Nurse visa routes in Kingdom of the Netherlands
Thinking about Kingdom of the Netherlands as a place to work? Below is the 1 Kingdom of the Netherlands visa route that most commonly fits nurses, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: registered nurse, RN, staff nurse, adult nurse.
What this means for nurses
Of the 1 Kingdom of the Netherlands route that commonly fits nurses, 1 needs a sponsoring employer and 0 do not, and 1 can lead to permanent residence. Nurses work in a regulated field, so immigration approval is only half the journey: in most countries you must also clear a separate professional-registration or licensing step before you can practise in Kingdom of the Netherlands. That recognition process often takes as long as the visa itself, so it is worth starting in parallel.
The most-used skilled route into Kingdom of the Netherlands overall is the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant), which also fits many nurses — it is included below.
Typical figures — Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
2 weeks – 3 months
IND legal decision period for Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) is 90 days; recognised sponsors commonly see decisions in 2–4 weeks.
Verified 1 June 2026 · IND — Decision periods →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → PR and citizenship eligibility parallel at 5 years.
Leads to Permanent Residence Permit (Verblijfsvergunning regulier onbepaalde tijd), then Dutch citizenship.
Routes that fit nurses
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) | — | 2 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 1 January 2026In force 1 January 2026
Netherlands publishes 2026 Kennismigrant salary thresholds
IND confirmed the 2026 age-tiered Kennismigrant (highly skilled migrant) salary thresholds and reduced post-Zoekjaar thresholds.
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) →
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit nurses moving to Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Kingdom of the Netherlands has 1 route that commonly fits nurses: Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant). The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do nurses need a job offer to move to Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
For the routes that fit nurses here, yes — all 1 require a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. Securing that offer is usually the first and slowest step, so it is worth starting there.
Can nurses settle permanently in Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Yes. 1 of the 1 matched route leads toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
Do nurses need to requalify or register to work in Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Nurses work in a regulated field, so immigration approval is only half the journey: in most countries you must also clear a separate professional-registration or licensing step before you can practise in Kingdom of the Netherlands. That recognition process often takes as long as the visa itself, so it is worth starting in parallel.
How long does the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 2 weeks – 3 months (IND — Decision periods, verified 1 June 2026).