Salary threshold

The highly skilled migrant scheme has 3 different salary thresholds.

• The salary threshold for persons over 30 years old. This salary threshold is €5,331 gross per month excluding 8% holiday allowance. This is the same salary threshold as the 'high' salary standard of the European Blue Card.
• The salary standard for persons under 30 years of age is € 3,919 excluding 8% holiday allowance. The European Blue Card does not have this 'low' salary standard for applicants under the age of 30.
• The salary threshold of € 2,801 excluding 8% holiday allowance for persons who graduated no more than 3 years prior to the application from a university that is among the top 200 in the world and appears on two world rankings. To quickly find out whether this is the case, the 'orientation year' website has been developed. Graduation from a university and higher vocational education (HBO) in the Netherlands also applies to qualify for this lowest salary threshold.
• The European Blue Card also has a low salary threshold for applicants who graduated no more than 3 years prior to the application. This does not apply to the condition that the university must be among the top 200 in the world. However, the salary standard is much higher, namely € 4,265 gross per month excluding 8% holiday allowance.

Work experience

The residence permit as a highly skilled migrant does not require prior work experience. Also, no diploma is required as a condition. However, the agreed must salary be market level in the Dutch job market. By doubt the Immigration Officer will request the Labour Officer for advice. If the advice is negative the application will be rejected.

Employer must have an IND recognized sponsorship status

Disadvantage of the Highly Skilled Migrant Program is that the employing company first must become a 'recognised sponsor' before it can file highly skilled migrant visa and permit applications. That is not a requirement for the European Blue Card

In general the admission procedure for the highly skilled residence permit is faster. The decision takes 2 weeks. While a decision upon the EU Blue Card is maximum of 30 days if the employer is recognised sponsor. And a maximum of 90 days if the employer of the European Blue Card is not a recognized sponsor.