The Netherlands has announced higher income thresholds for highly skilled foreign workers, intracompany transfers, Blue Card holders, and recent graduates. From 1 January 2026, new fees for residency applications in the Netherlands will come into effect, reflecting a 4.4 percent increase from the previous year.
Visa Costs
Visa for Highly skilled migrant and Work as holder of a European blue card for First application and change in purpose of stay will cost € 405,00. First application or change in purpose of stay for international students will cost € 243,00.
Required Amounts
The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment has also adjusted the Required amounts. The ‘required amount’ is the minimum amount you must earn for the residence permit you are applying for.
Required amounts as applicable from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026
Gross SV-wage without holiday allowance:
Married couples or cohabiting unmarried couples: € 2294.40
Singles or single parents: € 1606.08
Gross SV-wage with holiday allowance:
Married couples or cohabiting unmarried couples: € 2477,95
Singles or single parents: € 1734,57
SV-wage is the wage on which you pay tax and social insurance contributions.
Required amounts Study, as applicable throughout 2026:
Secondary vocational education (MBO): € 928.58
University of applied sciences (HBO) and university: € 1130.77
Required amounts Highly skilled migrant and European Blue Card as applicable throughout 2026:
Highly skilled migrant aged 30 and over: € 5942
Highly skilled migrant younger than 30 years old: € 4357
Reduced salary criterion Highly skilled migrant: € 3122
European Blue Card: € 5942
Reduced salary criterion European Blue Card: € 4754
Foreign Students and Workers
The Dutch government allows highly educated migrants to apply for a residence permit for an orientation year to seek employment or start a business after graduation. This residence permit is intended for foreign students studying in the Netherlands; foreign students who graduated from a top university outside the Netherlands; foreign scientific researchers who have carried out research in the Netherlands.
In April, the government was considering raising the minimum salary that an individual must earn to qualify as a highly skilled migrant and gain admission to the Netherlands.
The administration aimed to increase the pay requirements for highly skilled migrants. It proposed raising the qualifying amount for highly skilled migrants under 30 years old to 1.1 times the national average yearly gross salary. The current minimum monthly gross wage for this category is €4,171. The proposed hike would have raised the minimum monthly pay by several hundred euros.
