# How to Apply for a Netherlands Work Visa from India: Step by Step > The Dutch work permit process from India in order: picking the route, what the employer files with the IND, collecting the MVV sticker in India and the first weeks after arrival. _Published: 2026-10-26 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1238_ ## TL;DR Indians cannot file a Dutch work permit themselves: the employer in the Netherlands applies to the IND for the MVV and residence permit together. After a positive decision you book an MVV sticker appointment at the embassy in New Delhi or the consulates-general in Mumbai or Bangalore within 3 months, collect the passport in up to 10 working days and travel within 90 days. The highly skilled migrant permit costs EUR 423 and needs a 2026 salary of at least EUR 5,942 a month at age 30 or over. ## Key takeaways - The employer, not you, applies to the IND for the MVV and residence permit together. - Highly skilled migrant 2026 salary: EUR 5,942 a month (30+), EUR 4,357 (under 30), EUR 3,122 (reduced criterion). - IND fee: EUR 423 for highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card and single permit (GVVA) applications. - Book the MVV sticker within 3 months of approval; passport ready in up to 10 working days; travel within 90 days. - With a recognised sponsor and a complete file, the IND aims to decide a highly skilled migrant application within 2 weeks. **According to the IND, you cannot file a Dutch work permit yourself: your employer in the Netherlands applies, for example for a highly skilled migrant permit (EUR 423; salary from EUR 5,942 a month at 30 or over). After approval you collect the MVV sticker at the embassy in New Delhi or the consulate in Mumbai or Bengaluru.** ## Article That changes what 'applying from India' means. Your job is to give your employer what it needs, then handle the MVV sticker and your arrival. The steps below follow the order in which things actually happen, using the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) rules and amounts for 2026, as published on the official sources and checked on 15 October 2026. For Schengen visits and other Dutch visa types, see our Netherlands visa guide for Indians. ### Step 1: Which Dutch work permit fits your job offer? The route depends on the job and the salary. The employer chooses it, but you should know which one applies before you sign. Route2026 salary or conditionIND feeDecision periodHighly skilled migrant (kennismigrant)EUR 5,942 a month (30+); EUR 4,357 (under 30); EUR 3,122 (reduced criterion)EUR 423Legal period 90 days; often within 2 weeks with a recognised sponsorEU Blue CardEUR 5,942 a month; EUR 4,754 (reduced, within 3 years of graduating); contract of at least 6 monthsEUR 42330 days via a recognised sponsor; 90 days otherwiseSingle permit (GVVA) for paid employmentAt least EUR 2,337.00 gross a month (July-December 2026) plus a UWV labour-market assessmentEUR 423Legal period 90 days; about 7 weeks with a recognised sponsorSeasonal labour single permitAt least EUR 2,337.00 gross a month; maximum 24 weeksEUR 254.00Legal period 90 daysSalary thresholds exclude holiday allowance. For the highly skilled migrant route, payment in kind, overtime and tips do not count, and the salary must be paid monthly into a bank account in your name. The reduced EUR 3,122 criterion applies within 3 years of graduating, after a PhD or research, or after the orientation year. ### Step 2: What does your employer file with the IND? For a highly skilled migrant, only an employer recognised by the IND as a sponsor can apply. Recognition is a one-off employer cost of EUR 5,080.00 (EUR 2,539.00 for businesses with no more than 50 people) and has a legal decision period of 3 months, so a first-time sponsor needs time. According to the IND highly skilled migrant brochure (June 2026), the employer checks the conditions, files the application in writing or online in the Business Portal declaring that you meet them, pays the fee (direct debit is possible) and waits for the decision. Supporting documents are kept on file, not sent. No separate work permit (TWV) is needed on this route, and the IND's listed requirements do not include a Dutch-language test. For a single permit (GVVA), the IND asks the UWV whether no suitable worker could be found in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe. With a recognised sponsor, a GVVA decision takes about 7 weeks when a work permit or single permit is needed. ### Step 3: What do you send your employer from India? The work residence permit checklist covers: - Your employment contract, or the employer's testimonial, appointment decision or hosting agreement - A copy of your passport - The antecedents certificate (a criminal-record declaration that is part of the IND form) - A work permit (TWV) or its application, where one is required - BIG-register registration if you will practise a regulated healthcare profession - A legalised and translated birth certificate, needed later for municipal registration Basic civic integration exam results are needed only where civic integration abroad is mandatory, for example for certain religious roles on the single permit. ### Step 4: How do you collect the MVV sticker in India? Once the IND approves, you receive a letter with your V number. Then: - Book an MVV sticker appointment online at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate-General in Bangalore or Mumbai within 3 months of the positive decision. You may use any of the three, even if the IND letter names another. - Bring a passport valid for at least 6 more months with 2 empty pages plus a photocopy, one Dutch-standard passport photo, a copy of the IND decision letter with your V number, and any other documents named in it. - Optionally pay DTDC INR 850 for an Airway Bill number before the appointment, if you want the passport returned by courier. - Collect your passport with the MVV in up to 10 working days. Appointments fill up quickly. If none are available, try again later, as slots open through cancellations and rescheduling. ### Step 5: What happens in