payrolling a highly skilled migrant.

We call highly educated personnel from outside the EU to the Netherlands highly skilled migrants. Foreign students, from outside the EU, who continue to work in the Netherlands after their search year can also fall under the definition of highly skilled migrant.

Highly skilled migrants with a nationality from outside an EU-, EEA-country or Switzerland may be eligible for the highly skilled migrant arrangement, if they meet the following requirements:

• have a valid passport;

• are a resident in The Netherlands during his or her employment;

• have an employment contract with the employer;

• their employer is an IND-recognized sponsor for highly skilled migrants. If you choose a payroll construction through Randstad, we are the formal employer of the highly skilled migrant. The advantage of this is that you do not have to be a recognized referent as a hirer;

• earn a sufficient income that meets the highly skilled migrant salary criterion and is in line with the market;

• are not a threat the to the public order or national security and have a foreigner's background statement;

• willing to undergo a tuberculosis examination after arrival (required in specific cases).

If you want to hire a highly skilled migrant, you must adhere to the salary criterion that applies to highly skilled migrants. This criterion is indexed annually. The monthly criteria, excluding (at least 8%) vacation pay, in 2025 is:

• highly skilled migrant over 30: €5.688,00 before taxes;

• highly skilled migrant younger than 30: €4.171,00 before taxes;

• highly skilled migrant recently graduated: €2.989 before taxes;

• european blue card: €5.688 before taxes.

It is important to note that this is a nominal criterion that must be met regardless of the scope of employment. Want to know more? Find it at the IND website.

This depends on a number of factors. For example, the current place of residence, residence status of the employee in question and the processing time of the IND. During the application process we will keep you posted about the progress. 

The IND aims to decide on the application within 2 weeks (within 90 days at the latest). We arrange all matters, which are outside the IND, within 10 working days. In short, from submitting the application, things can be arranged quickly.

No, as soon as you are a recognized sponsor, you can enter into an employment contract with the employee. You can then decide for yourself whether our payroll service is still beneficial to you or whether you prefer to be the employer of the highly skilled migrant.

In our experience, the prospect of a longer stay motivates employees.

Our team of experts are ready to support the highly skilled migrant. We apply for the permit at the IND, we give the highly skilled migrant advice, ensure a warm welcome at Randstad and clear explanations about how living and working in the Netherlands works. For example, we help the highly skilled migrant apply for the 30% ruling. The highly skilled migrant is also given access to training and education offered by Randstad.

Training and coaching the highly skilled migrant on the job is the responsibility of your organization.

If you're coming to work in the Netherlands, you might find that living here can be more expensive than in your home country. In such situations, your employer can help cover these extra costs without taxing the compensation. Another option is for your employer to give you 30% of your salary, which includes extra living expenses, and this money is tax-free. This is called the 30% facility. You can read more about in on this website of the government of the Netherlands.

Here you can find more information about the payrolling costs. Do you have any questions our would like some help from one of our colleagues? Through this form you can request our rate directly and without obligation. We are happy to help you.

When highly skilled migrants choose to work through a payroll company in the Netherlands, the payroll company becomes their official employer and sponsors their residence permit. The process is quite similar to when the employer sponsors directly. However, it's important that the payroll company is recognized by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND). The migrant will still need a job offer and a minimum salary that meets Dutch requirements, and they can apply for a residence permit to work through the payroll company. It's a way to make the immigration process smoother for highly skilled workers.

As Randstad, we're an IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) sponsor for highly skilled migrants in the Netherlands, meeting criteria to facilitate their employment and immigration. This makes the whole process easier and more reliable for everyone involved, from the employers to the skilled workers.