Immigration Procedure for Highly Skilled Migrants

Application Process and Timeline

The immigration application process typically takes between 6 and 10 weeks, provided everything goes smoothly. Proper preparation is crucial to avoid delays caused by additional questions or documents requested by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) during the process.

Required Documents

If a highly skilled migrant is relocating to the Netherlands alone, the following documents are required:

• Personal data (NAW details)

• Copy of the passport

• Employment contract

If a family or partner is accompanying the migrant, additional documents are necessary, including:

• Marriage certificate with apostille

• Reference statement

We also recommend bringing a birth certificate with an apostille to avoid future issues.

MVV Obligation

Depending on the country of origin, the highly skilled migrant may be required to obtain an MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) anda provisional residence permit. This involves verifying the migrant's identity at the embassy in the country of origin (or current residence). The MVV process can add up to 4 weeks to the application process, depending on the embassy workload and local circumstances.

Approval and Next Steps

Once the MVV application is approved, the approval is indicated with a sticker on the passport. Only after this approval can the highly skilled migrant travel to the Netherlands to continue with the next steps of the immigration process.