Netherlands visa sponsorship jobs 2026: the recognised sponsor register, salary rules and scams to avoid
A job with visa sponsorship in the Netherlands starts with an employer the IND has recognised. This guide shows how to check employers in the official register, what they must pay you in 2026 and how to spot the scams aimed at people looking for sponsorship.
FindLawyer gives practical initial guidance, prepares your case and matches you with a suitable independent lawyer. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.
From the IND register and official Dutch government pages · Checked 13 September 2026
Short answer
In the Netherlands, visa sponsorship means an employer recognised by the IND applies for your residence permit. For a highly skilled migrant permit only a recognised sponsor can do that, so check each employer in the IND public register: its update of 3 September 2026 listed 12,984 organisations for work. The job must also pay the 2026 salary threshold, from €3,122 to €5,942 gross a month. Most jobs below it need a single permit, for which the employer shows no suitable EU or EEA candidate exists. Dutch law bans job intermediaries from charging you for finding work.
Key facts for 2026
- 12,984 organisations were on the IND register of recognised sponsors for work in its update of 3 September 2026.
- €5,942 gross a month is the 2026 highly skilled migrant salary from age 30, and €4,357 under 30.
- €3,122 a month applies instead during an orientation year or within 3 years of graduating.
- 2 weeks is the IND’s target for deciding an application from a recognised sponsor.
- 5 weeks is how long UWV usually takes to decide on a work permit (TWV).
- €5,080 is the 2026 IND fee an organisation pays to become a recognised sponsor; €2,539 with no more than 50 people.
- 3 months is the time you get to find a new recognised sponsor if your employer loses its recognition for a reason you did not know about.
This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.
The basics
Netherlands visa sponsorship jobs: what sponsorship means
A visa sponsor in the Netherlands is an employer that the IND has recognised, and it is the employer that applies for your residence permit. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland need no permit to work here (IND).
- Highly skilled migrant jobs need a recognised sponsor. Only an employer recognised by the IND can apply for this permit (IND), and those sponsors are listed in a public register (Government.nl).
- Recognition belongs to the organisation. It applies to the IND and pays the fee, €5,080 in 2026 or €2,539 with no more than 50 people (IND fees). It must be registered with the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, KVK), financially sound and reliable (IND).
- For other work permits it is optional. For a single permit, seasonal work, an EU Blue Card or an intra-company transfer, the employer chooses whether to be recognised; our Netherlands work visa guide compares all the routes.
- Recognised sponsors get faster decisions. The IND tries to decide within 2 weeks, or 7 weeks if a work permit is also needed.
- They have duties towards you. A recognised sponsor must recruit and select carefully, tell you about the admission and residence rules, and keep records on you until 5 years after sponsoring ends (IND).
5 steps
How to search the recognised sponsor register
The IND’s public register is the official list of recognised sponsors, and it takes five steps to check an employer.
- Open the register for workThe IND keeps separate registers for work, research, study and exchange. For a job, open Public register Work.
- Search for the company nameThe register is one long list of organisation names with their KVK numbers. Use your browser’s find function (Ctrl+F, or Cmd+F on a Mac) to look for the name.
- Match the legal name and KVK numberCompanies appear under their legal entity, such as ASML Netherlands B.V. or Booking.com B.V. Ask the employer which entity will employ you, and compare its KVK number.
- Check the update dateThe IND updates the registers once a month; the register for work was last updated on 3 September 2026. A newly recognised company can be missing until the next update.
- Check again before you signRecognition is not permanent. The IND removes a suspended sponsor from the register immediately, and withdraws recognition from sponsors that break the rules (IND).
| Sector (our grouping) | Examples on the register for work, 3 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Technology and electronics | ASML Netherlands B.V., NXP Semiconductors Netherlands B.V., Philips Electronics Nederland B.V., TomTom International B.V. |
| Online platforms and payments | Booking.com B.V., Adyen N.V., Uber B.V., Picnic Technologies B.V. |
| Banking and consumer brands | ING Bank N.V., Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Heineken Nederland B.V., Coolblue B.V. |
| Logistics and shipping | Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V., Maersk Line Netherlands B.V., Kuehne + Nagel N.V., DHL Express |
| Universities | Universiteit van Amsterdam, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Universiteit Leiden, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen |
| Hospitals | UMCG Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC), Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht, Amphia Ziekenhuis |
| Hotels | 40 organisations with ‘hotel’ in their name, such as Conservatorium Hotel B.V. and Corendon Hotels & Resorts B.V. |
Being on the register means the organisation can apply as a recognised sponsor, not that it has vacancies or will hire you. The register itself lists names and KVK numbers only.
