Registration procedures expats and highly-skilled migrants

Are you working in the Netherlands as an expat or highly-skilled migrant (kennismigrant)? You are entitled to a special residency status.

What is it?

The Municipality of The Hague and Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) have introduced a new Dutch residency procedure for expats and highly-skilled migrants (kennismigranten). This procedure applies only to expats and highly-skilled migrants who will work for a select group of companies, which fall under the special ‘kennismigrantenregeling’ category. The company may already submit an application for a residence permit before the applicant has arrived in the Netherlands. Family members may also make use of this procedure. The expat or highly-skilled migrant will then have to pay only one visit to the Immigration Office where he/she can register in the Gemeentelijke Basisadministratie (GBA), or the Personal Records Database of the municipality, and be issued his/her residency permit on the spot. 

What are the conditions?

This procedure applies to:

• Expats and highly-skilled migrants who will live in the Municipality of The Hague and work at a select group of companies.
• Expats and highly-skilled migrants who already have a ‘Kennismigrantenregeling’ sticker from the IND in their passport.

If you represent a company and would like to be considered for this procedure, please contact the Expat Service at the Immigration Office (Stadhoudersplantsoen 24) by sending an email to: expatservice@denhaag.nl.

What do I need?

• A valid ID, such as a passport or identity card. Please note that this may not be a driving licence.
• Proof of Occupancy.
• A recently-issued original birth certificate or original marriage certificate. The document will be assessed at the help desk. The document is not required for registration. Both documents can be submitted to the Immigration Office at a later time.

Legalisation/apostille

Documents from certain countries must be legalised or have an apostille. You can find more information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Translations

Foreign documents which are not written in Dutch, French, German or English must be translated into Dutch by a certified translator. The municipality will verify the authenticity of your identity documents.

What does it cost?

There are no costs for this procedure.

How long does it take?

You will be registered in the GBA during your appointment. You will then also be given your Burgerservicenummer (BSN) right away.

How do I apply / what do I need to do?

Expats and highly-skilled migrants who will be working for a select group of companies will be informed by their employer about when they can get an appointment with the Expat Service at the Immigration Office.

Expats and highly-skilled migrants who already have a 'Kennismigrantenregeling' sticker from the IND in their passport can make an appointment to register in the GBA by sending an email to: expatservice@denhaag.nl.

You need to appear in person at the appointment. Family members who are using this procedure to register must also be present at your appointment.

Also see

• Settling in The Hague from abroad