The Dutch workforce (7.86 million people in 2010) is internationally oriented, highly educated and multilingual. Unemployment is relatively low at 5.5 percent, and workers' rights are strongly protected. The demand for highly skilled workers remains high and there are incentives for international employees such as the 30 percent ruling (a tax benefit scheme) and fast-track highly skilled migrants programme (no separate work permit application required).  According to figures from the immigration department (www.ind.nl), in 2010 there were 4,720 applications for a regular provisional resident permit (MVV) under this scheme and 5,880 applications for regular resident permits from highly skilled migrants.

Work permits

If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national and want to work in the Netherlands, in most cases your employer will need to apply for a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV).. There are a number of exceptions, some of which are listed below. The permit is specific to the job and employer, and is issued for a specific employee and for a specified period (up to three years). Work permits and residency status are intimately connected. The IND site (www.ind.nl) has detailed information on coming to the Netherlands to work as an employee or on a self-employed basis, as well as the financial and other conditions that need to be met. Once your employer has been issued a work permit, you can start to work: You must have applied for a residence permit but you do not have to wait for the IND's decision on your application. If the residence permit application is rejected though, the work permit is no longer valid. The consequences of illegal working can be severe for both employer and employee.

Who doesn't need a work permit?

The main exceptions are:

• EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (except Bulgarians and Romanians who need a work permit for a year and the ‘proof of lawful residence' permit).
• Highly skilled migrants.
• Self-employed workers (their eligibility for residency is assessed by the IND).
• Workers on short assignment (performers, musicians, guest lecturers, journalists etc.).
• Those with a residence permit or passport sticker stating ‘Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV is niet vereist' (free to work, no work permit is required).

Partners: who can work?

If you are allowed to work in the Netherlands then generally your spouse/partner and children are also allowed to work. How quickly you can start work depends on the status of your working partner (EU/EER resident, knowledge migrant etc.), whether you have an MVV, and whether applications for residency for you and your partner are filed at the same time (advisable). You may need to wait until you have received your residence permit before you can start to work.

Work permit through employer

Work permits are initiated by employers who apply to the UWV WERKbedrijf  (www.werk.nl) with supporting evidence,  such as copies of advertisements, postings on the Internet, statements from agencies. Your employer has to show that the position cannot be occupied by an EU/EEA national. This supporting evidence is not necessary in case of in-company transfers, internships and most scientific jobs. For a company to apply for a work permit, the candidate must be aged between 18 and 45. If an MVV is required for a particular applicant, the employer can start the application process at the IND (‘a request for recommendation for an MVV'). After a positive response, the applicant applies for the MVV in his own country and applies for a residence permit once in the Netherlands..

After three years of employment with a work permit and a residence permit in the Netherlands, the employee is free on the labour market. Employers can employ you without needing a separate work permit. In case your residence document is being renewed your new labour market position will be mentioned as ‘Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV is niet vereist'.

Working in the Netherlands (part II)

Our bumper feature on working in the Netherlands continues with Working in the Netherlands (part II) which includes information on changing jobs, job-hunting, highly skilled migrant scheme, guidance for entrepreneurs and the self-employed, volunteers and working culture.

Ask-the-expert your employment query

Do you have any questions on employment in the Netherlands?

Ask our experts via our Ask-the-expert section under the Employment category.

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Updated by the IND, April 2011.

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