your first weeks in the Netherlands? Travel within 90 days of receiving the MVV. On the highly skilled migrant route, you may start work immediately after arrival. You then: - Collect your residence permit at an IND desk. - Register at the town hall where you live. - Take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months. - Take a TB test, unless your nationality is on the IND exemption list. The permit is valid for the length of your employment contract, up to 5 years. ### How long does the whole process take? With an already recognised sponsor and a complete highly skilled migrant application, the IND aims to decide within 2 weeks. Add the time to get an MVV appointment and up to 10 working days for the sticker. Dutch MVV guidance advises applying at least 3 months before the intended stay, which is a safer planning window, especially for GVVA or seasonal permits with a legal decision period of 90 days. Work of up to 90 days is handled differently: the employer usually applies to UWV for a work permit (TWV) and you travel on a short-stay Schengen visa. ### Mistakes that stall a Dutch work permit - Counting holiday allowance or overtime towards the salary threshold. - Accepting a highly skilled migrant offer from an employer that is not a recognised sponsor. Only recognised sponsors can apply on this route. - Letting the 3-month window for the MVV appointment lapse after approval. - Arriving with a passport that has less than 6 months' validity left at the MVV appointment. - Missing the town hall registration or the 4-month health insurance deadline after arrival. For a Schengen visit to meet your employer before you move, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can my family join me on a Dutch highly skilled migrant permit? Yes. The IND allows family of a highly skilled migrant to be included in the employer's application. Family members cannot join you on the seasonal labour single permit. #### Do I need to pass a Dutch language test for a highly skilled migrant permit? The IND's listed requirements for the highly skilled migrant permit do not include a Dutch-language test. Civic integration abroad applies to specific cases, such as certain religious roles and many family members joining a resident. #### How much is the IND fee if I already hold EU long-term resident status elsewhere? EUR 254.00 instead of EUR 423.00 for most work permits. You still need a Dutch residence permit for the specific purpose, but no MVV and no TB test, and the employer needs a TWV only for the first 12 months. #### Is there a Dutch permit to look for work after studying? Yes, the orientation year. It is a one-off residence permit for people looking for work after graduating, a doctorate or research; it costs EUR 254 in 2026 and eligibility is shown after an IND nationality questionnaire. ## Steps 1. **Confirm the permit route** — Check with your employer whether the job qualifies as highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card, single permit (GVVA) or seasonal work, and that your 2026 salary meets the threshold excluding holiday allowance. 2. **Check the employer's sponsor status** — For a highly skilled migrant permit the employer must be recognised by the IND as a sponsor; recognition costs EUR 5,080.00 (EUR 2,539.00 for small businesses) and takes up to 3 months. 3. **Send your documents to the employer** — Provide your signed contract, passport copy, antecedents declaration, any TWV, BIG registration if relevant, and a legalised, translated birth certificate. 4. **Employer files with the IND** — The employer applies for the MVV and residence permit together, declares that you meet the conditions and pays the EUR 423 fee. 5. **Book the MVV appointment** — Within 3 months of the positive decision, book an MVV sticker appointment at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate-General in Mumbai or Bangalore, quoting your V number. 6. **Collect the MVV and travel** — Collect your passport with the MVV in up to 10 working days and travel to the Netherlands within 90 days. 7. **Complete arrival formalities** — Collect your residence permit at an IND desk, register at the town hall, take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months and take a TB test unless exempt. ## FAQ ### Can my family join me on a Dutch highly skilled migrant permit? Yes. The IND allows family of a highly skilled migrant to be included in the employer's application. Family members cannot join you on the seasonal labour single permit. ### Do I need to pass a Dutch language test for a highly skilled migrant permit? The IND's listed requirements for the highly skilled migrant permit do not include a Dutch-language test. Civic integration abroad applies to specific cases, such as certain religious roles and many family members joining a resident. ### How much is the IND fee if I already hold EU long-term resident status elsewhere? EUR 254.00 instead of EUR 423.00 for most work permits. You still need a Dutch residence permit for the specific purpose, but no MVV and no TB test, and the employer needs a TWV only for the first 12 months. ### Is there a Dutch permit to look for work after studying? Yes, the orientation year. It is a one-off residence permit for people looking for work after graduating, a doctorate or research; it costs EUR 254 in 2026 and eligibility is shown after an IND nationality questionnaire. ## Sources 1. [IND brochure - Residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (June 2026)](https://ind.nl/en/forms/3072.pdf) — Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) 2. [IND - Required amounts income requirements (2026)](https://ind.nl/en/required-amounts-income-requirements) — Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) 3. [IND - Fees: costs of an application](https://ind.nl/en/fees-costs-of-an-application) — Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) 4. [Applying for an MVV visa sticker in India](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/mvv-long-stay/apply-india) — NetherlandsWorldwide, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands