Working in the Netherlands
For Pakistan passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15
The Netherlands admits non-EU workers almost only through employers that hold an IND 'recognised sponsor' licence and pay a fixed high salary floor — a job offer from a non-licensed employer generally cannot become a highly-skilled-migrant visa, and ordinary jobs face a labour-market test.
What the employer must have
- For the main route (highly skilled migrant / kennismigrant) the employer must be an IND-recognised sponsor and the EMPLOYER files the application — the worker cannot self-petition
- The job must pay at least EUR 5,942 gross per month for workers 30 or older (EUR 4,357 under 30; reduced criterion EUR 3,122), excluding holiday allowance, at market rate — amounts valid 1 July–31 December 2026; the NL EU Blue Card needs EUR 5,942 (reduced EUR 4,754)
- For ordinary (non-highly-skilled) jobs the single permit (GVVA) route requires a UWV labour-market assessment — the employer must first show it sought candidates in the Netherlands and EU/EEA
What you must do before you leave
- Check that the employer appears in the IND public register of recognised sponsors before signing anything — without that licence the highly-skilled route is unavailable
- The employer applies for your permit; you attend the Dutch mission for the entry visa (MVV) collection when approved
- Before departure, Pakistani law (Emigration Ordinance 1979) requires registration / 'protector' clearance with BEOE — applications can be filed online via the E-Protector system
- If a recruiter is involved, use only a BEOE-licensed Overseas Employment Promoter
Things to watch
- Salary thresholds reset each period — the fetched figures are valid 1 July through 31 December 2026; check the IND amounts page again before applying
- The GVVA labour-market route exists on paper for ordinary jobs but is only granted where the employer demonstrates no Dutch/EU candidate is available — treat it as rarely usable for typical vacancies
- beoe.gov.pk returned HTTP 403 to every automated fetch this session; the mandatory-registration wording could not be quoted from BEOE directly (the E-Protector clearance system was verified on mofa.gov.pk) — confirm current procedure in a normal browser
What you may lawfully be charged
THE MOST A LICENSED AGENT MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU as a service charge is PKR 15,000 (PKR 6,000 if you found the job yourself and only need the paperwork done). You do not hand it over — you deposit it in a bank and the agent is paid only after the Protector of Emigrants confirms you reached the job. Anything he spends on your ticket, medical or visa must come with a signed, stamped receipt.
Rule 15 and 15A, Emigration Rules 1979 (SRO 1058(I)/2023). Charging more is punishable by up to 14 years — Section 22(a), Emigration Ordinance 1979.
⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.
Official sources
This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.