The 2026 salary thresholds for eligibility for an European Blue Card or a permit to work as a highly skilled migrant have been announced.

Two different salary thresholds apply to the European Blue Card.

Three different salary thresholds apply to highly skilled migrant applicants.

The salary thresholds apply to new applications and to extensions of previously issued EU Blue Cards and highly skilled migrant permits.

The salary thresholds mentioned below are gross per month excluding 8% holiday allowance.

European Blue Card

• The European Blue Card has a salary threshold (regardless of age): €5,942.
• The reduced European Blue Card salary threshold applies to applicants who obtained their degree from a higher education institution no more than three years prior to the application. This could have been abroad, or in the Netherlands: €4,754

Highly Skilled Migrant

• Highly Skilled Migrant aged 30 and older: €5,942
• Highly Skilled Migrant under 30: €4,357
• Highly Skilled Migrant who graduated from a higher education institution in the Netherlands less than three years prior to the application, or who obtained a Master’s degree from a top 200 university abroad less than three years prior to the application: €3,122