European Blue Card

Dutch companies wishing to hire highly skilled personnel from outside the EU can apply for a European Blue Card. The European Blue Card is based on Directive 2009/50/EC and is intended for highly educated professionals from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.

In the Netherlands, the European Blue Card can also serve as an alternative if the requirements for a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant are not met. For instance, Dutch employers are not required to be recognized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) to hire under the Blue Card scheme. Additionally, the European Blue Card offers the foreign employee and their family members greater mobility within the EU.

Conditions for the European Blue Card

To be eligible for the European Blue Card, several criteria must be met. The main criteria include a minimum salary and relevant work experience. If work experience is lacking, the educational requirements may suffice. The required salary threshold is adjusted annually. For 2025, the amounts are as follows:

• European Blue Card: a gross monthly salary of €5,688.00 (excluding 8% holiday allowance)
• Reduced salary criterion: a gross monthly salary of €4,551.00 (excluding 8% holiday allowance)

The reduced salary criterion applies to employees who graduated no more than three years ago.

To qualify for the European Blue Card, applicants must have at least five years of relevant work experience comparable to the level of a higher education diploma. For ICT managers and ICT professionals, the requirements are more flexible: they are eligible for the European Blue Card if they have acquired at least three years of relevant work experience in the seven years prior to the application.

If the requirement for relevant work experience is not met, the applicant must have completed a three-year higher education program. The diploma must be relevant to the profession or sector and meet its requirements. If the diploma is obtained abroad, an evaluation by Nuffic is necessary. Nuffic assesses the value of the foreign diploma in the Netherlands.

The employer must submit an employment contract with the application, demonstrating that the position is a highly qualified job for a minimum of six months.

Residence permit

The residence permit is valid for the duration of the employment contract, plus an additional three months.