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Netherlands · Sports

Netherlands GVVA — professional top athlete or coach

9 facts quoted from the official source

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

Route type
Sports
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
7
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

7 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Job offer or appointmentThe football club or any other club... is the sponsor and has to submit an application.
  • Purpose or legal basisThe club sponsors the application; the athlete must compete at the required top level and receive a competitive salary, with extra football criteria.
  • Qualifications or professional authorisationThe top athlete... must play for their club in the highest division... Additional requirements apply to professional... football players.
  • Work authorisation requirementThe IND can only issue the residence permit if UWV issues a positive recommendation.
  • Age requirementThey must... be at least 18 years old.
  • Minimum salaryMinimum of €300,000 if under 21... €600,000 if older than 21 years.checked 2026-07-27
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementYou have a valid passport or other travel document.
What rules you out

1 exclusion quoted from the official source.

  • Material restrictions or case-specific conditionsIn the event of a transfer or loan, the new club must reapply.
Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Initial duration or stay ceilingThe GVVA is valid for a maximum of three years and is linked to a single club.
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every Netherlands route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to Netherlands?
The official source states: Employer-sponsored work route for a non-EU top athlete, professional footballer, coach or trainer meeting strict UWV requirements.

Every answer is quoted from the official ind.nl page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 9 points against the official source; 9 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source ind.nlLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this Netherlands government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other sports routes to Netherlands

1 other sports route to Netherlands.

Schengen short-stay visa — sporting event
Same category, elsewhere

Sports routes in other countries

55 other countries publish at least one sports route. Nearest first.

Germany2 sports routes Belgium1 sports route Italy5 sports routes India4 sports routes Indonesia4 sports routes Japan4 sports routes

Does this route fit your numbers?

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