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Kingdom of the Netherlands · Processing time

Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant): how long does it take?

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IND — Decision periods does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.

How long does the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) take to process in Netherlands?

IND — Decision periods does not publish a central processing time for this route. Use the current IND — Decision periods service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

Source checked against IND — Decision periods on 10 September 2026.

Typical wait

Not centrally published

from complete application

Government fees

IND first application / change-of-purpose fee is EUR 423 in 2026; an employer that is not already recognised pays a separate sponsor-recognition fee.

Last checked

10 September 2026

Reality vs official timing

Official clock
No central processing clock
Delay trigger
No fixed delay point - use route guidance
Source checked
10 September 2026

IND — Decision periods does not publish a central processing time. Use the current IND — Decision periods service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

What is the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)?

Primary sponsored work route for high-skill workers hired by IND-recognised sponsors.

The Kennismigrant route is the Netherlands' main high-skill work visa. The employer must be a recognised sponsor (erkend referent) registered with the IND. The critical test is meeting the salary threshold, which is age-tiered and updated twice annually.

  • Sponsorship: You need a job offer or employer sponsor in Kingdom of the Netherlands.
  • Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residence.
  • Typical permit length: Matches contract, up to 5 years; renewable.
  • Indicative government fees: IND first application / change-of-purpose fee is EUR 423 in 2026; an employer that is not already recognised pays a separate sponsor-recognition fee.

Priority and fast-track options

The earlier range was removed after an official-source review because it was an editorial estimate, depended on a live/local queue, or combined separate appointment and decision stages.

Official source

IND — Decision periods

https://ind.nl/en/after-your-application/decision-periods

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) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/netherlands/highly-skilled-migrant. Last checked 10 September 2026.

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

Primary source (1)

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) take to process?+

IND — Decision periods does not publish a central processing time for this route. Use the current IND — Decision periods service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

When does the Not centrally published clock start?+

Because no central processing time is published, there is no fixed start point. Contact the relevant authority once your application is submitted.

Is there a way to speed up the decision?+

The earlier range was removed after an official-source review because it was an editorial estimate, depended on a live/local queue, or combined separate appointment and decision stages.

What makes an application take longer than expected?+

The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.

When should I treat my Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) application as delayed?+

Because no central processing time is published for this route, there is no fixed point at which it counts as late. If your wait runs well beyond comparable cases, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Duplicate chasing tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.

Next steps

Reviewed by , Editor and lead researcher.