Conditions
Nota bene: Definitions of permitted activities, information on conditions and requirements, as well as on reservations and exceptions that might apply can be found in the relevant EU trade agreements.
Business visitors for establishment purposes (BVEPs)
Category of visa, permit or any authorisation related to the entry and temporary stay
- If you want to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality. The visa allows you to travel freely within the Netherlands and other Schengen countries within a 180-day period. The Visa Advisor helps you determine whether you need a visa in order to travel to the Netherlands. You do not need to apply for a residence permit for stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Work permit requirements
- For requirements, please see the relevant trade agreements.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- If you need a short-stay visa, you can find information on requirements and conditions here.
- If you are eligible to stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Netherlands without a short-stay visa, you will find requirements and conditions here.
Where and how to file an application
- You can find out where and how to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa on this page. This varies from country to country.
- You can apply for a work permit, if needed, at the UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen) on this page.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- The standard applicable fee for a short-stay visa for the Schengen area (first application) is 80 euros. See Fees: Costs of an application for more information.
- There is no fee for applying for the work permit. The processing times are maximum 5 weeks.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- A short-stay visa for the Schengen area allows you to stay 90 days in the Netherlands, within a 180-day period.
- The work permit allows you to carry out the business activities for investment purposes for 90 days during a period of 12 months.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- You can only extend a short-stay Schengen visa in emergencies, for example if you become ill. Strict conditions apply. See Can I extend a Schengen visa in the Netherlands?
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific process, they have to apply for their own visa and file a visa application with the documents required for the purpose of their stay in the Netherlands.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act and related decrees and implementing acts
- Aliens Act 2000
Short-term business visitors (STVBs)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- If you want to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality. The visa allows you to travel freely within the Netherlands and other Schengen countries within a 180-day period. The Visa Advisor helps you determine whether you need a visa in order to travel to or via the Netherlands. You do not need to apply for a residence permit for stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Work permit requirements
- You do not need to apply for a work permit.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- If you need a short-stay visa, you can find information on requirements and conditions here.
- If you are eligible to stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Netherlands without a short-stay visa, you will find requirements and conditions here.
Where and how to file an application
- You can find out where and how to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa on this page. This varies from country to country.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- The standard applicable fee for a short-stay visa for the Schengen area (first application) is 80 euros. See Fees: Costs of an application for more information.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- A short-stay visa for the Schengen area allows you to stay 90 days in the Netherlands, within a 180-day period.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- You can only extend a short-stay Schengen visa in emergencies, for example if you become ill. Strict conditions apply. See Can I extend a Schengen visa in the Netherlands?
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific process, they have to apply for their own visa and file a visa application with the documents required for the purpose of their stay in the Netherlands.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act and related decrees and implementing acts
- Aliens Act 2000
Contractual service suppliers (CSSs)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- If you want to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality. The visa allows you to travel freely within the Netherlands and other Schengen countries within a 180-day period. The Visa Advisor helps you determine whether you need a visa in order to travel to the Netherlands. You do not need to apply for a residence permit for stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
- If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you need to apply for a Single Permit; this permit combines the residence permit and the work permit.
Work permit requirements
- Your employer needs to apply for a work permit if you want to visit for less than 90 days.
- If you want to visit for more than 90 days, you can apply for a Single Permit, this is a combination of a residence permit and a work permit.
- If you want to visit for more than 90 days and you want to apply for a separate residence permit, your employer needs to apply for the work permit.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
- The contract does not exceed 24 months.
- You have been employed for at least a year by the company that provides the service in the relevant activity.
- You are only allowed to provide the service as described in the work permit.
- You have at least three years of professional experience in the relevant activity, a university degree or a qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level and the professional qualifications legally required to exercise that activity in the other Party.
- You meet the professional requirements existing in the Netherlands.
Where an how to file an application
- Your employer applies for a work permit at the UWV in case your stay is limited to 90 days in a 180-day period. If your stay exceeds 90 days in a 180-day period, your employer can either apply for a work permit at the UWV and a residence permit at the IND for you, or you or your employer can either apply for a Single Permit (combination of residence permit and work permit).
Application fees and indicative processing time
- There is no fee for applying for a work permit; the fee for the Single Permit is 345 euros.
- The UWV’s processing times are maximum 5 weeks. The IND’s processing times are maximum 90 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- 90 days within a 180-day period if you come to the Netherlands for a short stay.
