There are a number of things you need to know before entering the job market in the Netherlands, such as: the make-up of the Dutch employment market, finding a job here as an expatriate, Dutch labor law, the Dutch social security system etc.
Short Stay Visa If your stay in the Netherlands will not exceed three months, then you will probably not need a visa – visum kort verblijf, or short stay visa – to enter the Netherlands. In most cases a valid passport will be sufficient. Consult the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Authorization Temporary Stay/Residence Permit If you are a national of any of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) member states or Switzerland, you will not need an authorization temporary stay prior to traveling to the Netherlands. Nor do you need a residence permit.
All other nationals need an authorization temporary stay prior to traveling to the Netherlands as well as to be able to apply for a residence permit upon arrival. You are exempted from the need to arrange an authorization temporary stay if you are from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia or New Zealand. You cannot apply for a residence permit if you entered the Netherlands without an MVV.
Work Permit In principle, if you are a national of an EU/EEA member state or of Switzerland, you may work in the Netherlands without a work permit. Citizens of Romania or Bulgaria, will still need a work permit for the first year.
If you are a non EU/EEA/Swiss national and wish to work in the Netherlands you need a work permit.
REGISTERING WITH THE MUNICIPALITY Within three days of arrival, you have to report with the municipality to have yourself entered in the municipal register. You need to be able to show that you have arranged suitable housing.
Who Does What Authorization temporary stay: you apply for an authorization temporary stay (MVV) with the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your home country/country of legal residence. If you are a student, your university does it for you. Or: your prospective employer can inform with the IND in the Netherlands as to whether there is any objection against issuing an MVV. An MVV must also be requested for your accompanying family members. The IND sends an MVV-approval to the Dutch embassy/consulate abroad. As soon as the Dutch authorities have given permission to issue the authorization(s) temporary stay, you can collect them at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate and travel to the Netherlands.
Residence permit: you take care of the residence permit application. If you are a student, your university does it for you. You apply for a residence permit with the Immigrations Office or local town hall in your place of residence – within three days of arrival. The competent authority and procedure might differ, depending on where you live. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) processes all residence permit applications. www.ind.nl.
Work permit: your employer applies for the work permit with the UWV WERKbedrijf in Zoetermeer. Once you have applied for an MVV, the IND will provide you with documentary evidence that this process has been started, which your employer can use when requesting your work permit with the UWV WERKbedrijf (www.werk.nl). To work here as a self-employed person, you do not need a work permit. The processing time for a work permit is approximately five weeks after a complete application has been submitted. During the application process, you will not be allowed to work in the Netherlands.
Once you have an MVV and a work permit, you may start working, also if you do not yet have a residence permit.
PERMITS FOUNDATION: an international corporate initiative to promote the improvement of work permit regulations for the spouses of expatriate employees. www.permitsfoundation.com
