Minimum Salary Increases for Highly Skilled Workers

The Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) recently began in practice to require Knowledge Migrant program applicants under 30 years of age to be remunerated a monthly gross salary of €3,205.44, up approximately eight percent from the prior minimum of €2,968. For Knowledge Migrant applicants 30 years of age and older, the monthly minimum is now €4,371.84, up from €4,048. Both salary thresholds include holiday allowance payments. 

The IND is rejecting Knowledge Migrant applications in which the foreign national's salary is below the lower thresholds. Employers may use non-salary payments, such as housing or travel allowances, to meet the salary requirements, provided that the allowances are fixed and guaranteed, are expressed as gross payments, and are transferred to a bank account in the name of the employee on a monthly basis. 

The IND recently began imposing these minimum salary requirements, which are higher than provided for under the applicable regulations, without prior notice. The IND confirmed the higher salary thresholds following discussions with Fragomen and has now updated the salary requirements on its website. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is expected to publish amended regulations by the end of the year. 

What This Means for Employers 

Employers should ensure that all relevant teams and managers are aware of the salary increases and plan for any effect on budget. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].


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