If you are planning to immigrate to the Netherlands in 2026, you will quickly notice that Dutch immigration is not “one system” but a set of residence permits based on your purpose of stay: work, business, study, family, exchange, research, and several special categories.
This article gives an overview of the most common Dutch immigration routes, including who each route is for, the main application requirements, and the typical situations where it makes sense.
Why move to the Netherlands?
People choose the Netherlands because it combines strong career opportunities with long-term legal stability and a high standard of living. Common advantages include:
- International job market (especially for tech, engineering, finance, logistics, life sciences, and academia);
- English-friendly environment in many workplaces and major cities;
- High-quality education (universities and HBO (tertiary) institutions with many English-taught programmes);
- Excellent infrastructure and access to the EU/Schengen region;
- Legal certainty with predictable administrative processes;
- A pathway to permanent residence and potentially Dutch citizenship after lawful residence.
What is “new” for Netherlands immigration in 2026?
Even when visa categories remain the same, the Netherlands updates key figures and policies almost every year.
1) 2026 salary thresholds (Highly Skilled Migrant & EU Blue Card)
For many work permits, the application succeeds or fails based on salary compliance. The IND published the required amounts for 2026 (gross per month, excluding holiday allowance):
- Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM; aged 30+): € 5,942
- Highly Skilled Migrant (aged below 30): € 4,357
- Reduced salary criterion (HSM): € 3,122
- EU Blue Card: € 5,942
- Reduced salary criterion (Blue Card): € 4,754
2) Sponsor compliance matters more than ever
For employer/university/research routes, the recognised sponsor must meet ongoing duties (information duty, record keeping, duty of care, etc.).
3) Fees and required amounts are updated for 2026
IND also announced updated fees and required amounts for 2026. Kindly see the IND website for the application fee of each visa.
How to choose the right Dutch residence permit
Start with your situation:
- You have a job offer in the Netherlands: Employment routes (HSM, Blue Card, GVVA, ICT, elite sportsman etc.)
- You want to start a business or freelance: Self-employed / start-up / treaty route (exclusively for American or Japanese citizens)
- You want to study: Student permit + (often) orientation year after graduation
- You want to join your partner or child: Family reunification
- You are 18–30 and eligible by nationality: Working holiday visa
- You already have EU long-term resident status elsewhere in the EU: EU long-term resident mobility route
- You are a researcher: Researcher permit
- You fall under a special category: “Others” (EU citizens, Brexit, adopted children, humanitarian non-temporary, etc.)
1) Employment visas (work in the Netherlands)
1.1 Highly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant)
Best for: non-EU professionals hired by a Dutch employer that is a recognised sponsor (exception applies to Turkish citizens)
Main requirements
- Your employer must be recognised by the IND and applies for your permit;
- You must meet the salary criterion each month;
- Your job position matches the market rate.
When this route is a strong match
- You have a solid job offer, and your salary meets the threshold.
- Your employer is already an IND recognised sponsor (or can become one) (exception applies to Turkish citizens)
1.2 European Blue Card
Best for: highly qualified professionals who want a work permit with EU mobility advantages and that the employer does not have the recognised sponsorship status.
Main requirements
- A job at a high qualification level and meeting the EU Blue Card salary threshold.
- You qualify for the job position for the market salary rate with your personal academic and/or career qualifications and experiences.
Why clients consider the European Blue Card
- Status protected by the EU law, which overrules the Dutch law;
- Grant certain EU mobilities;
- Residence durations in other EU Member States could be carried forward to the Netherlands for the purpose of applying for the EU permanent residence (conditions apply).
1.3 Search year visa (orientation year / zoekjaar)
Best for: recent graduates and highly educated persons who want one year in the Netherlands to find work (or start a business).
Main requirements
- You must qualify as a “highly educated person” from the selected universities or institutions, and apply within the eligible timeframe (commonly within three years of completing the qualifying study/research).
- The permit is valid for one year and cannot be extended.
Why the orientation year is strategically important
- It is often used as a bridge to Highly Skilled Migrant under the reduced salary criterion (if you meet the conditions).
1.4 General employment (GVVA – Single Permit)
Best for: non-EU workers in paid employment who do not fit the HSM/Blue Card routes.
Main requirements (high level)
- You apply for a Single Permit (GVVA) to live and work in the Netherlands.
- This route typically involves UWV (labour authority) assessment depending on the category and exemptions.
