Immigration Advisory Since 2014
Netherlands Immigration from UAE & GCC
The Netherlands is a major European hub for international talent and home to the headquarters of ASML, Shell, Heineken, Philips and hundreds of multinationals. The Highly Skilled Migrant route (Kennismigrant) offers one of Europe's most streamlined employer-sponsored pathways with a straightforward permanent residency progression.
Immigration Pathways
Our advisors in Dubai map your profile against official IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) criteria and prepare structured, document-led applications. The figures below are the current official amounts published by the IND, valid for applications submitted between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2026, and are reviewed twice a year by the Dutch government.
Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
The national Highly Skilled Migrant scheme is the route used by most non-EU professionals moving to the Netherlands for work. The employer — not the migrant — submits the application, and only a company recognised by the IND as a sponsor can do so. A recognised sponsor gets access to a faster application track but also takes on ongoing duties: a duty of care toward the employee, an obligation to keep records, and a duty to inform the IND of relevant changes. The gross monthly salary (excluding the 8% holiday allowance) must currently be at least €4,357 for applicants under 30, €5,942 for those 30 and over, or €3,122 under the reduced criterion that applies when someone transitions in directly from an orientation year, research or PhD residence permit. One residence document covers both the right to live and the right to work, so no separate work permit is needed.
Orientation Year for Highly Educated Persons (Zoekjaar)
The orientation year is a job-search permit, not a work permit. It is open to people who, in the three years before applying, completed an accredited Bachelor's, Master's or post-doctoral programme in the Netherlands, or a Master's, post-doctoral programme or PhD at a university the Dutch government has designated abroad. Unlike the Highly Skilled Migrant route, it is applied for personally, with no sponsoring employer required, and it grants up to one year to search for work, take up employment (including as an employee without needing the higher HSM salary first), or set up a business. It is issued once per qualifying diploma and is the standard bridge into the Highly Skilled Migrant scheme, at the reduced €3,122 salary threshold.
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a separate, parallel route for highly qualified professionals with a recognised higher-education qualification and a qualifying job offer. Under the current IND amounts, the standard gross monthly salary requirement is €5,942, with a reduced threshold of €4,754 for recent graduates and certain shortage occupations. After 12 months of legal residence in the first EU Blue Card member state, holders gain enhanced rights to move for work to another EU country under the revised EU Blue Card Directive.
Self-Employment / Startup Visa
For entrepreneurs with an innovative business concept, the Dutch startup permit requires endorsement (a positive advice) from a facilitator officially designated by the Dutch government, alongside proof of sufficient means of support and, once trading, the self-employed income threshold published by the IND.
Permanent Residence After 5 Years
A permanent residence permit becomes available once you have held a valid Dutch residence permit for at least five consecutive years, provided your main residence was in the Netherlands throughout that period, you renewed your permit on time every time, you continued to meet the conditions of your residence purpose, you gave no false information at any stage, and you meet the applicable income requirement. The permanent permit itself has no end date, though the physical document is reissued every five years.
Eligibility at a Glance
Requirements vary by route, but most employer-sponsored applications share the same core conditions:
- The employer is registered with the IND as a recognised sponsor (required for the Highly Skilled Migrant route).
- The gross monthly salary meets or exceeds the published IND threshold for the applicant's age and route.
- A valid employment contract or assignment letter is in place before the application is submitted.
- Health insurance valid in the Netherlands is arranged from the date of arrival.
- Registration with the local municipality (BRP — Basisregistratie Personen) is completed to obtain a citizen service number (BSN).
- Permit conditions are met continuously through every extension, since a gap or breach can affect eligibility for permanent residence later.
How Cosmos Supports UAE-Based Applicants
Cosmos is a CICC-affiliated (Canada) and MARA-affiliated (Australia) immigration advisory group based in Dubai, working with clients across the UAE and wider GCC since 2014. We are not a licensed Dutch legal representative and do not hold Dutch regulatory registration, so our role on a Netherlands case is to assess your profile against the published IND criteria, help you and your prospective employer assemble a complete, accurate document set, and coordinate the paperwork trail between you, the IND-recognised sponsor, and the IND's own online application process.
Where a case needs a step that requires local Dutch professional standing — such as formal legal representation before the IND or a Dutch court — we say so directly and refer you onward rather than take on work outside our scope. Since 2014 our Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Hyderabad-based team has completed over 10,569 client assessments across multiple destination countries, working from official government sources rather than assumptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Highly Skilled Migrant salary threshold?
For applications submitted between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2026, the IND requires a gross monthly salary, excluding the 8% holiday allowance, of at least €4,357 for applicants under 30 and €5,942 for applicants 30 or older. A reduced threshold of €3,122 applies to those transitioning in from an orientation year, research or PhD permit. The IND reviews and republishes these amounts twice a year.
Do I need a job offer before applying?
For the Highly Skilled Migrant route and the EU Blue Card, yes — the application is filed by an IND-recognised sponsor employer on your behalf. The orientation year is the exception: it is applied for personally, without a sponsor or job offer, and gives up to one year to search for work or start a business.
What is the Orientation Year and who qualifies?
It is a one-year, sponsor-free residence permit for job-seeking or starting a business. It is open to people who completed an accredited Bachelor's, Master's or post-doctoral programme in the Netherlands, or a Master's, post-doctoral programme or PhD at a university designated by the Dutch government abroad, within the three years before applying.
How long does IND processing take?
Processing times differ by permit type and are published directly on ind.nl; applications submitted by a recognised sponsor typically move through an accelerated internal track. Cosmos does not control or promise IND processing timelines — we help you submit a complete file to avoid the delays caused by missing documents.
Can my family join me?
Partners and minor children can generally apply for a residence permit to join a Highly Skilled Migrant or EU Blue Card holder, subject to the IND's family reunification conditions, including a separate published income requirement for the sponsoring partner. Each family member's eligibility is assessed individually against current IND rules.
Is Cosmos a licensed Dutch immigration representative?
No. Cosmos is CICC-affiliated (Canada) and MARA-affiliated (Australia); we hold no Dutch legal or regulatory registration and do not represent clients before the IND as a licensed Dutch professional. Our role is eligibility assessment, document preparation and coordination — the formal application is submitted by your IND-recognised sponsor employer or by you personally, in line with IND procedure.
Official & Reference Sources
We work directly from official government sources. Verify any information through these authoritative channels:
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