
Executive Summary
Effective January 1, 2018, minimum salary levels will increase by approximately 2 percent. Government filing fees will increase by 1.3 percent.
Minimum salary increases
Effective January 1, 2018, the new minimum salary levels will be as follows:
Employers should ensure they comply with the new salary requirements for initial and renewal applications filed on or after January 1, 2018
Additional requirements
- Benefits and allowances. Benefits and allowances may only be included if they are:
- specified in the employment contract or assignment letter;
- are guaranteed and fixed;
- are not paid in kind;
- are received on a monthly basis; and
- holiday allowance is not considered part of the salary for immigration purposes.
- Market salary rate. As an additional requirement, foreign nationals must also be paid at a similar rate as local employees in the same position.
- Currency. Employers are required to guarantee the salary in Euro regardless of payroll location and/or exchange rate fluctuations.
- EU Intracompany Transferees. The salary threshold applies to managers and specialists. A salary under the threshold is allowed if it meets the market salary rate, but will automatically trigger a market conformity check, where the labor authorities check whether the foreign worker’s salary is similar to that of a local employee in the same position. This could take up to an additional five weeks
- Fulfilling criteria of orientation year permit. As this is referred to above, foreign nationals who fulfill the requirements of the orientation year permit include foreign nationals who graduated from a Dutch university in the last three years; were scientific researchers or obtained a PhD in the Netherlands; or those who graduated from a top 200 university (per the Times Higher Education Work University Rankings; QS World University Rankings; and/or Academic Ranking of World Universities).
Government filing fee increases
Effective January 1, 2018, government filing fees will increase as follows:
This shows a typical annual increase in fees.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions
Senior Manager Jonathan Hill noted that stricter UKVI audits and asylum claim reviews are driving more student visa action plans.

Media mentions
Partner K. Edward Raleigh and Associate Anna I. Perina explore how changing immigration enforcement is affecting workforce planning and compliance for US employers.

Blog post
Corporate Services Manager Asfandyar Sheikh and Assistant Corporate Services Manager Ka-Ying Leung provide guidance for businesses on the legal and procedural requirements for amending their AoA in Saudi Arabia.

Blog post
Counsel Susan Steger discusses how US employers can navigate ongoing green card delays and shifting visa bulletin trends to better support foreign talent and workforce planning.

Media mentions

Awards
WirtschaftsWoche names Fragomen to its "Best Law Firms 2025" list and Partner Axel Boysen to its "Best Lawyers 2025" list in the field of migration law for private individuals.

Awards
Fragomen is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Legal Guide 2025.

Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna discusses the potential option of decentralizing work permit issuance in Canada, emphasizing the need for clear coordination between the provincial and federal governments.

Video
Fragomen FC hosts are joined by Manager Alexander Hood to examine how immigration rules are reshaping global football, from EPL transfers to the rise of international transfers into the Women’s Super League.

Media mentions
Partner Aaron Blumberg noted that enhanced screening measures, including social media vetting, may be contributing to delays in US student visa processing.

Media mentions
Associate Ilaria Iovieno outlines how recent UK immigration reforms will impact construction employers and their ability to sponsor overseas talent.

Media mentions
Senior Manager Jonathan Hill noted that stricter UKVI audits and asylum claim reviews are driving more student visa action plans.

Media mentions
Partner K. Edward Raleigh and Associate Anna I. Perina explore how changing immigration enforcement is affecting workforce planning and compliance for US employers.

Blog post
Corporate Services Manager Asfandyar Sheikh and Assistant Corporate Services Manager Ka-Ying Leung provide guidance for businesses on the legal and procedural requirements for amending their AoA in Saudi Arabia.

Blog post
Counsel Susan Steger discusses how US employers can navigate ongoing green card delays and shifting visa bulletin trends to better support foreign talent and workforce planning.

Media mentions

Awards
WirtschaftsWoche names Fragomen to its "Best Law Firms 2025" list and Partner Axel Boysen to its "Best Lawyers 2025" list in the field of migration law for private individuals.

Awards
Fragomen is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Legal Guide 2025.

Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna discusses the potential option of decentralizing work permit issuance in Canada, emphasizing the need for clear coordination between the provincial and federal governments.

Video
Fragomen FC hosts are joined by Manager Alexander Hood to examine how immigration rules are reshaping global football, from EPL transfers to the rise of international transfers into the Women’s Super League.

Media mentions
Partner Aaron Blumberg noted that enhanced screening measures, including social media vetting, may be contributing to delays in US student visa processing.

Media mentions
Associate Ilaria Iovieno outlines how recent UK immigration reforms will impact construction employers and their ability to sponsor overseas talent.