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Pathway

Netherlands Single Permit for Paid Employment

Netherlands Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

The Dutch single permit, or GVVA, lets you live in the Netherlands and work for a specified employer. It is the usual route for many employees who are not EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens and whose job does not fit a more specific permit.

Job offer required?
Yes, with a Dutch employer supporting the application
Hiring checks
Normally a prior search in the Netherlands and EU/EEA and a registered vacancy; special-category exceptions apply
Pay and housing
Normal agreed pay, the current immigration income requirement, and proper housing

Summary

The Dutch single permit, known as GVVA, combines residence and work permission for a particular position supported by the employer. The role must satisfy the salary and employment rules, and advice from the labor-market authority may be required. The combined document does not remove those checks or turn any offer into qualifying work.

Employer recruitment evidence supports the combined application
  1. Confirm the ordinary GVVA category Check whether a more specific Dutch work route applies to the job.
  2. Complete the employer requirements Review the UWV search and vacancy registration, pay, company registration, and housing.
  3. Apply for the combined permission Prepare both parties' evidence and any required MVV application.
  4. Check the issued work conditions If approved Start only when the residence card and additional document authorize the employment.

The GVVA is tied to specified employment. A job offer alone does not authorize work.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

EEA means the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

The applicant needs an actual Dutch job offer. The ordinary GVVA requirements include:

The GVVA framework also covers listed special jobs and situations, such as some religious workers, international non-profit employees, artists and cultural workers, and transfers not covered by the EU ICT Directive. Extra category-specific rules can replace or add to the standard labor-market test (a check for suitable workers already available locally).

IND asks UWV for labor-market advice before deciding. Employer recognition by IND is not normally mandatory, although a recognized sponsor can use some streamlined processes.

More about this route

The employer is central. In a standard paid-employment case, the employer usually must first search in the Netherlands and EU/EEA, register the vacancy with UWV, and meet salary, registration, and housing rules.

What This Route Allows

The permit consists of a residence card and an additional work document. The employee may live in the Netherlands and work only for the employer and under the conditions named in those documents. Work cannot begin until both documents have been received.

The permit is generally valid for up to 3 years. After 5 years of authorized Dutch work, a person may be able to obtain a residence document marked free to work, subject to the applicable rules. If the employer changes, the new employer must apply for new authorization.

If employment ends, the search period is normally up to 3 months, or up to 6 months after holding the permit for at least 2 years, but never beyond the permit's expiry date.

What This Route Is Not

It is not a job-seeker permit and does not fit someone who is only interviewing. It is also not automatically the right route for every Dutch job. Highly Skilled Migrant, EU Blue Card, researcher, ICT, seasonal-work, and other special routes should be checked first.

The holder cannot freely change employer or role based on the old permit. The employer's inability to pass the labor-market or wage review cannot be solved by the applicant's willingness to accept the job.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm the exact job and whether a more specific Dutch work route applies.
  2. Have the employer review the UWV search and vacancy-registration requirements.
  3. Check the current income threshold, collective-agreement wage, company registration, and housing.
  4. Prepare the employer and employee documents and apply to IND for the combined permit and MVV where required.
  5. Do not start work until the residence card and additional document authorize it.

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Discussed in these reports

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