Highly skilled migrants (‘kennismigranten’) did already have the legal right for a search period of 3 months after premature termination of their employment agreement. EU Blue Card holders will also be entitled tot his 3 month search period. They will have this search period, just like the highly skilled migrants, regardless of the reason for the termination. This search period can never exceed the validity period of the residence permit the EU Blue Card holder holds at the time of termination of the employent agreement. If they find a new job as EU Blue Card holder they will not have a residence gap between their last permit and their new one. The search period of 3 months is not based upon the EU Blue Card Directive itself but on regulation of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service.