Living or working in Netherlands: long-stay, digital nomad and working holiday visas

For EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, the Netherlands is open: no visa, no work permit, just register at the municipality (gemeente) within a few months of arrival. For everyone else, the practical route depends on why you're coming. If you have a job offer from a Dutch employer, the highly skilled migrant scheme is the fastest and most common path. If you recently graduated from a top university, the orientation year gives you a year to search for work. If you're from a handful of countries, a working holiday visa lets you work while you travel. There is no digital nomad visa; remote workers need a regular long-stay visa or residence permit.

The table below summarises the main routes. Fees and processing times change; check the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) website for current figures.

This is the main work route for non-EU nationals. Your employer must be recognised by the IND as a sponsor, and you must meet a salary threshold that depends on your age. The employer usually handles the application. Processing can take a few weeks to a few months, so start before you sign a lease.

If you graduated from a university ranked in the top 200 worldwide (or from a Dutch university), you can apply for a one-year orientation visa to search for work or start a business. You must apply within three years of graduation. During this year you can work freely, and if you find a job, you can switch to a regular work permit.

The Netherlands has working holiday arrangements with a limited set of countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. Conditions vary — age limits are typically 18–30, sometimes 35 — and you usually need to show funds for your stay. This visa lets you work to fund your travels, not to settle long-term.

There is no dedicated digital nomad visa. If you want to stay longer than 90 days and work remotely, you need a regular long-stay visa (MVV) or a residence permit, which usually requires a purpose such as employment, study, or self-employment. Some people use the orientation year if they qualify. For short stays, the standard Schengen visa covers up to 90 days in 180 days, but it does not allow work.

Start the process 3–6 months before your planned move. The IND publishes current fees; as a 2026 estimate, a long-stay visa application costs around €350–400, and residence permits are similar. Budget for health insurance (mandatory), housing deposit, and possibly a Dutch language course. For the working holiday, you'll need to show proof of funds, typically a few thousand euros.

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens must register with the municipality within a few months of arrival, and need health insurance. Non-EU citizens must apply for a visa before travelling; you cannot switch from a tourist visa to a work visa in the country. Always check the IND website for the latest rules, as fees and thresholds change.

Answers to the most common questions.

This page was last checked in September 2026. Official sources: the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) and the Netherlands government portal. For planning, see the related pages below.