- The Single Permit or relevant residence permit is limited to the duration of the service contract, with a maximum of 12 months within a 24-month period. Though exceptions may exist in Trade Agreements.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- Replace residence permit
- Your valid residence permit, residence document or Foreign Nationals Identity Document has been lost or stolen, you can apply for a new residence permit.
- Extend residence permit
- Is your residence permit due to expire soon? Apply for an extension.
- Change residence permit
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific process. They have to apply for their own residence permit. This application costs 207 euros.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- Do you disagree with the decision of the IND? Then you may submit an application for review or appeal against this decision. You can read how to do this on this page.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act and related decrees and implementing acts
- Aliens Act 2000
Independent professionals (IPs)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- If you want to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality. The visa allows you to travel freely within the Netherlands and other Schengen countries for 90 days within a 180-day period. The Visa Advisor helps you determine whether you need a visa in order to travel to the Netherlands. You do not need to apply for a residence permit for stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
- If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you need to apply for either a Single Permit, this permit combines the residence permit and the work permit. Or a separate work permit and residence permit.
Work permit requirements
- The independent professional’s/your client in the Netherlands needs to apply for a work permit if the visit is for less than 90 days.
- If the visit is for more than 90 days, the independent professional or the independent professional’s client can apply for a Single Permit, this is a combination of a residence permit and a work permit.
- If the visit is for more than 90 days and the independent professional wants to apply for a separate residence permit, the independent professional’s client needs to apply for the work permit.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
Conditions (these may slightly differ depending on the trade agreement):
- You are established in the other party as an independent professional (independent service supplier).
- You do not have a branch in the Netherlands.
- You have concluded a contract with your client for services for a maximum of 12 months.
- You need to be in the Netherlands temporarily to supply your services.
- You supply services in a sector referred to in the relevant trade agreement.
- Your contract was not concluded via an agency for job placement and staffing.
- You supply your services directly to the client in the Netherlands.
- You have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences when you apply. Or proof that your knowledge is on an equivalent level.
- You meet the requirements set by law (professional qualifications) to perform your services in the Netherlands.
- You have an experience of at least 6 years at the time you apply. This is in the sector specified in your contract for services. Your experience has been gained from the age of 18.
Documentation
- A completed application form.
- Copy or summary of service contract with the client in the Netherlands.
- Copies of diplomas or certificates from university/university of applied sciences. Or you have a diploma/certificate or other evidence that shows that you have an equivalent level of education.
- CV including work experience.
- Proof of the company's registration in the country of the other party.
Where and how to file an application
- Your client applies for a work permit at the UWV in case your stay is limited to 90 days in a 180-day period. If your stay exceeds 90 days in a 180-day period, your client can either apply or a work permit at the UWV and a residence permit at the IND for you, or you or your employer can apply for a Single Permit at the IND (combination of residence permit and work permit).
Application fees and indicative processing time
- There is no fee for applying for a work permit, the fee for the Single Permit is € 350 in 2023.
- The UWV’s processing times are max. 5 weeks. The IND’s processing times are max. 90 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- 90 days within a 180-day period if you are in the Netherlands for a short stay.
- The Single Permit or relevant residence is limited to the duration of the service contract, with a maximum of 12 months. Though exceptions may exist in Trade Agreements.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- Replace residence permit
- Is your residence permit damaged, lost or stolen? In that case, have the residence permit replaced.
- Extend residence permit
- Is your residence permit due to expire soon? Apply for an extension. You may only be allowed to extend within the maximum term of the permit. This may depend per trade agreement.
- Change residence permit
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific process, they have to apply for their own residence permit. This application costs 210 Euro for partners and 70 Euro per child.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- Do you disagree with the decision of the IND? Then you may submit an application for review or appeal against this decision. You can read how to do this on this page.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Foreign Nationals Employment Act and related decrees and implementing acts
- Aliens Act 2000
Investors
- Not applicable for the Netherlands because, according to EU reservations in Free Trade Agreements, in the Netherlands the category of investors is not recognised with regard to natural persons representing the investor.
Links
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
Employee Insurance Agency (UWV)
Information from the government of the Netherlands | Netherlandsworldwide.nl
Schengen Visa - Consular Services (mfaservices.nl)
Entering the Netherlands without a visa | Travel | Netherlandsworldwide.nl
Netherlands and you | Netherlandsandyou.nl