Western Europe · Immigration

Netherlands

131 immigration routes

Netherlands sits in Western Europe. Its immigration system runs 131 distinct routes — led by work, family and humanitarian protection, each set out in official law. All 131 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
131across 18 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
131 of 131cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work25 of the 131 routes — see them under Work below
Region
Western Europe
Capital
Amsterdam
Population
18,087,633
Official language
Dutch
Currency
EUR
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 131 routes, grouped by purpose — 131 of 131 cite an official government source directly.

Work

from USD 690/mo
25 routes

Employee assembling, repairing or training on goods/software supplied by the foreign company under the dedicated GVVA branch.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Employee inspecting delivered goods or transferring special knowledge for a foreign customer under the dedicated GVVA branch.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Single-permit route for an employee of a foreign employer undertaking a structured Dutch work placement to gain experience for the home-country job.

Income from €2,337/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 4
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Single-permit route for an HBO/university internship by a current foreign student or recent graduate.

Income from €1,168.50/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Single-permit route for a compulsory MBO-level internship by a student enrolled abroad and nearing completion.

Income from €1,168.50/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Combined residence and work permit for non-EU seasonal work in Dutch agriculture or horticulture for no more than 24 weeks.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Investment

1 route

Business & self-employment

5 routes

Temporary route for a British independent professional directly supplying covered services to a Dutch client under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Talent & merit

from €1,635.90/mo
9 routes

Work route for an employee who is essential to an innovative Dutch start-up and receives the applicable reduced 2026 salary.

Income from €3,122/mo
Eligibility: 3Documents: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

European Blue Card route for highly qualified non-EU employment in the Netherlands at the applicable 2026 salary threshold.

Income from €4,754/mo
Eligibility: 5Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 4
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

European Blue Card route for highly qualified non-EU employment in the Netherlands at the applicable 2026 salary threshold.

Income from €5,942/mo
Eligibility: 5Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 4
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Highly skilled migrant route through an IND-recognised employer at the applicable 2026 salary threshold.

Income from €5,942/mo
Eligibility: 4Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Highly skilled migrant route through an IND-recognised employer at the applicable 2026 salary threshold.

Income from €3,122/mo
Eligibility: 3Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 6
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Highly skilled migrant route through an IND-recognised employer at the applicable 2026 salary threshold.

Income from €4,357/mo
Eligibility: 4Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Work-and-residence route for a paid researcher, grant-funded researcher or doctoral candidate at an IND-recognised Dutch research institution.

Income from €1,635.90/mo
Eligibility: 5Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Study

4 routes

Pilot residence route to complete the last year of a full-time Dutch mbo-4 vocational programme through a participating recognised sponsor.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 1
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Residence route for a non-EU student admitted to qualifying full-time secondary or vocational education where the Netherlands is the most appropriate country for the study.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Family

from €2,337/mo
19 routes

Derivative-asylum family-reunification route for a qualifying close family member of a person granted asylum in the Netherlands.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Derivative-asylum family-reunification route for a qualifying close family member of a person granted asylum in the Netherlands.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Family-reunification route for a foreign partner joining a Dutch national or eligible Dutch residence-permit holder.

Income from €2,337/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Family-reunification route for a foreign partner joining a Dutch national or eligible Dutch residence-permit holder.

Income from €2,337/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Family-reunification route for a foreign partner joining a Dutch national or eligible Dutch residence-permit holder.

Income from €2,337/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Family route for a minor foreign foster child who was already part of the sponsor's family and meets the care and consent requirements.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 4
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Independent means

2 routes

Residence-based status

from €1,635.90/mo
5 routes

Indefinite long-term EU status after qualifying residence in the Netherlands, with facilitated mobility to other participating EU states.

Income from €1,635.90/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Indefinite regular residence for a person with at least five consecutive years of qualifying Dutch residence and a current non-temporary purpose.

Income from €1,635.90/mo
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 4
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Free movement

6 routes

Residence under EU free-movement law for an EU, EEA or Swiss national carrying out genuine and effective employed work in the Netherlands.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27

Residence under EU free-movement law for an EU, EEA or Swiss national carrying out genuine and effective self-employment in the Netherlands.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 1
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27

Residence under EU free-movement law for an EU, EEA or Swiss student enrolled in the Netherlands with health insurance and sufficient resources.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Report facts: 1
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27

Withdrawal Agreement document for an eligible UK national who worked in the Netherlands as a frontier worker before the end of the transition period and continues to qualify.

Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27

Youth mobility

11 routes

Up-to-one-year au pair cultural-exchange route through an IND-recognised au pair agency and qualifying host family.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 4Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Argentina national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Australia national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Canada national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Hong Kong national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Japan national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young New Zealand national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young South Korea national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Taiwan national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

One-year cultural-exchange route for an eligible young Uruguay national, with work allowed only to support the stay.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

GVVA internship branch for a Canadian student or recent graduate aged 19–30 under the Young Workers Exchange Program.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Cultural, religious & volunteer

6 routes

Up-to-one-year cultural exchange route through an IND-recognised exchange organisation and host family.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Report facts: 7
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Single-permit route for qualifying religious service as a monk, nun or missionary.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Single-permit route for paid work as a spiritual counsellor, religious-education teacher or minister.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 6
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Single-permit route for specified top-segment occupations in dance, classical music, opera, musical, theatre or stage.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Short stay & visit

6 routes

Humanitarian protection

1 of 14 says who you can bring
14 routes

Temporary protection status in the Netherlands for persons from Ukraine who fall within the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

Can bring: children, parents
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27

Repeat-protection route where a person applies for asylum again, for example because the country situation or personal circumstances changed.

Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27

Ancestry & return

6 routes

For a former Dutch citizen whose Dutch nationality was withdrawn or given up because another nationality was not relinquished, who had lived in the Netherlands for at least three consecutive years when the Dutch nationality was obtained.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Report facts: 4
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

For a person under 18 who lived in the Netherlands for about ten consecutive years with Dutch nationality or lawful residence, or five recent years in a case-specific assessment, and whose reception and legal representation there is arranged.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 2Report facts: 2
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

For a person who has asked the District Court of The Hague under Section 17 of the Netherlands Nationality Act to establish that they are Dutch, where the IND accepts the decision may be awaited in the Netherlands.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Medical treatment

4 routes

Sports

2 routes

Employer-sponsored work route for a non-EU top athlete, professional footballer, coach or trainer meeting strict UWV requirements.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 6
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Transit

2 routes

Other & special

4 routes

Special residence route for the specified NATO employee or family-member situation.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Report facts: 1
Official government source: ind.nl · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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