For the first time in many years did the Netherlands welcome less highly skilled employees. Highly skilled employees are considered applicants for the EU Blue Card, the Highly Skilled Migrant permit and the Intra Corporate Transferee permit. The reason for this drop has been the Covid-19 outbreak. The economic situation was very uncertain at the start of the outbreak. This made many companies cautious in attracting foreign personnel. And later in the year also the standstill of air traffic made it less attractive to apply for visa and work permits.

In the year 2018 a total number of 19,840 application for highly skilled employees were filed. This number was in 2019 a total of 20,970. In 2020 this number dropped with 35% to a total of 13,710.

For the first time in many years also the approval rate also dropped. In 2018 and 2019 the approval rate was 94%. In 2020 this was 91%.

What is the top 3 country of origin of the highly qualified employees? In 2020 that is again India. Just as in the previous years. China comes for the first time on the second place, being third in 2018 and 2019. The USA drops from from the second to the third place in 2020. The USA ranked second in 2018 and 2019.

Click here for complete overview for the year 2020 on the IND website.