Residence permits, work permits, EU Blue Cards, citizenship applications and visa advice for foreigners.
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International firm with extensive Netherlands presence. Strong in corporate transactions, immigration, and real estate law.
Multi-jurisdictional firm with strong Netherlands practice in corporate law, real estate, and commercial transactions.
International firm with Amsterdam office. Full-service capabilities in corporate, employment, and immigration matters.
Mid-market firm with comprehensive legal services. Experienced in corporate law and immigration matters.
International firm with Amsterdam office. Strong in employment law and immigration matters.
Amsterdam-based firm with expertise in corporate law and immigration for expats.
Boutique firm specializing in immigration law. Strong reputation serving expat community.
Specialized firm in immigration and family law with English-speaking team.
Amsterdam firm with expertise in immigration and family law.
Commercial and immigration focus
Some countries offer residence permits linked to property investment (Golden Visa). An immigration lawyer can advise on thresholds and eligibility.
Processing times vary by country — typically 1–6 months. Your lawyer can track the application and respond to any requests for additional documentation.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Netherlands's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsDutch immigration law for non-EEA nationals is governed by the Vreemdelingenwet 2000 (Vw) and the Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000 (Vb). The processing authority is the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND). EEA nationals exercise free movement rights under EU law (no permit required; registration with gemeente after 4 months). The Netherlands is particularly attractive to knowledge migrants (kennismigranten) and employees transferred within multinationals due to the 30%-regeling (tax ruling) and the competitive Kennismigrant salary threshold system.
| Permit | Salary Threshold (gross/mth) | Duration | Processing Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennismigrant (Knowledge Migrant) | EUR 5,688 (under 30: EUR 4,171; 2025 thresholds) | Up to 5 years; matches employment contract | 2 weeks (IND; recognised sponsor) | EUR 345 |
| EU Blue Card Netherlands | EUR 5,688 (same as kennismigrant threshold) | 1-4 years | 3 months | EUR 345 |
| ICT (Intra-Company Transfer) | Specialist: EUR 4,171; Trainee: EUR 2,750 | Up to 3 years (specialist); 1 year (trainee) | 2 weeks (recognised sponsor) | EUR 345 |
| Highly Skilled Migrant — Startup (Startupvisum) | N/A (facilitated by RVO facilitator) | 1 year, renewable | 90 days | EUR 345 |
| Zoekjaar (Orientation Year) | N/A — actively seeking work | 1 year | 90 days | EUR 345 |
| Naturalisatie (Citizenship) | N/A | Permanent | 12-18 months | EUR 1,044 |
The 30%-regeling (30% ruling) allows Dutch employers to pay a tax-free allowance of up to 30% of gross salary to qualifying international employees recruited from abroad — compensating for extra-territorial costs. Duration: 5 years (reduced from 8 years in 2022; further reform from 2024: 30% for years 1-2, 20% for years 3-4, 10% for year 5). Qualifying conditions: (1) employee must have specific expertise scarce in the Dutch labour market; (2) salary threshold (same as kennismigrant threshold); (3) employee must have lived more than 150km from the Dutch border for at least 16 of the 24 months before employment. The ruling must be applied for within 4 months of start of employment; late applications are not accepted (BelastingdienstInformatiepunt).
Deepak, an Indian national and senior software architect, was recruited by an Amsterdam FinTech (a recognised IND sponsor) at EUR 7,500/month gross. His employer applied for a kennismigrant permit (salary above the EUR 5,688 threshold). IND processing: 9 working days (recognised sponsor fast track). Deepak applied for the 30%-regeling within the 4-month window — approved, providing a tax-free allowance of 30% of EUR 7,500 = EUR 2,250/month (years 1-2), saving approximately EUR 12,000/year in Dutch income tax. Deepak also chose to be treated as a partial non-resident (keuze niet-ingezetene) for Box 2 and Box 3 — protecting foreign savings and investments from Dutch Box 3 wealth tax during his assignment. After 5 years on a kennismigrant permit and with Dutch integration (NT2 diploma), Deepak applied for permanent residency (verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd) and subsequently naturalisation.
