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The Kennismigrant (Highly Skilled Migrant) permit is the Netherlands' primary route for hiring non-EU/EEA talent into specialist, senior, or knowledge-based roles. It combines work and residence rights in a single permit valid for up to 5 years, matching the duration of the employment contract. The permit does not require a labour-market test and does not restrict the type of work the employee performs.
Applications are submitted online by the employer (recognised sponsor / erkend referent) through the IND Business Portal , not by the employee. The IND processes straightforward cases within 2 weeks for recognised sponsors. Employees who require an entry visa (MVV) must collect it from a Dutch consulate before travelling; EU/Schengen permit holders may transfer directly.
Documents and declarations the sponsoring company must submit via the IND Business Portal. All items below are uploaded digitally , no physical submission required.
Documents your employee must provide to the sponsoring company for inclusion in the IND application. Foreign civil documents must be legalised (apostille or full legalisation) and in Dutch or English , or accompanied by a sworn translation.
Download a simple reference PDF with all 14 document names , useful for briefing your employee or sharing with your HR team before the IND application is filed. For employer-specific salary threshold checks, embassy/consulate format rules, TB exemption verification, and guidance tailored to your employee's nationality, talk to the Jobbatical team.
Document names only , no salary threshold or country-specific details
Get the full tailored checklist →Salary compliance review · MVV guidance · Rejection prevention
The Kennismigrant scheme is fast , but only when every document is correct the first time. IND rejections due to salary threshold errors, missing sponsorship declarations, or incorrectly legalised civil documents can delay a hire by weeks. Jobbatical handles the IND Business Portal submission, tracks MVV collection, coordinates biometrics, and monitors your recognised sponsor compliance obligations so your team can focus on onboarding.
IND rejections on this permit are almost always preventable. These are the most common causes , verify each before submitting your application via the IND Business Portal.
| Rejection cause | Risk level | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| Employer is not a recognised sponsor (erkend referent) | 🔴 High | Only IND-approved recognised sponsors can submit Kennismigrant applications. Confirm active status in the IND Business Portal before creating any case. |
| Salary below the IND threshold for the employee's age group | 🔴 High | In 2026: Age 30+: €5,942/month gross; Under 30: €4,357/month; Recent Dutch graduates: €3,122/month. Holiday allowance (8% vakantiegeld) is excluded from the threshold calculation. |
| Salary stated as annual or net rather than gross monthly | 🔴 High | IND requires the gross monthly salary to appear explicitly in the employment contract. Annual or net figures are not accepted without conversion. |
| Passport expiring before the permit end date | 🔴 High | Ensure the employee's passport validity extends beyond the requested permit duration. A passport renewal may be required before filing. |
| Missing or incorrectly signed IND Form 7621 (sponsorship declaration) | 🟡 Medium | Both the employer representative and the highly skilled migrant must sign Form 7621 when the application includes accompanying family members. |
| Foreign civil documents not apostilled or fully legalised | 🟡 Medium | Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and custody documents from non-EU countries must be apostilled or fully legalised and accompanied by a sworn Dutch or English translation. |
| Employee has a criminal record and Appendix 7601 is missing | 🟡 Medium | If the employee has antecedents, IND Form 7601 must be included and signed correctly. Omitting this form when it applies will delay the application. |
| Role does not align with recognised sponsor registration details | 🟢 Lower | The job title and function in the employment contract should be consistent with the employer's IND sponsor profile. Significant discrepancies can trigger additional scrutiny. |
Our immigration specialists manage every step , from sponsor status verification to residence card collection , so nothing slips through the gaps.
Use these resources when your employee's situation changes , or to prepare for the next stage of their Netherlands immigration journey.
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice; requirements may change without notice. Document requirements, salary thresholds, and recognised sponsor obligations are updated regularly by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) , verify against current official guidance on ind.nl before submitting any application. Jobbatical accepts no liability for permit refusals, sponsor status downgrades, delays, or complications arising from reliance on this checklist. For a complete, case-specific document list and professional guidance, consult the Jobbatical immigration team.
The standard document checklist above applies to all nationalities. The notes below cover additional requirements or procedural differences for the most common applicant nationalities. Always verify current requirements with the Dutch Embassy or consulate in your employee's country of residence before submitting.
🇮🇳 India | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇨🇳 China | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇧🇷 Brazil | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇵🇰 Pakistan | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇳🇬 Nigeria | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇵🇭 Philippines | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇺🇦 Ukraine | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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🇹🇷 Turkey | Additional requirements and procedural notes:
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| Not sure what your employee's specific consulate requires? Email us at [email protected] or book a 20-minute call with the Jobbatical team. | |
Requirements are subject to change. Verify current IND fees and salary thresholds at ind.nl before submitting. For managed end-to-end support, see the Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant Permit service by Jobbatical.
Need support beyond this calculator? Our experts handle the full process, from eligibility checks to application and compliance.
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Complete Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) checklist 2026, 14 documents, salary threshold rules, MVV guidance, IND rejection causes. Free download for HR teams.
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