Netherlands Work Permit Fees for Indians (2026): IND and Sponsor Costs

The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) publishes these fees in euros only. There is no official rupee amount, and the fees change every 1 January. Each fee is paid when the application is submitted and is not refunded if the application is refused. All figures below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For Schengen visits and the general MVV process, see our Netherlands visa guide for Indians.

How much are the IND work permit fees in 2026?

Four work permits cover most Indians hired by Dutch employers. The fee depends on the permit, not on your salary or nationality.

The highly skilled migrant fee covers the MVV (provisional residence permit) and the residence permit, which the employer applies for together. A highly skilled migrant does not need a separate work permit (TWV).

What does the employer pay to become a recognised sponsor?

Recognition is a one-off status, not a per-employee charge. The IND fee for 2026 is EUR 5,080.00, or EUR 2,539.00 for small businesses with no more than 50 persons. It is required before an employer can hire a highly skilled migrant, and the IND's legal decision period for recognition is 3 months.

Recognised employers appear in the IND's public register of recognised sponsors. If you have an offer under the highly skilled migrant scheme, ask whether the company is already on that register. If it is not, the employer faces both the recognition fee and a wait of up to 3 months before it can file for you.

For the EU Blue Card, recognition is optional but matters for speed: the IND decides within 30 days when a recognised sponsor files, against 90 days for other applications. For the single permit and seasonal work, any Netherlands-based employer registered with the Chamber of Commerce can apply, but the IND asks the UWV whether suitable workers are available in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe.

Who pays the EUR 423 fee: you or your employer?

For the highly skilled migrant permit, the IND brochure is explicit: the fee is paid by the employer as the recognised sponsor. The employer files online in the IND Business Portal, declares that you meet the conditions, keeps the supporting documents on file and pays the fee, by direct debit if it chooses.

For the Blue Card and the single permit, the employer also applies, and the fee falls due on submission. The official pages checked do not say who must bear it, so confirm it in writing in your offer letter.

Family members are a separate cost. A residence permit to stay with a partner or family member costs EUR 254.00 for a first application, change of purpose or extension. Family of a highly skilled migrant can be included in the employer's application.

What salary must the employer pay for each permit?

The fee is small next to the salary condition, which is the real test of whether an offer qualifies. The IND's 2026 thresholds are gross monthly amounts, excluding holiday allowance.

For the highly skilled migrant scheme, the salary must be at market rate and paid monthly into a bank account in your name. Holiday allowance, payment in kind and irregular pay such as overtime or tips do not count towards the threshold.

What will you pay yourself in India?

Once the IND approves, you collect the MVV sticker by appointment at the Embassy of the Netherlands in New Delhi or the Consulates-General in Bangalore or Mumbai. You may use any of the three, even if the IND letter names another. You must book within 3 months of the positive decision, and the passport with the MVV is ready in up to 10 working days.

• Courier: an optional DTDC passport return costs INR 850 per applicant, paid to DTDC for an Airway Bill number before the appointment. NetherlandsWorldwide notes this is not a visa fee.
• Birth certificate: a legalised and translated birth certificate is needed to register with the municipality after arrival. Legalisation costs are not published by the IND.
• Short assignments: for work of up to 90 days, the employer usually applies to UWV for a work permit (TWV) and you travel on a Schengen visa. That costs EUR 90.00 in consular fees plus the VFS service charge of INR 1,890.

Which mistakes make someone pay twice?

• Filing an incomplete application. IND fees are not refunded on refusal, so a weak file can cost the full EUR 423.00 again.
• Using an old fee table. IND fees change every 1 January. A file submitted in January pays the new year's amount, so check the IND fees page on the day.
• Picking the wrong permit. An applicant under 30 may meet the highly skilled migrant threshold of EUR 4,357 while falling short of the Blue Card's EUR 5,942.
• Overlooking EU long-term resident status. If you already hold it in another EU country, most work permits cost EUR 254.00 and no MVV or TB test is needed.
• Booking the wrong Schengen category at VFS. If the category is wrong you cannot submit on the day and you lose the VFS service fee.

For business trips while your permit is in progress, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for Schengen files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an INR amount for the IND work permit fee?

No. The IND publishes its fees in euros only and no official rupee amount exists. The only rupee amounts published for Indians in this process are the VFS service charge of INR 1,890 for Schengen visas and the optional DTDC courier charge of INR 850 at the MVV stage.

Does a highly skilled migrant need a separate Dutch work permit (TWV)?

No. The IND's requirements say a highly skilled migrant needs an employment contract with a recognised sponsor and no separate TWV. Students who work alongside study, and single-permit holders, are treated differently.

Is the IND fee refunded if my work permit is refused?

No. The IND fee is paid when the application is submitted and is not refunded if the application is refused. A new application means paying the fee again.

How much does it cost to bring my spouse to the Netherlands?

The IND fee for a residence permit to stay with a partner or family member is EUR 254.00 in 2026. Family of a highly skilled migrant can be included in the employer's application, and they collect their MVV in India in the same way.