Kennismigrant · recognised sponsor · in English
Highly skilled migrant hires, the business side handled.
The highly skilled migrant ("kennismigrant") scheme is the fast-track route for knowledge workers — but it only works through an IND recognised sponsor paying at least the salary threshold. We set up the Dutch employer, run the payroll and the 30% ruling, and work with an immigration-law partner on the application.
- Recognised-sponsor route explained in plain English
- Salary thresholds — indexed annually, verified with the IND
- Fast-track procedure; pairs with the 30% ruling
- We do the BV & payroll; a partner does the immigration law
Where we fit
- Dutch BV formed and registered as employer
- Recognised-sponsor or EOR route arranged
- Monthly payroll incl. 30% ruling
- One English-speaking point of contact
The immigration application runs with an immigration-law partner. See pricing →
The recognised-sponsor route, step by step
1. Dutch employer in place
We form or prepare your BV and register it as an employer with the Belastingdienst — there has to be a legal entity to employ from.
2. Recognised sponsor
Your company applies to the IND to become a recognised sponsor, or we place the hire with an EOR that already is one.
3. Salary threshold
The offer must meet the IND gross-salary threshold for the person's age group — indexed annually, so we verify the current amount.
4. IND application
An immigration-law partner or the sponsor files the kennismigrant application, which the IND handles on its fast-track.
5. Payroll & 30% ruling
Once granted, we run monthly payroll and apply the 30% ruling in the wage administration where the employee qualifies.
6. Ongoing compliance
We keep the payroll, salary threshold and reporting aligned so the recognised-sponsor obligations stay met.
What the highly skilled migrant scheme is
The highly skilled migrant route — kennismigrant in Dutch — lets a Dutch employer bring a knowledge worker from outside the EU/EEA without the usual labour-market test. In exchange, the scheme leans on two conditions: the employer is an IND recognised sponsor, and the salary meets a set threshold. It is the workhorse route for tech, finance and specialist hires, and it is one of the reasons founders relocate their team to the Netherlands.
The recognised-sponsor requirement
This is the part foreign founders miss most often: you cannot bring in a highly skilled migrant unless the employer is on the IND’s public register of recognised sponsors. Recognition is a separate application to the IND with its own conditions, and it takes time. There are two clean ways forward:
- Your own BV becomes a recognised sponsor. Best when you plan to hire several skilled migrants over time. We prepare the company and payroll so it is ready to apply.
- An employer of record acts as the sponsor. If you need one hire now, an EOR that already holds recognised-sponsor status can be the formal employer — faster to start, no recognition application of your own.
We help you choose between the two based on how many people you expect to hire and how quickly.
Salary thresholds — indexed, so we don’t hardcode them
Eligibility depends on paying at least the applicable gross monthly salary threshold. The IND publishes separate amounts for age 30 and over, for under-30s, and a reduced one for recent graduates using the orientation-year (zoekjaar) permit. These figures are indexed every year, so any number printed on a web page dates quickly. We deliberately do not quote a fixed euro amount here — verify the current threshold with the IND before you set a salary or plan a hire, and we confirm it with you at the point of hiring.
Fast-track procedure
Because a recognised sponsor has already been vetted, the IND processes highly skilled migrant applications on an accelerated basis — often within a short statutory window in straightforward cases. Actual timelines depend on the case and the IND’s workload, so treat any duration as indicative. The speed is a big part of why companies prefer this route over the general self-employed or work-permit paths.
How it pairs with the 30% ruling
The highly skilled migrant scheme and the 30% ruling are frequently used together but are two different things: the first is about residence and work (IND), the second is a payroll tax facility (Belastingdienst) that lets a qualifying employee receive part of their salary tax-free. Many kennismigranten qualify for both. The ruling has its own salary norm and conditions and has to be run through the monthly wage administration, which is exactly the part we handle.
Immigration thresholds, recognised-sponsor conditions and processing times are set by the IND and change; this is general information, not immigration or tax advice. The immigration application is delivered with an immigration-law partner or recognised sponsor.
Highly skilled migrant — FAQ
What is the highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) scheme?
The highly skilled migrant ("kennismigrant") scheme is the Netherlands' fast-track residence-and-work route for knowledge workers. Instead of a labour-market test, eligibility turns mainly on one thing: the employer is an IND recognised sponsor and pays at least the applicable salary threshold. It is the most common route companies use to bring skilled staff to the Netherlands.
Does the employer have to be an IND recognised sponsor?
Yes. Only an employer that the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) has admitted to its public register of recognised sponsors can bring in a highly skilled migrant. Becoming a recognised sponsor is a separate application with its own conditions. If your own Dutch company is not (yet) a recognised sponsor, an employer of record that already holds recognised-sponsor status can act as the formal employer instead.
What salary do I have to pay a highly skilled migrant?
The IND sets gross monthly salary thresholds for highly skilled migrants — a standard one for age 30 and over, a lower one for under-30s, and a reduced one for recent graduates on the orientation-year permit. These amounts are indexed every year, so we do not quote a fixed figure here — always verify the current threshold with the IND before you plan a hire.
How fast is the highly skilled migrant procedure?
It is designed to be quick. For a recognised sponsor the IND aims to decide within a short statutory period (often around two weeks in straightforward cases), because the recognised-sponsor status removes much of the up-front checking. Timelines and processing depend on the case and the IND's current workload — treat any duration as indicative and confirm with the IND.
Does the 30% ruling come with it?
They often go together but are separate. The highly skilled migrant scheme is about residence and work; the 30% ruling (expatregeling) is a payroll tax facility for employees recruited from abroad. Many kennismigranten qualify for both, and the ruling has its own salary norm and conditions. We apply the ruling in the monthly payroll once the Belastingdienst grants it.
What part of this do you handle?
We handle the company and payroll side — forming or preparing your Dutch BV, registering it as an employer, running compliant payroll (including the 30% ruling), and coordinating the recognised-sponsor or EOR arrangement. The immigration application itself is run with an immigration-law partner or a recognised sponsor. You get one English-speaking point of contact across both.
Sources
- IND — Highly skilled migrant (recognised sponsor requirement, salary criterion, procedure).
- IND — Public register of recognised sponsors (who may sponsor).
- IND — Required amounts income requirements (annually indexed salary thresholds).
We are an independent company-formation and bookkeeping office, not an immigration lawyer and not the IND. The immigration application is delivered with an immigration-law partner or recognised sponsor. Salary thresholds and conditions are set by the IND, indexed annually and change — verify your situation with the IND. This page is general information, not immigration or tax advice.
Planning a skilled hire in the Netherlands?
Tell us who you want to hire and where they are. We'll map the recognised-sponsor or EOR route, the payroll and the 30% ruling — and loop in the immigration partner.
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