About Netherlands

Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in the Netherlands—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.

​The Netherlands is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. If you’re a foreign national looking to visit, live, and/or work in the Netherlands, several options are available.

• Business Visits: As a business visitor and depending on your citizenship, you'll generally enter the Netherlands without a visa, or need to secure a Schengen C Visa from a Dutch consular post before your travel. If you're attending meetings permissible in business visitor status, you may stay up to 13 weeks in a 52-week period (multiple visits are allowed). Specialists installing equipment or receiving training on Dutch products may enter the country once for a stay of up to 12 weeks in a 36-week period (without the need to secure work authorization). Next to these time limitations, the Schengen Area limits stays to 90 days in a 180-day period. If your overall stay exceeds 90 days, you must secure a residence permit.
• Work Authorization: The main work authorization categories in the Netherlands are (1) the EU Intra-Company Transfer Permit, suitable for temporary intracompany transfers of qualified managers, specialists, or trainees from outside the EU; and (2) the Highly Skilled Migrant permit, suitable for skilled staff sponsored by a local company registered with the Immigration Authority as a Recognized Sponsor. If you're temporarily seconded from another EU country, you'll need to comply with Posted Worker requirements in the Netherlands, including if you're an EU, European Economic Area, or Swiss national.​​
• Internships/Traineeships: If you're a trainee, you can obtain a one-year EU Intra-Company Transfer Permit for intracompany traineeships; a 24-week Practitioner permit if you don't have a master's degree; or a one-year internship permit.
• Self-employment: If you are self-employed, you can obtain a two-year entrepreneur permit in the Netherlands. The Dutch Enterprise Agency will assess your professional qualifications, business plan, and added value to the Dutch economy under a points-based system. Upon obtaining this pre-approval, you can apply for an entrepreneur permit. If you are a start-up sponsored by a Dutch business facilitator, you can skip the pre-assessment step and apply for a one-year Start-up visa. If you are a U.S. national, you do not have to submit a business plan or obtain Enterprise Agency pre-approval, but you will need to invest EUR 4,500 in your newly established Dutch business to obtain an entrepreneur permit. You may also be eligible for an investment permit if you invest at least EUR 1,250,000 in a Dutch company or recognized fund that will generate value for the Dutch economy - these applications are highly scrutinized and exceptionally approved.

Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.