The Dutch Highly Skilled Migrants Scheme 2018

The Dutch labour market is becoming more and more international. The number of international employees within Dutch organisations and businesses grows. For people from outside the European Union it is possible to come to the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant. But what is a highly skilled migrant? A highly skilled migrant is a highly educated foreigner with the nationality of a country from outside the EU and Switzerland who wants to enter the Netherlands in order to contribute to our knowledge-based economy.

What are the conditions for hiring a highly skilled migrant?

If an employer wants to bring a highly skilled migrant to the Netherlands, the employer will need to be a recognised referent. In order to become a recognized referent, the employer will need to submit a request to the Immigration- and Naturalisation Service (IND). Thereafter the IND will decide whether or not the employer will be qualified as a recognised referent.