Will employers give a green light to the European Blue Card?

Highly skilled workers from outside the EU can often choose between two residence permits: the Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) permit and the European Blue Card. In practice, employers tend to opt almost automatically for the HSM scheme, mainly due to the simpler application process and greater flexibility in salary thresholds. Employees, however, often show the […]

Labour migrants and employment law: avoiding unexpected outcomes

Hiring employees from outside the EU/EEA offers organisations many growth opportunities. At the same time, it comes with specific obligations. In practice, we see that Dutch immigration law and employment law do not always align seamlessly. This can result in situations where employers are unexpectedly faced with ongoing obligations. Residence rights and employment contracts are […]

What changes are coming to the 30% ruling in 2025?

The 30% ruling will undergo significant changes in 2025 that will directly affect international employees and HR departments. For expats moving to the Netherlands or already benefiting from this Dutch tax scheme, these changes will have a tangible impact on their net income and tax position. The adjustments to the expat ruling require timely action […]

How long does the application for the expat ruling (30% ruling) take?

Rekenmachine toont 30% op bureau met Nederlandse belastingdocumenten en zandloper voor verwerkingstijd

As an international professional moving to the Netherlands, the expat ruling (30% ruling) is one of the most important tax benefits you can utilize. This regulation can make a significant difference in your net income, but many expats are uncertain about the processing time of the application. How long does it actually take before you have access to this tax benefit? In this article, we explain what you can expect from the application process, which factors influence the processing time, and how you can accelerate your application.

How does the expat ruling (30% ruling) work for international employees?

Rekenmachine toont 30% omringd door Nederlandse belastingdocumenten, euromunten en bankbiljetten op houten bureau

As an international professional considering working in the Netherlands, you have probably already encountered the term 30% ruling. This unique tax facility can make a significant difference in your net income and is one of the most important considerations when planning your career in the Netherlands. The 30% ruling, also known as the expat ruling, offers international employees the opportunity to receive up to 30% of their salary tax-free. For knowledge migrants and highly educated expats, this ruling often forms a crucial factor in the decision to move to the Netherlands. Understanding the conditions, the application process, and the financial benefits […]

📉 Number of new highly skilled migrants in the Netherlands continues to decline

The number of residence permit applications in the Netherlands for highly educated foreign workers – including highly skilled migrants, EU Blue Card holders, and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) – has further declined in the first four months of 2025. Figures from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) confirm that the downward trend, which began in 2022, […]

The Netherlands amends tax treaty with Germany for cross-border workers

The tax treaty between the Netherlands and Germany is being amended so that cross-border workers can work from home for a maximum of 34 days per year without having to pay tax on their income in both countries. This agreement was reached today by both countries. This is a first step toward improving the possibilities […]

Salary Requirements 2025

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has published the new salary requirements for knowledge migrants and EU blue card holders for the year 2025. Non-EU labor migrants who want to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands must meet the minimum salary requirement, which is indexed annually. As of Jan. 1, 2025, the following […]

Changes for the 30% rule

Earlier this week, the Senate approved the 2024 Tax Plan, including the changes for the 30% ruling. This means that the relaxation of the 30% rule will take effect on January 1, 2024. The maximum period for the 30% rule remains 5 years, however at most 20 months with 30% benefit. After that, a 20% […]

Salary requirements for the year 2024

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has published the new salary requirements for knowledge migrants of non-EU nationality that will apply as of Jan. 1, 2024. The amounts are indexed annually and set the minimum salary for knowledge migrants in the Netherlands. All above salary requirements are gross monthly amounts excluding vacation pay. Other benefits […]

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.