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Work permit information

If you would like to hire someone from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you will have to arrange a work permit for them. Both you and the person you want to hire will need to meet certain criteria to qualify for such a permit.

The 2 types of work permits in the Netherlands

  • the work permit (‘TWV’)
  • the work and residence permit (‘GVVA’)

The work permit (‘TWV’)

This permit is issued by UWV. You will be able to apply for this permit if 1 of the following applies to the person you intend to hire:

  • They are already living in the Netherlands and have a residence permit (‘verblijfsvergunning’), such as international students and asylum seekers.
  • They will be working in the Netherlands for less than 3 months.
  • They will be working in the Netherlands for more than 3 months but will not officially reside here.

Keep in mind that the person you will be hiring cannot work in the Netherlands without a valid temporary residence permit. The only exception to this rule is if they will be staying in the Netherlands for less than 3 months, then a short-term visa ('visum kort verblijf') might be enough.

Criteria you will need to meet as an employer

You will only be able to arrange a work permit (‘TWV’) for your potential worker if all of the following are true:

The work and residence permit (‘GVVA’)

This permit is required for people who will be working in the Netherlands for more than 3 months and for whom 1 of the following is true: 

  • They do not have a residence permit. 
  • They will officially be residing in the Netherlands. 

You, or the person you will be hiring, will be able to apply for a work and residence permit via the IND.

Please note: To arrange a work and residence permit for an employee in the Asian restaurant sector, you will need to post your vacancy on UWV’s Support Centre for the Asian Restaurant Sector (‘het Servicepunt Aziatische Horeca van UWV’).

Additional criteria for both types of permits (‘TWV’ and ‘GVVA’)

Most workers from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland will need to meet additional criteria in order to qualify for a permit. These criteria will vary depending on the specific group your potential worker belongs to under Dutch work permit rules. To find out which criteria apply to your worker, click on the group that most closely matches their situation (in Dutch).

Situations where a work permit or a work and residence permit is not required

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