Netherlands
Top Visa Pathways
Most popular and desirable options for skilled professionals
NetherlandsHighly Skilled Migrant Permit
Work permit for skilled employees sponsored by IND-recognized Dutch employers with salary threshold.
NetherlandsEU Blue Card
Highly skilled employment with a recognized degree and salary above the member state threshold. Portable across EU after 12 months.
NetherlandsOrientation Year Permit (Zoekjaar)
12-month job search permit for recent graduates from higher education with unrestricted work rights.
All Visa Pathways(29 visas)
NetherlandsAu Pair — Residence Permit for Au Pair
Non-renewable one-year cultural exchange permit for unmarried, childless non-EU nationals aged 18 to 25 living with a registered Dutch host family.
NetherlandsDAFT Visa (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)
Self-employment visa for US citizens to establish businesses in the Netherlands without points testing.
NetherlandsEU Blue Card
Highly skilled employment with a recognized degree and salary above the member state threshold. Portable across EU after 12 months.
NetherlandsEU Long-Term Residence Permit
Permanent-equivalent residence for non-EU nationals who have legally resided in an EU country for 5+ years.
NetherlandsGVVA 644 — Residence Permit for Seasonal Labour
Employer-sponsored, non-renewable permit for non-EU workers taking cyclical agricultural or horticultural jobs in the Netherlands for up to 24 weeks.
NetherlandsGVVA — Single Permit (Gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid)
Employer-sponsored combined work and residence permit for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals taking paid employment in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, renewable up to 3 years.
NetherlandsHighly Skilled Migrant Permit
Work permit for skilled employees sponsored by IND-recognized Dutch employers with salary threshold.
NetherlandsIntra-Corporate Transfer Directive
Transfer within a multinational company to an EU establishment. Managers, specialists, or trainee employees.
NetherlandsMVV — Student Visa (Type D)
Full-time study at a recognized institution in an EU member state. National visa with residence permit.
NetherlandsNon-Temporary Humanitarian Residence Permit
Five-year renewable residence permit for people already in the Netherlands on temporary humanitarian or family-related grounds, with full labour market access.
NetherlandsOrientation Year Permit (Zoekjaar)
12-month job search permit for recent graduates from higher education with unrestricted work rights.
NetherlandsRe-Entry Visa (Return Visa)
Visa for residence permit holders whose permits become invalid during travel abroad. Allows re-entry to Netherlands to resume residence and collect renewed permits.
NetherlandsResidence Permit for Cultural Exchange
This permit is for individuals participating in a recognized cultural exchange program or voluntary work via the European Solidarity Corps.
NetherlandsResidence Permit for Family Member
Renewable family reunification permit for spouses, registered partners, and minor children joining a sponsor with Dutch nationality or a valid residence permit.
NetherlandsResidence Permit for Family and Partner
Renewable residence permit lasting as long as the sponsor's permit, up to 5 years, for partners and minor children joining a Dutch citizen or lawful resident.
NetherlandsResidence Permit for Medical Treatment
For individuals needing vital medical treatment unavailable in their home country.
NetherlandsResidence Permit for Researcher (Directive (EU) 2016/801)
Renewable residence permit of up to 5 years for non-EU researchers, doctoral candidates, and grant-funded researchers hosted by an IND-recognised Dutch institution.
NetherlandsResidence Permit for Spiritual Ministers
For religious/spiritual leaders working for a recognized organization.
NetherlandsResidence with Minor Dutch Child (Chavez-Vilchez)
EU-law-derived residence right for non-EU parents who are the primary caregiver of a minor Dutch child, valid up to 5 years or until the child turns 18.
NetherlandsSelf-Employment Visa
Residence permit for establishing self-owned businesses, with points-based assessment (13% approval rate).
NetherlandsShort-stay Schengen visa (Type C)
Schengen Type C short-stay visa for tourism, business, or family visits to the Netherlands for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
NetherlandsStart-up — Residence Permit for Startup (Start-up)
One-year non-renewable permit for non-EU entrepreneurs developing an innovative product or service under a recognised Dutch facilitator or incubator.
NetherlandsStudy — Residence Permit for Study
Renewable permit for non-EU students enrolled full-time at a Dutch university or HBO institution, valid for the study duration plus 3 months up to 5 years.
NetherlandsType A — Airport Transit Visa (Type A)
Visa for transit through Schengen airport international zone without entering the territory.
NetherlandsType D — National Work Visa (Type D)
Long-stay national visa for employment in a specific Schengen country exceeding 90 days.
NetherlandsType II — Permanent Regular Residence Permit (Type II)
Indefinite residence status for foreign nationals who have lived lawfully in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years, renewed as a document every 5 years.
NetherlandsType III — Asylum Residence Permit
Free humanitarian residence permit for individuals in the Netherlands facing persecution or serious harm in their home country, renewable for 3 years from June 2026.
NetherlandsWHP-WHS — Working Holiday Program (WHP/WHS)
A cultural exchange program for young people from specific partner countries.
NetherlandsWork experience under an EU programme
Fixed-term, non-renewable work authorization of up to 1 year for non-EU nationals gaining structured experience via an EU-funded programme like Erasmus+.
Latest News
The Netherlands in the News
Recent coverage on visas, policy changes and life in the Netherlands
Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant Visa: The Go-To Route for Skilled Workers in 2026
No points test. No Dutch language exam for the permit. The Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant route puts the focus on your job offer, employer and salary. Here is how sponsorship, the 2026 salary thresholds, family rights and the path to permanent residence work.
What Is the EU Blue Card? 25 Countries, Salary Thresholds and Permanent Residency, Explained (2026)
The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for skilled non-EU workers, issued by 25 EU countries under a shared EU directive.
What Is a Transit Visa? Rules by Country
A transit visa lets you pass through a country on your way to another one — it is not a tourist visa and does not let you stay. Here is what it actually covers, when you need one, and how the rules differ across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Schengen Area, Japan and Singapore.