If the worker is going to work in the Netherlands for 90 days or less, he/she needs a short-term visa. You must also apply for a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV).

Short-stay visas -also known as Schengen category C visas, valid for up to 90 days.

You can use this visa for business travel, business trips and short-term employment contracts of less than three months.

How do I apply for this visa?

You can apply for this visa at the Dutch embassy or consulate. In addition, your company must apply for a TWV from the Dutch Workers' Insurance Agency (UWV) (in Dutch). 

You must apply for a short-stay Schengen business visa and provide the following

1. Valid passport or tourist card
2. Last two passport photos
3. Confirmation that you can support yourself financially during your stay, e.g. bank statements (about 55 euros per day).
4. Certificate of medical insurance
5. Accommodation data covering your stay
6. Confirmation of your job offer
7. Details of your return flight, confirming that you will leave the Netherlands when you have completed your work.

You should receive a decision on your visa application within 15 days. If your visa is granted, you will normally have to pick it up at the embassy or consulate.

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Cost of visa

This visa costs 80 euros. Payment must be made together with the application form.

Visa duration

Short-stay visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period and cannot be extended except in exceptional circumstances.

If you want to work in the Netherlands for a period longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a Netherlands work visa.

A work visa for the Netherlands is a residence permit issued to foreign nationals who wish to enter the country for the purpose of employment.

In many cases, along with a Dutch residence permit, you must also obtain a work permit. However, not everyone needs a visa or residence permit to enter and stay in the Netherlands

What are the requirements for a Dutch work visa?

The requirements for a work visa in the Netherlands vary depending on which Dutch residence permit available for work you apply for. However, there is a set of standard requirements for any Dutch visa that you must meet. Then, depending on the type of work visa you will need, there will be additional requirements as shown in the following sections.

💡 To ensure a safe move to a new country, we advise you to contact a specialist. Our qualified specialists with legal education will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

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Types of work visas to the Netherlands

Each type of Dutch work visa has its own set of requirements and conditions.

1) For permanent paid work (employment)

If you want to work in the Netherlands as a regular employee (labor migrant), you will need a Dutch work visa for regular paid work.

Requirements for a Dutch work visa for an ordinary employee:

- You need an employment contract with an employer in the Netherlands

- You must be paid at least the minimum wage for employees over 23 years old

- Your employer must prove that the position could not be filled by a Dutch or other EU/EEA citizen

2) For seasonal work

The Dutch seasonal work visa is granted to persons who will perform seasonal work in the Netherlands in the agricultural sector. A Dutch seasonal work visa can be issued for a maximum period of 24 weeks.

Requirements for a Dutch seasonal work visa include:

- An employment contract with an employer in the Netherlands

- Obtaining a single permit (combined residence and work permit)

- You must be paid a minimum wage or percentage

3) Intra-corporate transfer

If you work for a company in a country outside the European Union (EU) and plan to transfer to a branch of that company in the Netherlands, you will need a Dutch work visa.

The requirements for an intra-corporate transfer to the Netherlands include:

- You cannot be a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland

- You must be a resident of a non-EU country when applying

- You must work in management, as a specialist or as an intern

- You must have worked for your company for at least three months before the transfer

- You have the qualifications and experience required for your position

- Your salary must meet the criteria for a highly skilled migrant

- You will be living in the Netherlands for most of your transfer

- There must be economic activity between your employer and the branch in the Netherlands where you are transferred

- You cannot have a previous transfer to this company immediately before applying

- The branch to which you are transferred cannot have been fined within the last 5 years for violating Article 2 of the Employment of Foreigners Act or for non-payment (or insufficient payment) of payroll tax or employer's insurance contributions

- Trainee employees must undergo an internship program, not a regular employee program

4) For highly skilled migrants

Highly skilled migrants are sometimes called "knowledge workers". These are foreign nationals who will contribute to the Dutch knowledge-based economy. To be considered a highly skilled migrant, you must earn a certain income. If you are under 30 years old, you must earn a minimum of 3,299 euros; if you are over 30 years old, the minimum salary is 4,500 euros.

Other conditions applicable to highly skilled migrants:

- You need a contract with an employer or an academic institution in the Netherlands

- The employer must be a recognized IND sponsor

- For researchers: your employment contract is signed on behalf of the institution

- For academic researchers: the contract must contain a job description and code according to the university's job classification system (UFO).

- For doctors in training: the institute where you are studying has been designated by the Medical Specialist Registration Committee (MSRC), the Social Care Registration Committee (SGRC) or the General Practitioners and Nursing Homes Registration Committee (HVRC).

- For doctors in training: you must be registered in the Register of Individual Health Professions, also known as the BIG register.

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5) European Blue Card

The European Blue Card is a work permit that allows non-EU nationals to live and work in any EU country except Denmark, Ireland and the UK. To work in the Netherlands with an EU Blue Card issued in another country, you will need a work visa and a work permit in the Netherlands.

