To become a recognised sponsor, you go through an application procedure with the IND that takes 90 days for established companies. You must meet conditions such as registration with the Chamber of Commerce, financial health and reliability. The process consists of seven steps: from checking requirements to registration in the public register of recognised sponsors.
What is recognised sponsorship and why is it important for companies?
A recognised sponsor is a company, school or organisation that is officially recognised by the IND to bring foreign employees to the Netherlands. This status gives you access to accelerated procedures and reduced administrative burdens when applying for residence permits for international employees.
Recognised sponsorship is mandatory for specific residence purposes such as highly skilled migrants, au pairs, exchange, study and researchers under EU Directive 2016/801. An exception applies to Turkish highly skilled migrants and researchers. For regular employment, seasonal work and European Blue Card holders, recognition is optional but advantageous.
The IND evaluates companies on continuity, solvency and reliability. This means your organisation must be financially healthy and must comply with all applicable codes of conduct. For companies with international growth ambitions, recognised sponsorship forms the foundation for efficient global mobility processes.
What conditions must you meet to become a recognised sponsor?
You must meet general conditions that apply to all categories of recognised sponsorship. Registration with the Chamber of Commerce is mandatory, unless you are exempt under the Commercial Register Act 2007. In addition, you must have sufficiently guaranteed continuity and solvency.
Your organisation must not be bankrupt or have been granted a suspension of payments. Directors and other involved parties must be reliable, and you must comply with all applicable codes of conduct. Organisations engaged in the paid lending of personnel must be registered with the Stichting Naleving Arbeidsvoorwaarden (SNA).
For companies younger than 1.5 years, stricter requirements apply. The RVO then assesses your application using a points system in which you must score at least 50 out of 100 points. This assessment focuses on your business plan (40 points), organisational structure (20 points) and financial plan (40 points). Your assets must amount to at least €50,000 to earn points.
How does the application procedure for recognised sponsorship work step by step?
The recognised sponsorship application procedure consists of several clear steps. You start by checking the requirements on ind.nl to determine whether recognition is mandatory for your situation and which conditions apply to your organisation.
You then gather all required documents, which vary depending on the situation. For new companies, you need a comprehensive business plan, financial plan and organisational structure. Established companies require less documentation. You download the application form from ind.nl and send it complete with all attachments to the IND.
After sending, you receive payment instructions for the fees due. The IND has 90 days to make a decision, but this can be extended for incomplete applications. Upon a positive decision, you are registered in the Public Register of Recognised Sponsors. For companies that have been operating for less than 1.5 years, the procedure takes up to 6 months due to the extensive assessment by the RVO.
What are the obligations and benefits of being a recognised sponsor?
As a recognised sponsor, you have recognised sponsor benefits such as accelerated processing of residence permit applications. The IND aims for decisions within 2 weeks, although some cases may take 7 weeks when a work permit is required.
You need to submit fewer supporting documents with applications and can submit residence permit applications online via Portaal Zakelijk. There is no minimum or maximum number of applications per year, providing flexibility for companies with varying recruitment needs.
Your obligations include complying with all applicable codes of conduct and reporting changes in your organisation in a timely manner. When lending out personnel, you must remain registered with the SNA and report any termination of this registration. Your recognised sponsorship remains valid as long as you meet the conditions; there is no time limit attached to the status.
Obtaining recognised sponsorship requires careful preparation and compliance with strict conditions, but offers significant benefits for companies with international ambitions. The investment in this status pays off through more efficient processes and faster turnaround times. We at Eastwing help companies through the complete process from application to maintaining recognised sponsorship, so you can focus on attracting international talent. For more information about our immigration services or to schedule a consultation, you can contact us.
