an agency or uitzendbureau.

Vacancy (vacature) advertisements are covered in all Dutch newspapers and senior positions at international companies are often placed in English. The list of companies that are eligible for applying for highly skilled migrants is a useful source and can be found on the IND site (www.ind.nl).

Skills in demand

Expats with French, German, Flemish and Scandinavian language skills are always in demand, according to expat agency Undutchables. There is a (worldwide) shortage of engineers and those with technical skills. The job market is also strong for those in finance and IT, sales and marketing and customer service. Be flexible and open-minded; don't write off specific areas or industries when job-hunting.

The first part of this feature, Working in the Netherlands (part I) covers Work permits and partners. 

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Photo credit: top picture lumaxart