- Most international hires come through the highly skilled migrant permit, with a recognised sponsor as employer.
- 2026 thresholds: €5,942 a month at 30 and over, €4,357 under 30, €3,122 after an orientation year.
- English is widely used at work, especially in tech and international companies.
- The 30% tax ruling becomes 27% from 2027.
After Germany, the Netherlands is the country I recommend most often, especially for people in tech who are not yet confident in German. English is common at work, salaries are strong, and the permit process for skilled workers is clear.
The highly skilled migrant permit
Most international professionals come as a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant). Two things matter: your employer must be a recognised sponsor with the IND, and your salary must meet the threshold.
| Category (2026) | Gross monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Age 30 and over | €5,942 |
| Under 30 | €4,357 |
| After an orientation year (reduced criterion) | €3,122 |
| EU Blue Card | €5,942 (reduced €4,754) |
Amounts exclude holiday allowance. Source: Baker Tilly.
Check the sponsor register first
Before you apply, search the company in the IND public register of recognised sponsors. If it is not there, it cannot hire you as a highly skilled migrant unless it becomes recognised. This one check saves weeks of wasted applications.
The orientation year for graduates
If you graduated from a Dutch university, or from a university in the top 200 of at least two major rankings, you can apply for a one year orientation permit within three years of graduation. During that year you can work without restrictions, and you can later switch to a highly skilled migrant permit with a lower salary requirement (Business.gov.nl).
The 30% ruling becomes 27%
Many international hires get part of their salary tax free under the 30% ruling. From 1 January 2027 the maximum becomes 27%, except for rulings that started before 2024 (Business.gov.nl). Details in my news update.
Where to find jobs
- LinkedIn and Indeed for international roles.
- werk.nl, the official Dutch job portal.
- Company career pages of recognised sponsors in your field.
- Cities to target: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven (tech and semiconductors).
Tips that work
- Dutch recruiters like direct, short communication. Get to the point.
- A CV in the European format works well. See the CV guide.
- Learning some Dutch is a plus for long term growth, even when the job is in English.
Free PDF: send NL to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram for "Netherlands: check any employer in 60 seconds". See all 33 free guides.
Sources
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.