Is it possible for a foreign company to use the highly skilled migrant policy? 

No, only companies established in the Netherlands can use the highly skilled migrant policy.  

Is the admission of an employer to the highly skilled migrant arrangement tied to a minimum number of applications every year? 

No. In order to be allowed access to the highly skilled migrant arrangement, you are not obliged to submit a minimum or a maximum number of applications every year.  

Can I get separate access codes for the different business units within my company? 

Yes, you can. If you want separate access codes for every business unit, you have to sign a declaration for every branch or business unit, and submit it to the IND. The different business units can also issue a joint declaration, but only one main contact person and one bank account number can be submitted for the different business units.  

What are the advantages of attaching a sticker to the passport of a highly skilled migrant? 

The highly skilled migrant can use the sticker to prove his/her legal residency in the Netherlands, while awaiting a decision about his/her application for a residence permit.   This makes it easier to settle matters with other institutions in the Netherlands, such as the municipality and the Tax and Customs Administration.   

Is it possible for a highly skilled migrant to let someone else collect his/her sticker at the IND? 

Yes, the employer of a highly skilled migrant can collect the sticker, It is also possible for the highly skilled migrant or his/her husband/wife to report to the IND with the passports of all family members to have the stickers attached.   The lawyer or the representative of a placement agency cannot collect the sticker on behalf of the highly skilled migrant.  Please Note: As an employer, you can only file an application for a residence permit and attach a sticker to the passport after the highly skilled migrant has entered the Netherlands.  

My employee has a residence permit with ‘work in paid employment’ as the purpose of stay, but also meets the requirements for a residence permit with the aim ‘residence as highly skilled migrant’.   What actions do I take to change the permit? 

You can make an application to change the purpose of stay. For this purpose, you can use the form ‘application for a residence permit to change the limitation for highly skilled migrants'. A fee must be paid for this change. The two-week period for making a decision does not apply for these applications, but the IND does strive to process these applications rapidly. You do not need to file an application to change the purpose of stay for the family members of the work migrant, because the purpose of their stay remains the same.  

Can I allow the IND to debit the charges from a foreign account? 

No, the IND can only collect charges from an account at a Dutch bank.  

What should I do if I do not want to pay the charges for the residence permit by direct debit? 

You indicate in a letter accompanying the declaration that you do not want to pay by direct debit. In that case, you or the foreign national will receive a giro collection form for every application.   After the payment of the charges, it will take a number of weeks before the IND is informed of this.   For this reason, the IND recommends you send proof of payment as soon as the charges have been debited from your account.   The processing of the application will continue after a notice of payment has been received.   The IND is under no obligation to decide on your application within the first two weeks. 

What should I do if I do not want to pay the charges for the MVV by direct debit? 

You indicate this when making your request for advice for an MVV, and subsequently receive an invoice from the IND if a positive recommendation is made.  

What are the consequences for the highly skilled migrant’s residence permit if his/her position within the company changes, or he/she leaves the company? 

The foreign national who possesses a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant can keep this residence permit if his/her position or employer changes, as long as he/she still meets the conditions of residence as a highly skilled migrant.   You are however obliged to report the change to the IND. 

Can I submit an application for a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant for a highly skilled migrant who does not yet reside in the Netherlands? 

No, that is not possible. The application for a residence permit can only be filed once the highly skilled migrant has arrived in the Netherlands. 

What should I do if the highly skilled migrant resides at a different address than the one indicated on the application form after the application has been filed? 

When the address details as indicated in the application for a residence permit change, or if it only becomes known in which municipality the foreign national will take up residence after the application has been filed, this should be reported to the INDoffice for labour and highly skilled migrants as quickly as possible.   In that case, the residence document can be sent to the right municipality by the IND, to be handed over to the foreign national. 

Will an application for change of a residence permit that was previously granted, into a residence permit with the purpose ‘highly skilled migrant’, also be processed within two weeks? 

When processing a change restriction, the two-week term does not apply.   Of course, we do aim to process a change or limitation within the shortest term possible. 

Can I make an application for a highly skilled migrant for an employee from one of the new EU member states? 

Yes, you can. The employer of a highly skilled migrant does not have to be in possession of a work permit. However, the application for this residence permit is more expensive than applying for an EU residence card. Applying for an EU residence card requires a MVV.