Netherlands · Work

European Blue Card residence permit

European Blue Card residence permit is issued by Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND). VisaAI tracks 13 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.

Last verified against the official source on .

VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.

Requirements change. Confirm every item on Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND)’s own page before you apply.

Conditions you must meet

  • Be a highly educated employee from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland
  • Meet the requirements that apply to everyoneIND links a separate general-requirements page, not a registered source.
  • The work in the Netherlands must be highly qualified
  • A foreign diploma must be evaluated by Nuffic
  • Or 5 years of relevant experience at higher-education level — 3 years for IT rolesAn alternative to the diploma, not an addition. The IT exception is shorter but time-bounded: 3 years within the 7 years before applying.
  • Meet the income requirementsNo figure recorded: IND links a separate income page that is not a registered source, and Blue Card salary criteria change annually. See blue_card_salary_higher for what this page DOES state about it.
  • The Blue Card salary criterion is higher than the highly skilled migrant reduced criterionRecorded because the two permits look interchangeable and are not. Someone choosing the Blue Card for its residency benefit needs to know the salary bar is higher.
  • An employment contract valid for at least 6 months
  • Your employer's company must carry out economic activity
  • Your employer must not have been fined in the past 5 years under the named employment lawsIND lists the specific acts in Dutch immediately after; the list is not reproduced because it runs into links.

Documents you must provide

  • A higher education diploma from a programme of at least 3 years, relevant to the profession

Steps in the process

  • You or your employer may submit the applicationUnlike the highly skilled migrant permit and the student permit, both of which only a recognised sponsor can lodge.

Government fees

  • Application feeEUR 423

Official sources

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