You must also meet the following conditions:

- The employment contract must be valid for at least 12 months

- Diploma of higher education with a program of at least three years

- Your higher education certificate must be evaluated by Nuffic

- You must prove that you meet the standards of your profession

- You must receive the required amount of salary set for EU Blue Card holders: the minimum is 5272 euros per month

- The branch office you are transferring to could not have been fined within the last 5 years for violating Article 2 of the Act on the Employment of Foreigners or for non-payment (or insufficient payment) of payroll tax or employer's insurance contributions

6) For an orientation year for highly educated persons

If you have completed your studies in the Netherlands and your Dutch visa has expired, you can apply for an additional year to find a job. You can apply for a work visa in the Netherlands for an orientation year within three years after graduation.

To be eligible for an orientation year, you must have done one of the following

- Completed an accredited Dutch bachelor's or master's degree program

- Completed at least one year of postgraduate studies in the Netherlands

- Held a previous Dutch visa for scientific research in the Netherlands

- Received a master's degree within the framework of an Erasmus Mundus master's course

- Completed a higher education program defined by the Ministerial Decree

- Completed a study proposed for the development cooperation policy of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- Completed research in the Netherlands within the framework of the Cultural Policy Act

- Completed a master's or post-doctoral degree or received a doctorate from a designated educational institution abroad

7) For researchers under Directive (EU) 2016/801

To work in the Netherlands as a researcher under Directive (EU) 2016/801, you must meet the following requirements:

- Have sufficient higher education to be admitted to a doctoral program

- The Dutch research institution where you will conduct your research is a recognized IND sponsor

- The research project you will be working on has been approved by the institution

- You have an employment contract/agreement with the research institution

- You will receive sufficient monthly income from your employer or grant/sponsor

8) For self-employed individuals, freelancers and entrepreneurs

You can apply for a self-employed work visa in the Netherlands (residence permit) if you intend to stay in the Netherlands to start your own business or work as a freelancer.

The requirements for a Dutch work visa for self-employed persons are stricter than for other types of work visas. There are certain conditions that you need to fulfill and, depending on your case, you may also be eligible for a Dutch "start-up" visa.

How to apply for an employment visa in the Netherlands?

Applying for a work visa in the Netherlands depends on the type of work you intend to do.

To work in the Netherlands, you will need both a residence permit in the country and a separate work permit to obtain a work permit. However, some applicants can apply for a single permit that combines both of these permits into one. This is called a GVVA and can be issued for one to three years.

In most cases, your employer has to apply for your work permit or single permit. They can do this directly at the IND after receiving all the necessary documents from you. The IND will then forward the application to the Dutch Employment Agency (UWV), which will assess it and inform the IND of the decision.

Who can apply for a general permit (GVVA)?

Foreign workers who come to work in the Netherlands with a visa and apply for a general permit:

1) Regular migrant workers

2) Interns

3) Practitioners

4) Ministers of religion/spiritual leaders

5) Teachers of international education

6) Some foreign nationals working in the Asian restaurant industry

Who needs a separate residence and work permit (TWV)?

If you are unable to apply for a single permit, your employer must apply for a separate work permit on your behalf. However, you or your employer can apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands. If you are applying on your own, you can do so at the Dutch embassy/consulate in your home country.

Excluded from the Single Permit:

- Labor migrants on a short-term visa

- Seasonal workers

- Students

- Asylum seekers and refugees

- Internal corporate employees

- Employees for an orientation year

- Family members of one-time owners

- Service providers

- Seafarers

There are several steps to starting a business in the Netherlands:

1. Choose a unique company name. This will not only set you apart from your competitors, but it is also a requirement of the Trade Act, according to which your name must not have any repetitions and must already be registered. An exception may be a strong difference in the type of activity.
2. Have the company's deed of incorporation notarized. The procedure must be carried out by a qualified notary. The cost depends on the company, but on average it is 1700 euros.

How to register a new company in the Netherlands?

New businesses must register with the Dutch Commercial Registry of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK). An accountant knows everything about the registration procedure. After registration in the commercial registry, the Chamber of Commerce will transfer your data to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst). Dutch private and public limited liability companies must be registered through a civil law notary. The notary will take care of the registration with the Dutch tax administration on your behalf. Additional note: most of the forms you need to fill out are in Dutch.

Can I start a business in the Netherlands as a non-EU citizen?

If you want to set up an innovative company (startup) in the Netherlands as a non-EU citizen, you can apply for a Dutch startup visa or the self-employment version. You can find more information about this on the website.

How much does it cost to register a company in the Netherlands?

The minimum cost of starting your business in the Netherlands is about 50 euros, which covers the registration of your company at the Chamber of Commerce. For businesses with a registered structure (e.g. BV), you will need a notarized deed, which will cost approximately 1300 euros. Note that you no longer need start-up capital to register a BV.

