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+.