To move to the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant from the UAE, you need a job offer from an IND recognised sponsor paying at least €5,942 gross a month if you are 30 or older, or €4,357 if you are under 30 (2026 figures, excluding holiday allowance). The Dutch employer applies to the IND for you. Once approved, most nationalities collect an MVV entry visa at the Dutch Consulate-General in Dubai, booked through VFS Global. No degree is required for this route; the salary and the sponsor are what count.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the Netherlands Worldwide page for MVV applications in the UAE and the IND’s 2026 salary criteria (as published by Meijburg & Co). Salary thresholds change every 1 January.
What salary do you need for a Dutch highly skilled migrant visa in 2026?
| Category | Gross monthly salary (2026) | Approx. in AED a month |
|---|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older | €5,942 | About AED 24,000 |
| Highly skilled migrant, under 30 | €4,357 | About AED 17,500 |
| Reduced criterion (Dutch-educated graduates, orientation-year holders) | €3,122 | About AED 12,600 |
| EU Blue Card (Netherlands) | €5,942 | About AED 24,000 |
| EU Blue Card, recent graduates | €4,754 | About AED 19,200 |
All amounts exclude the 8% holiday allowance. From 2026, only fixed, contractually guaranteed salary paid into your own bank account counts. Bonuses and allowances that the contract does not guarantee do not count. UAE-style housing and transport allowances usually do not exist in Dutch contracts, so compare your gross base pay, not your UAE package. AED amounts are rounded at about AED 4.03 to €1.
What is an IND recognised sponsor?
A recognised sponsor is an employer approved by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) to bring in highly skilled migrants. Only a recognised sponsor can apply for this permit. The IND publishes the full list in its public register of recognised sponsors. Check it before you accept an offer or pay anyone. If the company is not on the register, it cannot sponsor you through this route.
How the process works from the UAE
- Get a job offer from a recognised sponsor at or above the threshold for your age.
- The employer applies to the IND for entry and residence (the TEV procedure). You sign an antecedents certificate, a declaration about any criminal past. The IND aims to decide within about two weeks for recognised sponsors.
- Check the IND approval letter. It must say that you can collect your MVV in the UAE. If it names another country, contact the IND before booking.
- Book an MVV appointment in Dubai through the VFS Global link on Netherlands Worldwide, within 3 months of the IND letter.
- Attend the appointment and hand in your passport. Processing takes up to 10 working days.
- Collect the MVV at the Consulate-General, Monday to Thursday, 9:00–11:00, with no appointment. Check your name and dates at the counter.
- Travel to the Netherlands, collect your residence permit at the IND desk and register at your municipality to get a citizen service number (BSN).
Documents for the MVV appointment in Dubai
- Passport valid for at least 6 more months, with 2 blank pages, plus a copy of the photo page
- One passport photo meeting Dutch requirements
- A copy of the IND approval letter showing your V-number
- Copies of any other documents listed in the IND letter
- Your UAE residence permit and a copy, if you are not an Emirati
Who needs an MVV?
Your passport decides. Nationals of the EU, EEA and Switzerland, and of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vatican City, do not need an MVV. Everyone else does, including Emirati, Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Nigerian nationals. Holding a UAE residence permit does not exempt you; it only lets you collect the MVV in Dubai. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a tuberculosis test after arrival.
Can your family move with you?
Yes. Your spouse or registered partner and your children can apply at the same time as you. The employer often submits their applications with yours. Your partner can work in the Netherlands without a separate work permit. Family members collect their MVVs at the same Dubai appointment if their IND letters say so.
The 30% ruling: what changes in 2027
Many highly skilled migrants recruited from abroad qualify for a tax-free allowance known as the 30% ruling. From 1 January 2027, it falls to 27% for rulings that started after 1 January 2024, and the minimum salary to qualify rises. If you come from the UAE, where there is no income tax, budget for Dutch tax on your full salary. Ask the employer whether it will apply for the ruling.
Changing jobs, losing your job and permanent residence
- New job: the new employer must also be a recognised sponsor and pay at least the threshold. It reports the change to the IND.
- Job lost: you normally get a search period of 3 months to find a new sponsor.
- Permanent residence: after 5 years of continuous legal residence, if you pass the civic integration exam.
Questions people ask
Can I apply for a Dutch highly skilled migrant visa myself from Dubai?
No. The recognised sponsor employer submits the application to the IND. You only attend the MVV appointment in Dubai afterwards.
Do I need a degree for the highly skilled migrant permit?
No. The highly skilled migrant permit is based on salary and sponsor. The Dutch EU Blue Card is the version that requires a degree.
Where do I collect my MVV in the UAE?
At the Consulate-General of the Netherlands in Dubai, booked through VFS Global. You can only go there if the IND letter says you can collect in the UAE.
Does my UAE salary count towards the threshold?
No. Only the gross salary paid by the Dutch employer counts, excluding holiday allowance.
Can my wife work in the Netherlands?
Yes. A partner of a highly skilled migrant can work without a separate work permit.
Related guides
- How to move to Europe from the UAE: all routes compared
- Germany Opportunity Card and EU Blue Card from the UAE
- Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit from the UAE
- Visa application centres in the UAE by country
Sources
- Netherlands Worldwide: Applying for an MVV for residents of the United Arab Emirates
- IND: Public register of recognised sponsors
- Meijburg & Co (KPMG Netherlands): Salary criteria for highly skilled migrants 2026
- Business.gov.nl: 30% ruling down to 27%
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Dutch salary thresholds change every 1 January. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.