How long does it take to register a company in the Netherlands?

It takes approximately 4 weeks for a company to be fully operational. It consists of the following steps:

- Obtaining the necessary information and filling out the forms.

- Verification of forms and identification.

- Registration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

- Filling out a tax form and obtaining a tax number.

- Obtaining a VAT number.

What documents do I need to start a business?

The standard package of documents requires:

• Passport (originals and copies).
• Extract from the place of official residence.
• Tax identification numbers (TIN) of officials (director, beneficiary).
• Name of the offshore company in the Netherlands.
• A list of the types of business you plan to engage in.
• The legal address of the company in the Netherlands.
• Your contact information.

Areas for starting a business in the Netherlands:

- Opening food enterprises (production of bakery products, beer, cheese).

- Entrepreneurial startups in the field of modern technologies.

- Machine-tool and machine-building enterprises.

- Companies specializing in the chemical and oil refining industries.

- Construction companies.

- Growing and exporting flowers.

- Travel agencies.

- Trade in office equipment.

When choosing a business area, please note that financial companies, restaurant business, medical services and construction are subject to licensing.

The Dutch government offers many options for business development assistance and exempts small businesses (ZZP) from taxes for the first 2 years.

Business visa

If you want to travel to the Netherlands for business purposes, you may need to apply for a business visa to the Netherlands.

A Dutch business visa is a Schengen visa for the Netherlands (also known as a short-term visa or C visa). The Schengen visa allows the holder to travel anywhere in the Schengen area, including the Netherlands, for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period.

Applying for a business visa to the Netherlands

To apply for a business visa to the Netherlands, you must follow these steps:

1. Check if you need to apply for a business visa to the Netherlands.
2. Find out where to apply.
3. Find out when is the best time to apply.
4. Book an appointment.
5. Compile the document file.
6. Attend the interview.
7. Pay the visa fee.

If you are a citizen of a country that requires a visa to enter the Netherlands, you need to apply for a business visa.

You do not need a visa to the Netherlands if you have a residence permit or a long-term visa issued by another Schengen country.

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Find out where to apply

You can apply for a Netherlands business visa at the Dutch embassy/consulate in your home country. If there is no Dutch embassy/consulate in your country, you will need to find out which Schengen country embassy/consulate they have transferred visa applications to.

You should apply for a business visa to the Netherlands in this way:

1. At the embassy/consulate of the country in which you intend to spend most of your time - if you intend to stay longer in one particular country.
2. At the embassy/consulate of the country that will be your first stop - if you will spend the same amount of time in each.
3. Before applying, you need to make an appointment and collect the necessary documents.

Find out when is the best time to apply

You can apply for a business visa no later than 15 working days before your trip, and at the earliest - three months before your trip. However, it is recommended that you apply at least three weeks before your trip.

Book an appointment

Before applying for a Dutch business visa, you need to book an appointment. This can be done online or in person, depending on the country.

Gather the package of documents

The required documents for a business visa to the Netherlands include:

• A completed and signed application form for a business visa to the Netherlands.
• Photos in accordance with Schengen rules.
• Copies of any previous visas along with all entry/exit stamps.
• Full itinerary of your stay in the Netherlands.
• Your passport or identity document, as well as: a copy of the personal data page of your passport; copies of any previous personal data pages of your passport.
• Proof that you have accommodation during your stay in the Netherlands.
• Proof that you have the means to support yourself during your stay (at least 34 euros per day).
• Adequate health insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay in the Netherlands.
• A certificate of no criminal record. Proof that you do not pose a "risk to public order or national security".
• Confirmation that you will return to your home country after your visit. 
• Confirm that your visit is for business or cultural purposes. This may include: confirmation of sponsorship from the person sponsoring you; invitation to participate in a conference; hotel reservation.
• An invitation from the company you will visit or the organizer of the event or training.
• Confirmation of paid fees for a Dutch business visa.

Attend the interview

You must attend the interview in person with the required documents. On the day of application, you will also have a visa interview and pay the non-refundable Dutch business Schengen visa fee.

Pay the visa fee

You will have to pay the Dutch business visa fee, which is 80 euros per application.

Those who are exempted from the Netherlands visa application fee include:

1. children under six years of age.
2. academic researchers.
3. family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
4. students or teachers traveling for the purpose of study or training.
5. persons under the age of 25 traveling to participate in non-profit organizational events.

How long does it take to get a business visa to the Netherlands?

Your Netherlands business visa application can take 15 to 30 business days to process. In some cases, it may take longer, and in others, it may take less. Therefore, be sure to consult with the officer responsible for processing your application.

However, you can apply for a Dutch visa no later than 15 working days before your trip, and three months beforehand at the earliest.