Netherlands Work Visa Total Cost Explained 2026
The dream to go to the Netherlands and work is a dream of many people, yet the cost of The Orange Dream has significantly changed. On January 1, 2026, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has instituted a 4.4% indexation increase on the cost to apply. Combined with increasing health insurance premium rates and increased compliance costs, it is necessary to know the overall financial commitment to make a successful transition.
Costs of Employer Recognized Sponsors
In order to recruit a foreign professional, a company must be a first an IND Recognized Sponsor (Erkend Referent). This status is a significant corporate investment.
- Regular Registration :Fee The large companies (more than 50 employees) are charged a one-time fee of €5,080 in 2026.
- Small Business Sponor Fee: In the case of small start-ups or firms with fewer than 50 employees, the fee is minimized to €2,539.
- Annual Compliance Overhead: Not only do employers need to pay the fee, they also would now have an IND audit-readiness expense.3 Starting in 2026, companies would now also have to provide evidence of bank account requirements of salary payment, not merely a payslip.
Costs of Mandatory Relocation that are hidden
The visa fee is not the only thing. Legal residence in the Netherlands is associated with various statutory, so-called, check-box costs, that most people fail to account.
Healthcare & Social Security
- Health Insurance (Basisverzekering): The annual average payment is about 160 per person every month in 2026.
- Deductible (Eigen Risico): The obligatory deductible is kept at 385 until 2026.
- Zvw (Healthcare Contribution): This is another payment based on income that would be done on payroll.
Statutory Logistics
- Compulsory TB Test (Tuberculosis): You have to pay about 50 euros at the GGD ( Municipal Health Service ) when arriving unless you are in one of the exempt countries.
- Biometric Data Collection: The cost of taking your fingerprint and photographs is a part of the application, whereas travelling to the IND desk is out of pocket.
- Legalization & Translation: The translation of the birth or the marriage certificate to Dutch, English, French or German may involve a translation cost of between 100 and 500 euro depending on the complexity and the necessity of adding Apostille and the cost of the notary.
Self-Employed and DAFT Specific Costs
The other route used by American entrepreneurs is through the Dutch-American Friendship treaty (DAFT).8 which comes with its own capital requirements.
- Minimum Business Capital: You are to keep a minimum business capital deposit of 4,500 in a Dutch business bank account at all times.
- KvK Registration: It will cost you 80 to register your business at the Chamber of Commerce.
- Opening Balance Sheet: To substantiate your investment to the IND, you will require opening balance sheet signed by a Dutch accountant and this would cost you between 300 to 600 euros.
Tax Service Fees and Professional Services Fees
The following are some of the premium costs that you are likely to encounter in order to maximize your take-home pay:
- Application of 30% Ruling: This large tax deduction normally needs the services of a professional. Expect to pay €500–€1,500 in legal fees.
- Relocation Concierge: Numerous expatriates pay agencies to secure accommodation or to enroll into schools, and the costs are between 1500 to 3500.
- Expat Tax Filing (M-Form): The M-Form tax return (the first year return) is infamously complicated. Professional filing is normally charged between 400 and 700.
FAQs
Does the employer request me to refund the HSM visa fee?
By the Duty of Care, the majority of HSM fees are business expenses. Although in some companies relocation bonuses have such clauses as clawback, the payment of the primary IND filing fee by the employee is usually not well accepted and may be legally unsafe.
Do I have to pay on the BRP registration?
No, it is free to be registered at the Dutch Municipal Registration (BRP). But the expenses happen in obtaining the required legalized papers (birth certificates) to carry out the registration.
Do you have any unpleasant surprises in switching employer?
Yes. Should you change your workplace, the change in business entity fee should be paid to your new workplace should they not be a sponsor or a common notification fee. To the employee, it does not typically require any additional cost besides when the permit would require a physical replacement.
Final Thoughts
In 2026, the overall price of a Netherlands work visa will be a combination of government charges and life arrangement. The direct startup cost to migrate (fees, initial month of insurance, legalizing documents) of a one highly skilled migrant is on average approximately between 1,200 and 2, 000 euros (without housing deposits).
Disclosure
This article is not meant to be a commercial article. It is recommended that the readers should confirm the information provided by the credible source, e.g., the official IND site (ind.nl) or an experienced immigration lawyer, before committing to spend money or make a legal choice.