2026 figures
The salary threshold your offer must meet
A highly skilled migrant job must pay at least the IND’s salary criterion for 2026, counted as gross monthly salary without holiday allowance. Unlike most other jobs, it needs no labour market test (Business.gov.nl).
| Salary criterion | Gross a month in 2026 | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 30 or older | €5,942 | Highly skilled migrants aged 30 or over |
| Younger than 30 | €4,357 | Highly skilled migrants under 30 |
| Reduced salary criterion | €3,122 | During an orientation year, or within 3 years of graduating, a PhD or research |
| EU Blue Card | €5,942, or €4,754 reduced | Reduced for graduates, if the sponsor applies within 3 years of graduation |
Source: IND required amounts. Holiday allowance does not count, and the salary must be paid each month into a bank account in your name (IND brochure 3072).
Just graduated? Our orientation year visa guide explains who gets the reduced criterion, and our highly skilled migrant visa guide covers the permit itself.
Other work
Jobs below the threshold, including hospitality
Most other jobs need a single permit (gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid, GVVA), and then the employer must show that no suitable candidate is available in the EU or EEA. To do that, it usually registers the vacancy with UWV, which makes these permits harder to get than a highly skilled migrant permit (Business.gov.nl). Our Netherlands work permit guide explains the TWV and the single permit.
- Hotels and restaurants. A hospitality job below the salary threshold follows this route. In the Asian restaurant sector, the employer posts the vacancy on UWV’s Support Centre for the Asian Restaurant Sector (UWV).
- Seasonal work in agriculture or horticulture. Stays over 90 days need a single permit for seasonal work, on which the IND asks UWV for advice; shorter stays need only a work permit (TWV) and any visa.
- Who applies. The employer or the worker can apply to the IND for a single permit. A TWV is always the employer’s application, and UWV usually decides within 5 weeks (Business.gov.nl).
Because recognition is optional for these permits, a hotel or restaurant does not have to be on the register to hire you this way.
Protect yourself
Visa sponsorship scams: how to spot them
Be wary of any job offer that asks you for money: that is the clearest warning sign of a sponsorship scam.
Before you pay anyone or send your passport
- Nobody may charge you for finding a job. Under Dutch law, an intermediary that helps you find work may not ask you for anything in return (Waadi, article 3). A ‘registration fee’, ‘visa processing fee’ or ‘sponsorship fee’ from a recruiter is a red flag.
- Sponsorship cannot be bought. Recognition is the employer’s own application to the IND. Check the name and KVK number in the register yourself, rather than trusting a screenshot or a certificate someone sends you.
- Check the agency. An employment agency should be registered with the Chamber of Commerce and certified. From 2027 every agency needs approval to operate (Work in NL).
- Real IND messages come from @ind.nl. The IND never sends WhatsApp messages, and its links always begin with ind.nl/. Unsure? Call the IND to check (IND).
- A fake employment contract is fraud. The IND names it as an example of fraud, and fraud can lead it to revoke a residence permit or reject an application (IND).
Where to report it:
- You lost money or shared personal details: report it to the Fraud Helpdesk and file a police report.
- A sponsor, recognised sponsor or company in the Netherlands is committing fraud: use the IND’s fraud form, which you can fill in anonymously. For a company abroad, contact the government of that country.
- Exploitation or underpayment once you work here: report it to the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) (Work in NL).
Scams aimed at your country: see our warnings for India, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa, Dubai and the UAE.
Next steps
After you get a job offer
Once a recognised sponsor offers you a highly skilled migrant job, the employer applies to the IND and you prepare to travel.
- Your employer applies. A recognised sponsor can apply online in the IND Business Portal, with fewer supporting documents (IND).
- Your MVV. If your nationality needs an entry visa, you collect the sticker at a Dutch embassy or consulate; our MVV appointment guide shows how to book.
- Follow the application. Our visa tracking guide shows where to check its status; if the IND refuses it, our IND rejection appeal guide explains the objection.
- If the job ends. You normally get 3 months to find another employer that is a recognised sponsor, or up to 6 months once you have held the permit for 2 years or more (IND). Our guide to losing a highly skilled migrant job explains what to do first.
Keep reading
Related guides
More of our guides for people moving to the Netherlands for work.
