If you want to work in the Netherlands, your employer might need a work permit. This depends on the country you come from.
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you can work here without a work permit. If you are from outside the EU, your employer usually has to apply for a permit before you can start work. A residence permit is also often required.
Read information in Dutch or English on which residence permit and/or work permit you need to work in the Netherlands.
Do you work in another country within the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and are you coming to work in the Netherlands temporarily and will you continue to be employed by your foreign employer? In that case, you are on a posting. This means you are a posted worker. Read more about postings.
Working in the Netherlands without the required work permit is not allowed. We call this illegal labour. This is monitored by the Netherlands Labour Authority. If your employer does not follow the rules, it may be fined. If you want to report this, you can report illegal labour anonymously to the Dutch Labour Authority. You can do this in your own language. If you need help, contact Fairwork or Het Juridisch Loket.
In most cases you do. If you come to work in the Netherlands for less than three months, your employer will apply for a work permit from UWV for you. If you will be working in the Netherlands for longer than three months, you also need a residence permit. Your employer will apply for a combined residence permit and work permit from the IND. This combined permit is known as a single permit (GVVA).
If you work on the basis of a work permit, the permit is given to your employer. Your employer must give you a copy. If a combined permit (GVVA) has been applied for, it will be handed to you in person at an IND desk.
You do not need a work permit if you are from the EU and you want to work as a self-employed person in the Netherlands. You do, however, need to register with the Chamber of Commerce. In some sectors, you must also give notification of your activities through the online notification portal for posted workers.
If you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and you come to work in the Netherlands as a self-employed person for more than three months, you need to have a residence permit for a self-employed person. You can read more on the IND website.
If your work permit is about to expire, an application for a new permit must be made on time. If your employer wants to extend your contract, a new residence permit and work permit needs to be issued to you.
The application is made through the IND. Make sure the application is made on time because you must have a valid residence permit in order to work here. Important! If you intend to apply for a permanent residence permit in future, make sure there are no gaps between your residence permits. The period they cover must be continuous. Full details of the applicable conditions can be found on the IND website.
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