Typical situations where GVVA is used
- The employer is not (or cannot be) a recognised sponsor for HSM.
- The job salary does not meet HSM thresholds.
- The role falls into one of the listed GVVA categories (including certain special jobs).
1.5 GVVA for art and culture sector
Best for: professionals working in arts and culture under the GVVA framework.
Main requirements
- The IND lists “employee in art and culture” as a job category under the GVVA route.
- Exact requirements depend on the role, contract structure, and supporting evidence for professional-level cultural work.
1.6 Intra-corporate transferee (ICT visa)
Best for: managers, specialists, and trainees transferred from outside the EU to a Dutch branch within the same corporate group.
Main requirements (core concept)
- You are transferred by a company from outside the EU to a branch in the Netherlands to work as a manager, specialist, or trainee.
- Maximum issued for three years. It cannot be further extended.
When ICT is the right route
- You already work for a multinational company and are being reassigned to the Netherlands rather than being hired locally.
1.7 Elite sportsman visa (professional athletes)
Best for: professional athletes (e.g. football and top-division sports) joining a Dutch club.
Main requirements (practical reality)
- The IND can issue the permit only if UWV gives a positive advice. Professional ranking of the applicant matters.
- The permit is commonly linked to a specific club and has a maximum validity (as described by IND background guidance).
2) Self-employment visas (entrepreneurs and freelancers)
2.1 Self-employment (traditional route with 3-part scoring system)
Best for: entrepreneurs/freelancers whose business adds value to the Dutch economy and can be supported by strong documentation.
Main requirements
- You are an active shareholder of a Dutch enterprise that is profit driven.
- Your application is assessed using the Dutch scoring system (“business of essential interest”).
The scoring system (simplified explanation) The Dutch scoring system evaluates:
- Personal experience
- Business plan
- Added value to the Netherlands (innovation, investment, job creation, etc.)
Practical insight: This route is evidence-heavy. A professional business plan and a strong track record matter, and applications often fail due to weak “added value” proof, unclear financial projections, or insufficient market evidence.
2.2 Start-up visa
Best for: early-stage founders with an innovative business and a recognised support structure.
Main requirements
- You are endorsed by and work with a recognised facilitator (a reliable mentor/support party) and meet facilitator-related conditions;
- Your business is innovative and contributable to the Dutch socio-economies;
- You must show you can support yourself (income/means requirements apply).
What happens after the start-up year? Many founders transition into the self-employed route, or into a work route depending on the company’s development.
2.3 Citizens of America or Japan (Friendship / Trade treaties)
Best for: US and Japanese nationals who want to start or run a business in the Netherlands under a simplified treaty-based framework.
Main requirements (IND-confirmed) The IND explicitly recognises the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) and the Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty under the self-employed route. IND+1
A key practical requirement is an investment of substantial capital. The IND’s proof-of-income appendix states:
- Capital business investment: minimum € 4,500;
- For NV (listed company): minimum € 11,250;
- No severe criminal record that pose threats to the public safety.
Why this route is popular
- It is often more accessible than the traditional points-based entrepreneur route, especially for freelancers and small business founders, because the treaty route focuses on real business activity and capital investment rather than the full scoring assessment.
3) Student visa
Student residence permit (university or higher professional education)
Best for: international students who want to study in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days.
Main requirements
- Your educational institution applies (as a recognised sponsor).
- The institution must be a recognised sponsor and compliance (enrolment/progress) is monitored during your stay.
After graduation: the common pathway A standard long-term strategy is: Student permit → Graduation → Orientation year (zoekjaar) → Work permit (HSM/Blue Card) or business route
4) Family reunification (partners and children)
4.1 Married, civil registered, and unmarried couples
Best for: partners of Dutch citizens or lawful residents (depending on sponsor status) who can prove a genuine relationship. The IND allows residence for a partner even though both are not married nor in a civil registered partnership but have an attestable relationship.
4.2 Heterosexual and homosexual couples
Dutch partner rules apply based on relationship form and evidence, not sexual orientation. Same-sex and different-sex couples are assessed using the same legal structure under the partner residence permit.
Key requirements for partner residence The IND lists core requirements such as:
- valid travel document;
- verifiable relationship;
- age requirement (generally 21+, with specific exceptions);
- cohabitation;
- sponsor income requirement;
- declaration by sponsor;
- TB test (Tuberculosis, if applicable);
- Civic integration exam abroad (for certain groups of applicants).
