What is a Highly Skilled Migrant in the Netherlands?
The highly skilled migrant ruling came into effect in 2004. The ruling means that highly skilled migrants enjoy a special status within Dutch law, which includes that they don’t require a work permit.
Non-EU citizens in the Netherlands are highly skilled migrants if they are employed by a recognized sponsor – a company like Nature Bio Foods participating in the highly skilled migrant scheme (kennismigrantregeling) by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). They must also meet the salary requirement. However, this salary requirement is lower for graduates with an orientation year permit. This remains valid for as long as the graduate works at the same company.
A highly skilled migrant is an immigrant from outside the EU (incl. Switzerland) who has permission to work in the Netherlands based on his or her (scientific) knowledge.
How do I qualify as a Highly Skilled Migrant in the Netherlands?
To qualify as a Highly Skilled Migrant to work in Nature Bio Foods, Netherlands, international applicants must have:
- Skills and experience that are relevant to the profile
- A higher educational level (Bachelor minimum).
- Some years of work experience.
- Specialisation (for example in IT, engineering or science).
Which employers in the Netherlands can submit an application?
Only recognized organisations are able to submit applications on behalf of a highly skilled migrant like Nature Bio Foods Europe. That means organisations has to be recognized by the IND as a sponsor.
Recognized sponsorship
A vital requirement of the Dutch highly skilled migrant permit is that the company must be approved as a recognized sponsor by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), which in this case is Nature Bio Foods Netherlands. If the company is not recognized, it cannot apply for the permit.
For the EU Blue Card and the ICT permit, the company does not need to be recognized as a sponsor.
What are the income requirements for a Highly Skilled Migrant in the Netherlands?
Nature Bio Foods Netherlands satisfy income requirement for each category given below. The applicant must also satisfy the minimum monthly income requirements for highly skilled migrants which are (as of January 1, 2022):
- EU Blue Card: € 5,670, excluding the holiday allowance.
- Highly skilled migrant permit, excluding the holiday allowance:
- 30 years old or older – € 5,008
- Younger than 30 years old – € 3.672
- Applicants who’s previously held a ‘search year permit’, a permit as a researcher or graduated from Dutch university in the past three years – € 2,631
- International who submits a highly skilled migrant visa application within three years of obtaining a master’s degree from a top 200 university: € 2,631
What is the length of time for decision for highly skilled migrant permit?
If the employer is a recognized organisation with the IND, the permit should only take two weeks to process in this regards Nature Bio Foods Netherlands. If the employer is not, then they will have to first go through the registration process, which will add to the whole processing time.
