Netherlands – New IND Requirements for Highly Skilled Migrant Sponsors

Recently the Immigration and Naturalisation authorities (IND) for the Netherlands made several announcements that are relevant to the sponsors of highly skilled migrants, including an expansion of administration requirements for recognised sponsors.

What does this mean?

From 1 January 2026, recognised sponsors will be required to include additional information in their records. This includes documents proving that highly skilled migrants or European Blue Card holders have actually received their salary.  Examples include statements from the company’s business bank account or an overview of a batch payment.

These documents must show that the employee has received the salary in a payment account in the employee’s name.

How will this differ?

Currently, only payslips are required. However, the position is that payslips do not prove that the salary has been paid to the employee.  For this reason, the list in Article 4.35 of the Aliens Regulation is being expanded. This expansion of requirements will enable the IND to take more effective action against any abuse of the highly skilled migrant scheme and the European Blue Card.

The obligations of sponsors are listed here.

Changes to application fees

In addition, IND has announced that application fees will change, effective 1 January 2026:

• The fee for recognition as a sponsor will increase from EUR 4866 to EUR 5080.

• The reduced fee for recognition as a sponsor (for small businesses, for exchange purpose or for a change in business entity) will increase from EUR 2432 to EUR 2539.

• The application fee for a Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit or European Blue Card will increase from EUR 405 to EUR 423.

In addition, from 1 January 2026, the government will publish new standard salary amounts for highly-skilled migrants.  The new amounts will be published in December 2025.

The applicant must meet the standard salary amount applicable on the date of the application or registration. Note that the  requirement  does not apply if the applicant changes employers.  In that case, the applicant must meet the standard amount applicable on the date on which the new contract starts.

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