Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme

Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme

A very effective way to bring foreign workers to the Netherlands is through the Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme. The scheme has two requirements: a salary criterion and a recognized sponsor employer.

The Salary Criterion

To be classified as a highly skilled migrant, the foreign worker must earn at least the following monthly salary (standard amounts for 2026):

• HSM 30 years or older: €5942 gross per month,
• HSM younger than 30 years: €4357 gross per month
• Reduced salary criterion after search year: €3122 gross per month.

All amounts exclude 8% holiday allowance.

PhD Candidates

PhD candidates, regardless of their age, employed by educational or research institutions, and university lecturers and postdoctoral researchers under thirty, can be classified as highly skilled migrants. For this group, the salary criterion does not apply.

Market Conformity of Salary

A general condition for the Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme is that the offered salary must be market conforming. In practice, this means that the IND can assess whether the salary corresponds with that of others in similar positions. This is known as market conformity. If there is doubt, the IND can seek advice from the UWV regarding the market conformity of the salary. They will then assess whether the offered salary is appropriate for such a position and a worker with such a profile.

Recognized Sponsor

The second requirement of the Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme is that the employer must be a so-called recognized sponsor by the IND. The company must be sufficiently solvent to pay the salary of the highly skilled migrant to be admitted to the scheme.

Furthermore, the continuity of the business must be sufficiently guaranteed. Additionally, it is examined whether the company has a history of good payment behavior with the Tax Office and whether it has previously been fined for employing foreigners illegally. To be admitted to the Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme, a company must submit an application to the IND. It has always been a challenge for startups to become recognized sponsors (note that for businesses less than 18 months old, the IND is required to consult RVO for advice), but in recent years, the bar for established businesses has also been raised.

What Are the Duties of a Recognized Sponsor?

Being a recognized sponsor entails several obligations for the employer. These obligations take effect from the moment an application is submitted for a highly skilled migrant.

Duty of Care

As a recognized sponsor, the employer has the responsibility to ensure adequate recruitment and selection of the foreign national. This means the recognized sponsor must guarantee that the foreign national is suitably qualified for the role. Additionally, the duty of care includes the obligation to inform the foreign national of applicable laws and regulations.

Duty to Provide Information

The recognized sponsor must notify the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) of any changes that may impact the foreign national’s residence status or the sponsor’s recognition status. Examples include when a foreign national resigns from their position, a change of address for the recognized sponsor, or a salary adjustment that no longer meets the set criteria. Most changes must be reported within four weeks.

Please note, if the administrative address of the recognized sponsor changes, this must be reported to the IND within two weeks.

Duty to Maintain Records (Retention Obligation)

The recognized sponsor is required to retain all relevant information regarding the recognized sponsorship and the foreign national at the administrative address registered with the IND. Examples of such documents include the decision granting recognized sponsorship status, copies of the foreign national’s identification and residence documents, and records related to the employment relationship with the foreign national. These documents must be kept on file for up to five years following the departure of the foreign national.

A commonly used alternative to the Highly Skilled Migrant Scheme is the so-called EU Blue Card. For information about this or the procedure for admission as a recognized sponsor and applying for the residence permits for highly skilled migrants, you can contact one of our specialists.

In addition to the recognized sponsorship application, we can handle the applications for your foreign employees. Call us at 020 223 2466 or email info@arslanlitadvocaten.nl. You can also contact us via one of the social media channels listed on this page. We’re happy to help!