Foreign workers in the Netherlands: legislation overview

Reference

Immigration law

Everything on foreign nationals working in the Netherlands, in one place: from work permits and residence rights to working conditions, social insurance and asylum-seeker provisions. Each topic lists the laws in force, with translations; EU directives are linked to their official texts.

The system in a nutshell: the employer is responsible for lawful employment (Wet arbeid vreemdelingen), residence rights are governed by the Aliens Act 2000, and working conditions and social protection apply to every worker in the Netherlands regardless of nationality.

Work permits

Foreign Nationals Employment Act (WAV) The core act: when a permit (TWV/GVVA) is required and the employer's responsibility Foreign Nationals Employment Act Implementation Decree 2022 (BuWav) Exemptions: who does not need a work permit (including asylum seekers' work) Foreign Nationals Employment Act Implementation Regulation 2022 (RuWav) Procedure: documents, salary criteria and the annexed standards Foreign Nationals Employment Act Notification Regulation Notifying the UWV of permit-exempt work by a foreign national

Residence and status

Aliens Act 2000 (Vw 2000) Entry and residence rights, permit types, asylum (as amended by the 2026 reform) Aliens Decree 2000 (Vb 2000) Detailed rules under the Act: conditions, terms, restrictions Aliens Regulation 2000 (VV 2000) Technical rules and forms Aliens Circular 2000 — Part B IND policy on regular residence permits, including for work Civic Integration Act 2021 (Wet inburgering) The integration duty: exams, routes, loans General Administrative Law Act (Awb) Challenging an IND decision or a fine: objection (bezwaar), appeal, time limits

Working conditions — for every worker

Civil Code — Book 7 (employment contract) The employment contract: pay, leave, dismissal, probation Minimum Wage and Minimum Holiday Allowance Act (WML) Minimum wage and holiday allowance — regardless of nationality Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) Working hours, breaks, night shifts Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) Health and safety at work

Agency work and posting

WAADI — Labour Market Intermediaries Act (temp agencies) Equal pay with permanent staff, agency registration. Full translation coming soon WagwEU — Terms of Employment of Posted Workers in the EU Act Posted workers' rights: the Dutch floor of employment terms. Full translation coming soon

Social security

Unemployment Insurance Act (WW) Unemployment benefit (WW) Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) Sickness benefit Work and Income according to Labour Capacity Act (WIA) Long-term incapacity benefits (WIA) Participation Act (Participatiewet) Social assistance (bijstand) and labour-market participation

Asylum reception and provisions

Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers Act (COA) Who runs reception: the COA's tasks and powers Asylum Seekers Provisions Regulation 2005 (Rva) Reception entitlements: housing, weekly allowance, insurance Provisions for Specific Categories of Foreign Nationals Regulation (Rvb) Support for specific categories outside COA reception

EU directives (official texts)

2011/98/EU — the single permit directive One procedure covering work and residence 2009/50/EC — the EU Blue Card Highly qualified workers 2014/36/EU — seasonal workers 2014/66/EU — intra-corporate transfers (ICT) (EU) 2016/801 — students and researchers 2009/52/EC — sanctions on employers of illegal staff