Which Netherlands visa you need
Compare work, study and family routes before you start job hunting.
WorkHighly skilled migrant visa
Salary thresholds, recognised sponsors and the application your employer files.
WorkOrientation year visa
A year to look for work after a degree or research, with the reduced salary criterion.
WorkLosing a highly skilled migrant job
The search period and the first steps after a dismissal.
ContractsDutch employment contracts
What a Dutch employment contract should say before you sign it.
ApplyingBook a visa or IND appointment
Where to collect your MVV sticker, and how to book the IND desk after you land.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I find visa sponsorship jobs in the Netherlands?
Start with employers that are already recognised sponsors: the IND lists them in its public register for work, with 12,984 organisations in the update of 3 September 2026. Apply for jobs that pay at least the 2026 salary threshold, check the legal name and KVK number of the company that would employ you, and never pay a recruiter for a job offer.
Can any Dutch company sponsor my visa?
Not for a highly skilled migrant permit: only an employer recognised by the IND can apply for one. For a single permit, seasonal work, an EU Blue Card or an intra-company transfer, recognition is optional, so an employer that is not on the register can still apply. For a single permit it usually has to show that no suitable EU or EEA candidate is available.
How much salary do I need for visa sponsorship in 2026?
For a highly skilled migrant permit, the gross monthly salary without holiday allowance must be at least €5,942 if you are 30 or older, and €4,357 if you are younger. It is €3,122 during an orientation year or within 3 years of graduating, obtaining a PhD or finishing research. The EU Blue Card needs €5,942, or €4,754 for recent graduates.
Are there hospitality jobs in the Netherlands with visa sponsorship?
Some, but it is harder. A hospitality job that does not reach the highly skilled migrant salary needs a single permit, and the employer must usually register the vacancy with UWV and show that no suitable candidate is available in the EU or EEA. In the Asian restaurant sector, the vacancy goes on UWV’s Support Centre for the Asian Restaurant Sector.
Do I have to pay for visa sponsorship?
No recruiter or agency may charge you for finding you a job: Dutch law forbids job intermediaries to ask a job seeker for anything in return. Recognition as a sponsor is something the employer applies and pays for itself, €5,080 in 2026 or €2,539 for businesses with no more than 50 people. Treat any request for a sponsorship fee as a warning sign.
How can I check if a job offer is a scam?
Look the company up in the IND register by its legal name and KVK number, and check that any agency is registered with the Chamber of Commerce. IND emails always end in @ind.nl, and the IND never sends WhatsApp messages. If you lost money or shared personal details, report it to the Fraud Helpdesk and file a police report.
What happens if my sponsor loses its recognition?
The IND removes the organisation from the public register. If you did not know the reason for the withdrawal, the IND does not withdraw your permit straight away: you get a letter and 3 months to find another recognised sponsor. If you knew the reason or were involved, the IND can withdraw your permit immediately.
Does a company on the register have to sponsor me?
No. The register only shows that the IND has recognised the organisation as a sponsor, so it can apply for permits such as the highly skilled migrant permit. It says nothing about vacancies, and the company decides whether to hire you. Use it to check the employers you find through job sites, recruiters or company careers pages.
Free checklist · one-page PDF
Moving to the Netherlands?
Get the 12 legal things nobody tells you before you arrive — deposits, contracts, the 30% ruling, your rights. One email, no spam.
Already here and need a lawyer? Book a free call
Official sources, checked 13 September 2026
- IND: employing a foreign national
- IND: highly skilled migrant
- Government.nl: highly skilled migrants
- IND: fees for an application
- IND: apply for recognition as sponsor
- IND: obligations of sponsor and recognised sponsor
- IND: public register of recognised sponsors
- IND: public register Work
- IND: suspension and withdrawal of recognition as sponsor
- Business.gov.nl: permits for your highly skilled employees
- IND: required amounts and income requirements
- IND brochure 3072: residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant
- Business.gov.nl: permits for your foreign employees
- UWV: work permits for employers
- Business.gov.nl: how to apply for a work permit
- Wet allocatie arbeidskrachten door intermediairs (Waadi), in Dutch
- Work in NL (Ministry of Social Affairs): employment agencies
- IND: recognise and report a fake IND message
- IND: report fraud or abuse
- Work in NL: reporting unsafe or unfair work
Final notes and legal disclaimer
- This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
- It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
- Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
- No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
- No rights can be derived from this article.
- For decisions about a job offer or a sponsored residence permit, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.
FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.