Apply For a Work Visa

Where is HSM needed?

The Netherlands established the highly skilled migrant program to allow talented foreigners to fill openings in the Dutch job market.

The HSM program enables skilled individuals outside the European Union, EEA, and Switzerland to obtain a Dutch resident permit to live and work for a company in the Netherlands. The resident permit is granted for the same duration as your employment contract, with a maximum of 5 years.

Where is HSM not needed?

You don’t require HSM Visa if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:

• Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Benefits of HSM?

Benefits for applying HSM Visa are:

• Immigrants are exempt from language learning requirements, known as civic integration in the Netherlands.
• Speed of the application procedure is comparatively less complicated and easy from others.
• The salary threshold is considerably lesser which makes their permit more flexible for employers regarding the salary that they offer to their employees.
• The duration of the scheme corresponds with the duration of the employment contract. This means that if the employee has an employment contract for one year, the permit will also be issued for one year.
• You have a long-term residence permit that means a maximum of 5 years and can be extended further.
• You can switch jobs with HSM visa in the Netherlands

Eligibility Criteria for Applying HSM

The eligibility criteria for applying for HSM program are:

• You must require an employment contract with a company in the Netherlands.
• If the applicant is transferring as a manager or specialist, they must hold a bachelor’s degree or have five years of relevant work experience. A trainee employee must hold a master’s degree.
• A vital requirement of the Dutch highly skilled migrant permit is that the company must be approved as a recognized sponsor by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
• You fit the requirements for highly skilled migrants in terms of monthly gross income. A greater salary threshold is required for workers over the age of 30 and for those who graduated from Dutch universities than for workers under 30.
• You are not a risk to public order or national security and have a valid travel document.
• You must undergo a tuberculosis test upon arrival in the Netherlands. You do not have to take a TB test in any of the following situations:

? You have the nationality of one of the countries that are exempted from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis test.

? You already have a valid residence permit in the Netherlands and are applying for a different residence permit.

? You were born in the Netherlands, and you have always lived here.

? You already had a TB test in the Netherlands less than 6 months ago.

? You have an EU residence permit as a long-term resident issued by another EU country, or you are a family member of and are residing with a long-term EU resident in another EU country.

• Your employer must be a recognized person.

What is the minimum salary threshold for HSM Visa?

As of January 1, 2023, the salary criteria for a highly skilled migrant are the following:

• Highly skilled migrants under the age of 30 must earn at least EUR 3,672.00 gross per month.
• Highly skilled migrants aged 30 and above must earn at least EUR 5,008.00 gross per month.
• Highly skilled migrants who graduated after their orientation/search year must earn at least EUR 2,631.00 gross per month.

Required Documents for Applying HSM

The documents required for applying for HSM are:

• The complete and signed HSM issue application form.
• Your passport and a photocopy of the personal details page. Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months and have at least 2 blank pages.
• If you live in a country of which you are not a national: your residence permit (or equivalent) and a photocopy of the permit.
• Evidence for legal residence. You can show an Electricity Bill or Bank Statement as an address proof.
• Proof of Health insurance.
• Proof of Travel document
• Proof of employment, show a valid offer letter of one of the recognized companies in the Netherlands.
• An updated CV.
• Proof of past profession. Must hold at least 5 continuous years of work experience.

HSM Visa Processing Time

The processing time for getting a HSM Visa takes two to four weeks, which means it can take up to 30 days for your application to get processed.

HSM Rejection Reasons

Your application for applying HSM may get rejected because of the following reasons:

• You have not met the eligibility criteria and your employer is non-recognized.
• Incomplete application and data mismatch.
• Violating Visa Rules and Documentation Process.
• You were involved in either past or current criminal actions.
• Insufficient explanation for the purpose and circumstances of the planned stay for example not able to show your employment contract.
• Not holding past work experience of 5 years.
• Damaged or invalidity of passport.
• Invalid letter of reference.
• Lacking to present a proof of residence.
• Unfavorable Travel History and Health Status.

Still, you can re-apply for HSM but at that time make sure that you met all the eligibility criteria along with appropriate documents and correct information without having any criminal records.

How can my family join me in applying for the HSM Visa?

Your family member will need a residence permit if you intend to live together in the Netherlands with your husband, partner, and/or minor children. Your residency is a requirement for this residence permit. In that instance, you are the family member's sponsor. A legalized and translated copy of each member of your family's birth certificate is required in order to register yourself and your family members in the Personal Records Database (BRP) in the Netherlands. Of course, everyone in your family must have a current passport or other acceptable form of identification.

A residence permit application for your family member may also be made on your behalf by your company, who is the designated sponsor. In that situation, you also serve as the family member's sponsor. The sponsorship's rights and responsibilities will then also apply to you. For the application, you must save the supporting documents, such as a marriage certificate and/or a document proving a familial link, and you must notify the IND of any changes. This information is available in the section on Rights and Obligations.

Can I get permanent residency through HSM Visa?

Yes, one can get permanent residency. These are the requirements for a permanent residence permit:

• You have had a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years.
• You had your main residence in the Netherlands during the entire 5-year period.
• You have always extended your residence permit in time.
• You have always met the requirements for your residence permit. And you still meet those requirements.
• You now have a valid residence permit for a non-temporary residence purpose.
• You are not a danger to the public order or national security.
• You did not provide incorrect information or withheld information when you applied for your current residence permit.
• You meet the income requirements.
• You are registered in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) at your local town hall. The BRP is the population register of the Netherlands.

What can you do with a HSM Visa?

Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) visa or kennismigrantenregeling in Dutch has turned out to be the most used visa. It’s also by far the cheapest to get at € 320 and also the quickest, at 2-4 weeks.

With HSM Visa you can do the following:

• Exempt from language-learning requirements for immigrants, known in the Netherlands as Civic Integration.
• May be eligible for the 30% ruling. This reimbursement is compensation for the extra costs that international employees can incur when moving to a new country for work.
• Your employer will also apply for a residence permit for your family members.