GVVA seasonal work — agriculture or horticulture

With a residence permit for seasonal work, you can work in the Netherlands in the agricultural sector for up to 24 weeks.

Seasonal work is temporary work in agriculture or horticulture. A residence permit for seasonal work is only required for seasonal workers from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Your employer in the Netherlands is your sponsor. The IND can also recognise your employer as a sponsor. Recognition is not required for the seasonal work residence permit.

You will work for a Dutch company or organisation. Or for the Dutch branch of a foreign company. Your employer’s company or organisation is registered in the Commercial Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel or KvK). This only applies if this registration is compulsory under the Commercial Register Act 2007 (in Dutch: Handelsregisterwet 2007).

Your employer arranges proper housing for you.

This means that the IND must always ask the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) for a recommendation.

You will be working as a seasonal worker in agriculture or horticulture for no more than 24 weeks. You meet the income requirements. You have not been in the Netherlands illegally in the 3 years before your application.

Your employer has first looked for an employee in the Netherlands and the EU/EEA member states. The employer has reported a vacancy for this purpose to an employer’s service point of the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV). Your employer will pay the standard wage that applies under the collective labour agreement (CAO) for this organisation or company.

The GVVA consists of a residence permit and a supplementary document. On the residence permit, it says in Dutch, 'Arbeid toegestaan conform aanvullend document' (work permitted as per supplementary document). The supplementary document also says for which employer you are allowed to work. And under which conditions you may work. With the residence document and supplementary document, you may live and work for your employer in the Netherlands.

The GVVA is valid for up to 24 weeks. The GVVA is never valid for longer than the supplementary document.

Did you previously have a residence ​permit for seasonal work in the Netherlands? And was this no longer than 5 years ago? Then the IND will take a decision on your application within 60 days.