The EU Blue Card (in Dutch: Europese Blauwe Kaart) is a residence permit for highly qualified employment of third country nationals in the European Union. The EU Blue Card Directive is implemented in Dutch immigration legislation. Applications for the EU Blue Card can be submitted either by the employer or the employee. The following criteria must be fulfilled:

A valid work contract or binding job offer of at least 6 months. The validity of the EU Blue Card is connected to the duration of the work contract plus 3 months: if the work contract is for 3 years, the EU Blue Card will be issued for a period of 3 years and 4 months.

The EU Blue Card can be issued for a maximum duration of 5 years. It is possible to renew the EU Blue Card after this period, provided there is still a work contract and the salary threshold is met.

Earning less than the applicable salary threshold of the European Blue Card does not have to be a reason to reject an application for extension. The holder of the European Blue Card may earn less than the salary threshold for a maximum of 12 consecutive months as a result of illness or disability, without consequences for the EU Blue Card.

The work contract has to be concluded with the company established in the Netherlands.

The agreed salary must be at least the threshold set by the individual Member State. In the Netherlands there is 'high' and 'low' salary threshold. The 'high' salary threshold in the Netherlands is a gross monthly salary of €5,331 (excluding 8% holiday allowance), which amounts to a gross annual salary of €69,090 including 8% holiday allowance.

Reduced salary threshold

The 'low' salary threshold applies to applicants that graduated less than 3 years ago at the time of the application. This salary threshold is €4,265 (excluding 8% holiday allowance), which amounts to a gross annual salary of €55,274 including 8% holiday allowance.

Work experience

A higher education diploma is not required if the applicant for the European Blue Card has 5 years of relevant work experience. This work experience can be demonstrated with CV, written statement by the employee, reference letters and previous employment contracts.

Even more flexible conditions apply again with regard to prior work experience for ICT specialists or ICT managers. For these positions, the applicant must have gained at least 3 years of relevant work experience in the past 7 years prior to the European Blue Card application. A diploma is not a requirement in this case either.

The EU Blue Card applicant must have succesfully completed a post-secondary higher education program of at least three years: a Bachelor or Master degree. A degree is not required for the applicant that will work as ICT specialist or ICT manager, provided the employee has at least 3 years of relevant work experience in this field over the past 7 years prior to the EU Blue Card application.

Educational Program and Diploma evaluation

If the requirements regarding prior work experience are not met, a diploma is a requirement. The applicant for the European Blue Card must have successfully completed a post-secondary higher education program of at least three years. This means a bachelor's or master's degree.

The educational program must be in line with the function and role that the EU Blue Card applicant will perform in the Netherlands.

The foreign degree must be evaluated by the Dutch organisation IDW (International Credential Evaluation). A copy of the degree together with the IDW evaluation report must be submitted with the EU Blue Card application. The degree has to be evaluated prior to filing the EU Blue Card application.

Foreigners graduated at a Dutch university only have to submit a copy of their diploma.

Companies that have recently been established and are not recognized sponsor must meet additional conditions in order to apply for a European Blue Card for it’s future employee.

• The company must demonstrate that there is ‘economic activity’ in the company in the Netherlands. This has to be demonstrated with the following documents:
• A lease or deed of sale of the office space where the economic activity of the company takes place. A PO Box address is not considered proof of address.
• At least 1 full-time employee (FTE) must already be employed by the company before the EU Blue Card for can be applied. This must be demonstrated with an anonymized collective payroll statement.
• A statement of payment behavior (‘verklaring betalingsgedrag’) issued by the Tax Authorities (‘Belastingdienst’) confirming that there are no outstanding tax assessments or other claims imposed to the company.
• An extract from the Chamber of Commerce (KvK).

If these documents are not present, no European Blue Card can be applied for.These conditions do not apply to companies that have recently been established and are recognized as a sponsor by the IND. Recognised sponsors can apply for an European Blue Card without having to submit all the above documents.

The applicant must have a passport. The passport has to be valid for at least 6 months when filing the application.

The applicant shall not pose a threat to public policy, security or health. Overstaying of a previous visa and the registration thereof in the Schengen Information System is not a reason to reject the application.

If the applicant is a national from a country which needs a entry clearance visa (in Dutch: machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, MVV), the application can only be submitted when the applicant is residing outside the Netherlands. However, nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom and the USA are exempted from the MVV visa requirement.

A MVV is also not required for holders of a valid Dutch residence permit, the holder of an EU Blue Card in another Member State, or the holder of a EU-long term residence permit in another EU Member State.

A decision on the application for a European Blue Card will be taken as soon as possible. The maximum decision period is 30 days if the employer is recognized as a sponsor by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The decision period is a maximum of 90 days if the employer is not approved as recognised sponsor.

The employer can file the application in the Netherlands, or the employee can file the application at the Dutch representation at his or her country of origin / residence. If the foreigner is already in the possession of a Dutch residence permit, e.g. a highly skilled migrant permit (kennismigrant), it is also possible to apply for a change of residence permit into EU Blue Card, provided the conditions are met.

Click here for application form for the EU Blue Card for companies that are recognised sponsor and here for non recognised sponsors.

The application can be sent to:

Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

Postbus 59560 AA

Ter Apel