4.3 Children (under 18 years old)
Best for: minor children joining a parent living lawfully in the Netherlands.
Key practical themes in child cases include:
- parental authority/custody evidence;
- consent from the other parent where required;
- Proof of family relationship. Bringing a child under 18 may require a residence permit and health insurance arrangements in advance.
5) Working Holiday (WHP/WHS)
Best for: young people (18–30) from eligible countries who want a cultural exchange year in the Netherlands.
Main features (IND)
- For young people aged 18 to 30 from certain countries;
- Main purpose is cultural exchange and getting to know Dutch society.
Working Holiday is usually not designed as a “direct permanent immigration pathway,” but it can be a useful first step to experience the Netherlands and later qualify through study, work, or family routes.
6) Move to the Netherlands as an EU long-term resident (economically inactive)
Best for: non-EU nationals who already hold EU long-term resident status in another EU Member State and want to relocate to the Netherlands.
The IND offers a specific residence permit for economically inactive long-term EU residents.
A useful detail: check this article from Pathway Partners for more application details: Moving to the Netherlands as an Economically Inactive Long-Term EU Resident
7) Researcher’s visa
Best for: researchers from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland coming to the Netherlands under the EU research framework.
Main requirements
- The IND describes the researcher permit under Directive (EU) 2016/801 as a work and residence permit for researchers from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
- The research institution acts as sponsor, and the IND framework can rely on a hosting agreement (rather than a standard employment contract).
Mobility inside the EU (important for researchers) The IND also describes short-term mobility for researchers within the Directive framework (up to 180 days within a 360-day period under specific conditions).
8) Others (important special categories)
This section covers immigration routes many people overlook. These options can be crucial depending on nationality or family situation.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you do not need a residence permit to stay in the Netherlands, though registration rules can apply in specific situations. Non-EU citizens who are the family members of the EU citizens will require the family reunification application subject to the EU law.
Brexit (UK nationals under the Withdrawal Agreement)
UK nationals and their eligible family members may fall under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and can have separate residence document rules, including pathways to permanent status under that framework.
Adopted children
The IND has a specific residence permit category for an adopted child.
Humanitarian temporary and non-temporary (non-asylum)
The IND lists humanitarian temporary and non-temporary residence permits (separate from asylum). These are case-specific and typically require careful legal analysis and evidence.
Practical application tips for 2026 (what Pathway Partners see in real cases)
Even strong candidates get refused for avoidable reasons. In 2026, Pathway Partners sees the same patterns repeatedly:
- Wrong permit choice (e.g., applying self-employed when the facts look like employment, or vice versa);
- Sponsor problems (employer/university not recognised, poor record keeping, late notifications);
- Salary non-compliance (wrong amount, wrong calculation, missing monthly compliance);
- Relationship evidence gaps (partner route often fails on proof quality, cohabitation, or income structure);
- Business evidence weaknesses (self-employed routes require persuasive market proof, realism, and added value documentation).
After 5 years in the Netherlands: permanent residence and Dutch citizenship
A major advantage of moving to the Netherlands is that many legal residents can work toward a more secure status.
Permanent residence in the Netherlands (Dutch permanent residence)
The IND explains that a key requirement for a permanent residence permit is usually having had a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years, with exceptions in specific cases.
EU long-term residence (long-term resident EU)
The IND’s EU long-term residence route generally requires 5 consecutive years of lawful stay and with absence limits (e.g., not being outside the Netherlands too long during the 5-year period).
Civic integration requirement (often required for permanent residence and naturalisation)
For many applicants, passing the civic integration requirement is part of the pathway to a more secure status.
Naturalisation (becoming a Dutch citizen)
The IND states that naturalisation is based on meeting requirements such as:
- lawful residence for 3 years, 5 years or more (exceptions and variations exist);
- passing the civic integration exam;
- meeting public order requirements.
Need help selecting the best visa for the Netherlands in 2026?
The “best” route depends on your nationality, your timeline, your documents, and whether you have a sponsor (employer/university/research institute) or need a route you can manage yourself.
If you share:
- your nationality;
- whether you want to work, study, join family, or start a business;
- where you are currently living (inside/outside NL);
- and your intended start date of entering the Netherlands.
Pathway Partners can identify the strongest route(s) and build an application strategy designed for IND scrutiny.