What is a recognized sponsor for knowledge migrants?

Have you found a suitable knowledge migrant but they live outside the European Union? Then the knowledge migrant needs a visa and a residence permit to work in the Netherlands. The application for the correct paperwork for a knowledge migrant can only be made by a recognized sponsor.

What is a recognized sponsor?

A recognized sponsor is a company that can employ knowledge migrants from outside the EU in the Netherlands. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) grants this recognition to companies.

What does a recognized sponsor do?

A recognized sponsor applies for the visa and residence permit for the knowledge migrant. The recognized sponsor signs an employment contract with the knowledge migrant and then pays their salary. You can request to be recognized as a sponsor yourself at the Immigration and Naturalization Service. But you can also opt for the service of companies that are already recognized as sponsors. You can find which companies these are in [the public register of recognized sponsors of the IND](http://Have%20you%20found%20a%20suitable%20knowledge%20migrant%20but%20they%20live%20outside%20the%20European%20Union?%20Then%20the%20knowledge%20migrant%20needs%20a%20visa%20and%20a%20residence%20permit%20to%20work%20in%20the%20Netherlands.%20The%20application%20for%20the%20correct%20paperwork%20for%20a%20knowledge%20migrant%20can%20only%20be%20made%20by%20a%20recognized%20sponsor.).

How do you become a recognized sponsor?

You become a recognized sponsor by submitting an application form to the IND. This requires a lot of information. In addition, the IND investigates, among other things, whether your company is financially strong enough. The decision on whether you will be recognized can take up to 90 days. And this period can be extended if the IND has additional questions. That's valuable time in which the knowledge migrant cannot yet start working for you.

Want to get started with a knowledge migrant quickly?

It’s possible to quickly start working with a knowledge migrant through an employer already recognized as a sponsor by the IND. This way, you are sure that you are working with a reliable partner and that everything is well arranged.

A recognized sponsor has the following obligations:

Duty to inform: changes that affect the residence permit or recognition as a sponsor must be reported to the IND.
Administration and retention obligation for important documents such as passport, employment contract, payslip, and diplomas of the knowledge migrant. The data must be kept for 5 years. The retention period starts after he is no longer the recognized sponsor of the knowledge migrant.
Duty of care: The application process must be conducted carefully. In addition, the recognized sponsor must inform the knowledge migrant about the rules for working in the Netherlands.
Return of foreign national: a recognized sponsor is responsible for the return of the knowledge migrant.
The IND checks a recognized sponsor for all these obligations. If you do not meet the obligations, you can be fined. The IND can also withdraw the decision to recognize the sponsor.

Can a knowledge migrant work in the Netherlands without a recognized sponsor?

A knowledge migrant can work in the Netherlands without a recognized sponsor if the knowledge migrant comes from the European Union, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland. These knowledge migrants do not need a visa or residence permit. However, they must have a valid passport or valid ID card.

Are there additional opportunities for knowledge migrants to work in the Netherlands or the EU?

Yes, there are additional opportunities for knowledge migrants to work in the Netherlands or the EU: **The European Blue Card.** This work and residence permit does not have to be applied for by a recognized sponsor. There are salary and education requirements to get a European Blue Card. The knowledge migrant must earn at least €6.245 (excluding 8% holiday pay) and have completed a three-year higher education program. **Researcher according to EU directive 2016/801.** If a knowledge migrant already has a residence permit as a researcher in another EU country according to directive 2016/801, the knowledge migrant can also do research in the Netherlands for 180 days within a period of 3 years without a residence permit. **Residence permit 'search year highly educated persons'.** A knowledge migrant who wants to continue working in the Netherlands after study, promotion, or research can apply for a residence permit 'search year highly educated persons'. With this permit, the knowledge migrant has a year to find a job. **Start-up with knowledge migrants.** For a start-up, recognition as a sponsor is not necessary. If the knowledge migrant is of great importance to your company, you can apply for a residence permit for essential startup personnel. The rules for knowledge migrants working at a start-up without a recognized sponsor are a trial. The trial stops on June 1, 2025.

30% ruling for knowledge migrants

A special tax rule applies to knowledge migrants in the Netherlands: the 30% ruling for knowledge migrants. With this rule, an employer can pay 30% of the salary tax-free to a knowledge migrant. This money can be used by the knowledge migrant for the extra costs to work in the Netherlands. Special conditions apply for the 30% ruling.

Working with knowledge migrants: everything well arranged?

Working with knowledge migrants can be the solution for filling vacancies in your company. However, it involves a lot of administrative hassle because you need to apply for various permits. This also takes a lot of time. Fortunately, you can also speed things up and leave everything to a recognized sponsor. They ensure that the application process goes smoothly and quickly and that all other matters related to employing the knowledge migrant in the Netherlands are well arranged. Maqqie also takes care of paying the salary and everything that involves.

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