12/20/2007

Background

In October 2004, the Dutch government introduced a work authorization program for highly skilled foreign workers ("Knowledge Migrants" or "Kennismigranten") who are not citizens of Switzerland or the European Economic Area. This program was introduced to attract young, highly skilled professionals to The Netherlands by setting forth relatively simple requirements and allowing for expedited processing of work permit applications via a "one-stop" shop with the Dutch Immigration Department's (IND) Desk for Knowledge and Labor Migration.

Gross Income Level Requirement Increased

The IND's Desk for Knowledge and Labor Migration recently announced new regulations that will raise the gross income level requirements for those applying for Knowledge Migrant work authorization. The new salary requirements, effective January 1, 2008, are as follows:

• Applicants under 30 years of age must evidence a valid offer of employment and an annual gross starting salary of at least EUR 34,881 (approximately USD 50,142). This is an increase from the 2007 level of EUR 34,130 (approximately USD 49,083).
• Applicants 30 years of age and over must evidence a valid offer of employment and an annual gross starting salary of at least EUR 47,565 (approximately USD 68,377). This is an increase from the 2007 level of 46,541 (approximately USD 66,944).

Salaries must be administered through the payroll of a Dutch company or, in the case of an intra-company transfer, by the entity abroad responsible for the assignment to The Netherlands. Holiday pay and guaranteed bonuses may be counted toward meeting salary requirements, while relocation benefits such as a housing bonus or car lease may not be.

Please note that the IND 's internal policy for processing Knowledge Migrant work authorization applications is subject to change with little or no advance notice. Therefore, Fragomen strongly recommends that those planning to apply for Knowledge Migrant work authorization review the new minimum salary requirements, along with the current application requirements and related processing times, with their Dutch immigration professional prior to filing.

In preparing this article Fragomen has worked closely with the firm of Everaert Advocaten Immigration Lawyers (Amsterdam). The content herein is provided for informational purposes only.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global Immigration Services or send an email to the appropriate regional mailbox: canada@fragomen.com, lar@fragomen.com (for Latin America), asiapac@fragomen.com, or emea@fragomen.com (for Europe, Middle East and Africa).

Source: http://pubweb.fdbl.com/news1.nsf/c8abb103352ef95a86256e3100809438/27fe447e88ff6aa3852573b700744509?OpenDocument