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© 2026 Visa AtlasReviewed continuously. Last sweep: 23 July 2026
  1. Home/
  2. Fees/
  3. Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) (Netherlands)

🇳🇱 Kingdom of the Netherlands

Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant): government fee breakdown

By Sam Parks · Last checked: 1 July 2026

Source auto-reconfirmed 23 July 2026 by the daily automated check (figures unchanged since last review).

The Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant route has a EUR 423 IND application fee for the employee when the Dutch employer is already an IND-recognised sponsor.

These are the fees paid to the Kingdom of the Netherlands government. For sponsored routes, the payer varies by country and component; use the item notes and primary source to confirm whether the sponsor, applicant, or both pay. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.

How much does the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) cost in Netherlands?

The Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant route has a EUR 423 IND application fee for the employee when the Dutch employer is already an IND-recognised sponsor.

Verified against IND - fees and costs of an application on 1 July 2026.

Headline total

€423

Single employee, employer already recognised

No changes recorded for this figure since 1 July 2026.

Currency

EUR (Euro)

Last checked

1 July 2026

Itemised fees

Fee componentAmountMandatory?

Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit application#

IND first application or change-of-purpose fee for the Highly Skilled Migrant route. The employer normally pays by direct debit as recognised sponsor.

€423Yes

Highly Skilled Migrant extension#

Paid on extension if the permit is renewed.

€423Optional

Family member application - partner or adult dependant#

Optional family-scaling line for a partner/adult family member applying to stay with the Highly Skilled Migrant.

€254per dependantOptional

Family member application - child under 18#

Optional family-scaling line for a child under 18 applying to stay with the Highly Skilled Migrant.

€85per childOptional

Recognition as sponsor - small business#

Employer-side precondition cost only if the Dutch employer is not already an IND-recognised sponsor and qualifies for the small-business rate.

€2,539Optional

Recognition as sponsor - standard#

Employer-side precondition cost only if the Dutch employer is not already an IND-recognised sponsor and does not qualify for the small-business rate.

€5,080Optional

Worked example

Single employee, employer already recognised — €423

  • EUR 423 IND Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit application
  • EUR 0 separate MVV fee when filed as the combined TEV/MVV and residence-permit process

How to read these fees

The €423 headline covers single employee, employer already recognised. Of the 6 components listed above, 1 is mandatory and 5 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit application at €423.

Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.

Dependant fees

Partner/adult family members are EUR 254 each; children under 18 are EUR 85 each. If the employer is not already recognised by IND, sponsor recognition is a separate employer-side fee of EUR 2,539 for qualifying small businesses or EUR 5,080 standard.

Why fees change

IND application and sponsor-recognition fees are reviewed by the Dutch government and can change annually. Salary thresholds are a separate requirement and are published by IND on the required-income table; the 2026 table was checked again on 1 July 2026.

Primary source

IND - fees and costs of an application

https://ind.nl/en/fees-costs-of-an-application

Cite or reuse this dataset

This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.

Suggested citation

Visa Atlas, "Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/netherlands/highly-skilled-migrant. Last verified 1 July 2026.

Page
https://visaatlas.org/fees/netherlands/highly-skilled-migrant
JSON endpoint
https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees

Primary source (1)

  • IND - fees and costs of an application

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) cost in government fees?

The Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant route has a EUR 423 IND application fee for the employee when the Dutch employer is already an IND-recognised sponsor. The worked example assumes single employee, employer already recognised, totalling €423. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.

Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?

Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.

How often do these fees change?

IND application and sponsor-recognition fees are reviewed by the Dutch government and can change annually. Salary thresholds are a separate requirement and are published by IND on the required-income table; the 2026 table was checked again on 1 July 2026.

Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?

Partner/adult family members are EUR 254 each; children under 18 are EUR 85 each. If the employer is not already recognised by IND, sponsor recognition is a separate employer-side fee of EUR 2,539 for qualifying small businesses or EUR 5,080 standard.

Next steps

  • Full visa guide

    Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant).

  • Processing time

    How long the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) takes from application to decision.

  • Compare: Orientation year (Zoekjaar) fees

    Free 1-year permit to live and work in the Netherlands while you look for a job — open to recent graduates of Dutch universities or top-ranked global universities. No job offer needed to apply.

  • Compare: EU Blue Card (Netherlands) fees

    Dutch implementation of the EU Blue Card for highly qualified non-EU workers.

  • Compare: Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur fees

    Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.

Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.

This is not legal advice

We publish neutral, sourced information about immigration routes. Rules and thresholds change often — always verify details on the official government source linked on this page and consult a regulated immigration advisor before applying.