Dutch to fast-track skilled immigrants’ families
The Dutch immigration service (IND) plans to decrease the processing time for families of highly skilled migrants into the Netherlands, slashing the waiting time from several months to two weeks, according to justice minister Nebahat Albayrak in a statement to parliament.
Under a ruling from 2004, highly educated foreigners can work in the Netherlands without a work permit, similar to other countries’ schemes such as the United Kingdom’s Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and Australia’s General Skilled Migration program. They can also have their residency fast-tracked at a special branch of the IND in Rijswijk.
To meet Dutch requirements as a highly skilled migrant, an applicant must have a job offer with a minimum salary depending on the applicant’s age. In 2007, the minimum annual salary requirement is €46,541 for those over 30 years of age and €34,130 for those younger than 30 years of age.
The salary requirement is not applicable to those employed in an educational or research institute as a PhD student, or to post-doctorate students and university teachers over 30 years of age.
Most of the approximately 8,800 migrants who have taken advantage of the scheme work in the IT industry and science-related industries. They largely originate from the United States, Japan, and India.
Source: Workpermit.com, 25 June 2007
Press release: Families of Highly Skilled Immigrants Get Permits within Two Weeks
Family members of highly skilled immigrants who join the immigrants in the Netherlandsat a later date can obtain a residence permit within two weeks, according to a letter submitted to the Dutch Lower House of Parliament by Justice State Secretary Nebahat Albayrak today.
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) will be aiming to process the applications of these family members within two weeks, as is currently already the case for family members accompanying the highly skilled immigrants. If all the forms are correctly completed by the immigrants and their family members, the IND’s special knowledge and labour migration desk will be able to process their permits in time.
Starting in August, the INDwill also be aiming to process applications from foreign nationals who wish to change their (study-related) status to highly skilled immigrant status within two weeks. This should make it easier for talented young people to find employment.
Approximately 8,800 highly educated foreign nationals have made use of the rapid admittance procedure since the special arrangement was introduced in October 2004. The INDhas also made arrangements with about 2,600 companies and institutes so they can make use of this procedure. The three most popular sectors for the employment of this type of immigrants are ICT, industry and scientific education/research. The top three countries of origin are: India, the United States of Americaand Japan.
Employers who have enrolled in the IND’sHighly Skilled Immigrant Programme can employ foreign nationals more quickly. Highly skilled immigrants are immigrants who come to the Netherlandsfor employment and earn a gross salary of at least 46,541 euro, or 34,130 euro if they are younger than 30 years. They are no longer required to apply for work permits and their applications for residence permits are processed by the special INDdesk in Rijswijkwithin two weeks. This desk quickly and carefully processes the applications from both the employers and the employees. Employers who are interested can find the declaration and application forms for highly skilled immigrants on a special page of the IND’s website: www.ind.nl.
Source: Ministry of Justice, 22 June 2007
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