Global mobility services

Grant Thornton’s Global mobility specialists can assist you, among other things, with visas, employment permits and residency permits.

Working in the Netherlands

Having expats working in the Netherlands brings many challenges. Both for the employer and for the expat. Our specialists will gladly help you with questions around immigration and working in the Netherlands.

Grant Thornton can assist your organisation with:

• requesting permits under rules for knowledge migrants;
• registering your organisation with the Dutch Bureau of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND);
• requesting employment permits and extensions;
• requesting residency permits and extensions.

Knowledge migrants

Knowledge migrants are expats who make use of the 30% rule. These expats have to adhere to specific rules for income, their knowledge and the minimum length of their employment contract. As an employer you have to be registered with the IND to be able to take part in the knowledge migrants programme. By taking part in the programme:

• expats can easily and quickly legally work and live in the Netherlands;
• the work and residency permits are dealt with and awarded simultaneously.

Work and residency permit other expats

Not all foreign employees who come to work in the Netherlands have the status of knowledge migrant. For this group of expats, Grant Thornton can be your partner in ensuring the optimal conditions are set when filing the work permit requests. The permit could for example be based on an ‘intercompany’ transfer or a traineeship.

Are you an expat? Naturally we can help you as an individual too, to apply for the correct residency permit(s) for you and your family.

Expatcenter Amsterdam

We have been chosen as one of the partners of the Expatcenter Amsterdam, owing to our professional approach and expertise. As a partner of this government institution, we work in close cooperation to better meet the needs of Dutch employers as well as foreign individuals.

Employing expats in the Netherlands contributes to an exciting and fresh workplace, and allows for candidates with specialized skills to immigrate and be an asset to your company. This process can be daunting for both the company involved, the employee, and their family. But Global Mobility Services (GMS) makes the process less stressful and easier on all involved parties. 

To be eligible for a highly skilled migrants visa, the employee has to:

• You meet the general requirements.
• You have an employment contract with an employer or research institution in the Netherlands recognised by the IND (see also: Recognized Sponsor).
• You meet the salary standards below, and the salary is in line with the average market rate.

Salary standards 2023

The IND has announced the new salary standards for highly skilled migrants in 2023:

The new salary standards apply to all applications (new employees and renewals) submitted in 2023.

GMS is here to ensure your employees and their families possess their entry visas on time, and help filing the residence permit applications with the IND, as well as guiding the employee throughout the process from the document submission to the collection of the permit, and registration in the Netherlands.

Becoming a registered sponsor with the IND is one way for companies to make the process quicker for their expat staff. Furthermore, in future applications for residence permits, the company will have to submit fewer documents as they are already approved by the IND. GMS is here to help companies understand their obligations as a sponsor, as well as the many benefits this recognition has to offer.
Your company or organisation must meet several criteria to be recognised as a sponsor:

• Your organisation is registered in the Commercial Register in the Netherlands (the Chamber of Commerce (KvK).
• The continuity and solvency of your organisation is sufficiently guaranteed, and the organisation is not insolvent nor granted suspension of payment and has no outstanding tax debts.
• Your organisation, directors and officers and other natural persons and legal entities involved in your organization are reliable.
• Your organisation complies with the Code of Conduct that applies to your organisation.
  • Does your organisation carry out activities such as assigning personnel for payment? In that case, your organisation must be listed in the register of the Labor Standards Foundation (SNA).
• Depending on the type of company, additional requirements may be in place – contact us to find out more!

Our GMS team is here to guide you through the entire process of becoming a registered sponsor. We will act as your liaison with the IND throughout the entirety of the process, including filing the necessary paperwork, and answering any and all questions that may arise throughout the process.

The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty is a great opportunity for American entrepreneurs to enter the Dutch market and establish their company. Furthermore, it can allow for active American businesspeople to lead operations in the Netherlands. In situations like this, a limited liability company (BV) or a freelancing company (ZZP) must be established, or you must work for a company in the situations listed below. Regardless, we can provide advice on which route best suits your situation.

The DAFT also makes it easier for Dutch persons in certain professions to obtain a visa for the US.

We are happy to help you with every step of the DAFT, from meeting the requirements to ensuring you maintain the requirements of your permit. We are here to make the process simpler for you and your company.

