Netherlands: Minimum Income Level Requirements for Knowledge Migrants to Increase in 2010
Netherlands: Minimum Income Level Requirements for Knowledge Migrants to Increase in 2010
The Dutch government is raising the minimum gross income requirements for Knowledge Migrants, effective January 1, 2010. Applicants under 30 years of age will have to evidence a gross annual starting salary of at least EUR 36,801. The minimum for applicants 30 years of age and over will be EUR 50,183. The Knowledge Migrant category is reserved for highly skilled foreign workers who are not citizens of Switzerland or the European Economic Area.
Effective January 1, 2010, the minimum gross income levels for those applying for Knowledge Migrant work authorization will increase, according to a recent announcement from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Department’s (IND) Desk for Knowledge and Labor Migration. The new salary requirements are as follows:
- Applicants under 30 years of age must evidence a valid offer of employment and an annual gross starting salary of at least EUR 36,801, up from EUR 35,997.
- Applicants 30 years of age and over must evidence a valid offer of employment and an annual gross starting salary of at least EUR 50,183, up from EUR 49,087.
- Foreign graduates from a Dutch institution of higher educational who can take advantage of the one-year “search period” to find employment must evidence a valid offer of employment and an annual gross starting salary of at least EUR 26,376, up from EUR 25,800.
Salaries must be administered through the payroll of a Dutch company or, in the case of an intracompany transfer, by the entity abroad responsible for the assignment to the Netherlands. Holiday pay and guaranteed bonuses may be counted towards the salary requirements, while relocation benefits such as a housing bonus or car lease may not.
Please note that the IND’s internal policy for processing Knowledge Migrant work authorization applications is subject to change with little or no advance notice. Therefore, Fragomen strongly recommends that those planning to apply for Knowledge Migrant work authorization review the new minimum salary requirements, current application requirements, and related processing times with their Dutch immigration professional prior to filing.
Background
The Dutch government introduced the “Knowledge Migrants” program (“Kennismigranten”), a work authorization program for highly skilled foreign workers who are not citizens of Switzerland or the European Economic Area, in October 2004. The program seeks to attract young, highly skilled professionals to the Netherlands by setting forth relatively simple requirements and allowing for expedited processing of work permit applications via a “one-stop” shop with the IND’s Desk for Knowledge and Labor Migration.
The content of this alert is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global LLP or send an email to emea@fragomen.com.
Source: Fragomen
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