• You have the American nationality.
• One of these situations applies to you:
  • You trade between the Netherlands and the United States of America.
  • You develop and lead the business operations of a business in the Netherlands (You must meet one of the following conditions).
    1. You represent a US business and have a key position at that company. 
    2. You practice an independent profession. 
    3. You invest a lot of money (substantial capital) in your business. For most forms, the IND requires a minimum investment of €4,500.

The Dutch-Japanese Friendship Treaty is a great opportunity for Japanese entrepreneurs to enter the Dutch market and establish their company. Furthermore, it allows for active Japanese businesspeople to lead operations in the Netherlands. In situations like this, a limited liability company (BV) or a freelancing company (ZZP) must be established, or you must work for a company in the situations listed below. Regardless, we can provide advice on which route best suits your situation!

We are happy to help you with every step of the process, from meeting the Treaty’s requirements to ensuring you maintain the requirements of your permit, we are here to make the process simpler for you and your company.

• You have the Japanese nationality.
• One of these situations applies to you.
  • You trade between the Netherlands and Japan.
  • You develop and lead the business operations of a business in the Netherlands (You must meet one of the following conditions).
    1. You represent a Japanese business and have a key position at that company.
    2. You practise an independent profession.
    3. You invest a substantial capital in your business. For most forms, the IND requires a minimum investment of €4,500.

Universities and research institutes can employ researchers from outside of the EU under the Directive (EU) 2016/801. These residence permits may be obtained for those who wish to carry out educational research at a Dutch institute.

The following requirements apply to a researcher residence permit:

• You are going to work in one of the following positions:
  • Paid researcher;
  • Unpaid researcher with a grant;
  • Doctoral (PhD) candidate.
• You plan to conduct research at a research institute in the Netherlands which is a recognised sponsor.
  • You can check the public register of recognised sponsors whether your employer has been recognised as a sponsor.
• You have a higher education degree.
• Your employer has approved fundamental components of your research project.
• You have an employment contract or a host agreement with your employer.
• You are going to earn sufficient income. 

If you are Dutch, an EU national, or have a long-term Dutch residence permit and reside in the Netherlands, you have the right to have your family join you. To do so, you must meet the criteria below. Common mistakes in IND applications can cause extensive wait times.  With our expertise, the process is faster and more thorough.

For your partner:

• You are in a long-term relationship, are married, or in a registered partnership.
  • Were you already married to your partner when both of you still lived abroad? And is your marriage valid under private international law? In that case, if both of you are above 18 years old, you can already submit an application.
• Both of you are 21 and older.
• Your partner is going to live with you in the Netherlands and register at your address.
• You have the Dutch nationality, or you have a valid Dutch residence permit.
  • Do you have a residence permit on non-temporary humanitarian grounds? Or a residence permit as an economically inactive long-term EU resident? Then, you need to live in the Netherlands for at least 1 year with a valid residence permit. This does not apply if you are now living abroad and are moving to the Netherlands together. It also does not apply, if it is in the interest of your minor children that your partner relocates to the Netherlands.
• You meet the income requirements.
• You declare that you are your partner’s sponsor.
• Your partner has passed the civic integration exam abroad if necessary.
  • This requirement does not apply if your partner does not require a Provisional residence permit (MVV).

For a minor child:

• Your child is under 18.
• Your child has not started a family of their own.
• Your child belongs to your family and was part of your family abroad.
• Your child will live with you in the Netherlands and register at your address.
• You have Dutch nationality or a valid Dutch residence permit.
  • Do you have residency as a family member, an economically inactive long-term resident or on non-temporary humanitarian grounds? Then you must have lived in the Netherlands for at least 1 year with a valid residence permit.
• You meet the income requirements.
• You are your child's guardian.
  • Is the other parent still in the country of origin? And does that parent also have parental responsibility for the child? In that case, the parent has to sign a declaration of consent, giving permission for your child to move to the Netherlands.
• You declare that you are your child’s sponsor. The sponsor is the person who brings a child to the Netherlands.

To qualify for a residence permit as a self-employed person, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your work is of essential interest to the Dutch economy.
• You are registered in the Trade Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel).
• You meet the requirements to practice your profession or to start working as a self-employed person.
• You meet the income requirements. This must be evident from your business plan.
• If you are a freelancer, you must have at least 1 commission in the Netherlands. Working as a freelancer means that you have no boss and accept separate commissions.

Our Global Mobility team can ensure your application is as strong as possible and can walk you through the procedure step by step. We can assist you with and advise you about the Dutch scoring system regarding your company being of “essential interest to the Dutch economy”.