Moving to Netherlands post Brexit

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

If I've understood you correctly, what they're saying is that the job can be done by somebody already living in the Netherlands, which is fair and reasonable, although I don't understand why they interviewed you twice, only to tell you that at the end.

30% is a salary cap related tax break, in other words, you need to earn above a specific limit in order to qualify, a tourist can't work in the Netherlands under any circumstances.

You haven't provided any other information about yourself in your Forum Introduction, so I've really got nothing else to offer.

Hope this has helped.

Cynic
Expat Team

I have just been through something similar.

My understand from the process was that the company employing you must be an approved company and paying you a salary worthy of the highly skilled migrant visa.

If the company is not on a register with IND then that company would have to prove they cannot fulfil the role locally.

Runs google search on IND approved companies, and see if they are on the list.  Sounds like they may not be though from what your saying.

There is a lot of uncertainty right now, the company I was being hired through, didn't understand the exact process until the very last minute, at that point I pulled out.

Hi Cynic,

Thank you for the reply. It is appreciated.

I do not believe I qualify as a ‘highly skilled' worker under the MVV guidelines. I have a Batchelor's degree but did not continue my education after this. The role in question is a supply chain/logistics role, based in a shippers Rotterdam office. I think they were unaware of what the employment rules under the withdrawal agreement are.

Understood re the 30% tax break. Thank you.

I also understand regarding tourists not being able to work in Netherlands, but in an ideal world I would like to work on some sort of visa which allows me to work & live there & apply for citizenship when possible.

Am I correct in saying there is no way for a UK National to work in Netherlands if they haven't lived there before, have no family there, and don't qualify under the MVV visa?

Thank you again for your help. If you require any more information regarding myself please let me know.

That is the exact same situation I have encountered. Your post is very helpful. Thank you.

They sought legal advice in Netherlands but the position isn't seen as skilled enough (or paid enough) for them to qualify as one of these said companies.

It is truly gutting as I feel like it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for myself.

I'm sorry I can't provide anything useful, I'm feeling your pain.

Have you explored the EU Blue Card, I'm not sure how that works to be honest.

No, I haven't. I'll look into it.

Don't apologise! It is a tough (& unnecessary) situation!

I have had a look into the blue card - I fulfil the educational criteria but am unsure/doubtful I will fulfil the wage requirements. What a difficult situation!

Wenley72 wrote:

Hi Cynic,

Thank you for the reply. It is appreciated.

I do not believe I qualify as a ‘highly skilled' worker under the MVV guidelines. I have a Batchelor's degree but did not continue my education after this. The role in question is a supply chain/logistics role, based in a shippers Rotterdam office. I think they were unaware of what the employment rules under the withdrawal agreement are.

Understood re the 30% tax break. Thank you.

I also understand regarding tourists not being able to work in Netherlands, but in an ideal world I would like to work on some sort of visa which allows me to work & live there & apply for citizenship when possible.

Am I correct in saying there is no way for a UK National to work in Netherlands if they haven't lived there before, have no family there, and don't qualify under the MVV visa?

Thank you again for your help. If you require any more information regarding myself please let me know.

Hi again.

So what we know right now is that your boss doesn't think that the role you applied for would qualify for a Highly Skilled Migrant visa, that's important to know as it removes one of the options for you to consider.  The whole list of work-related visas available in the Netherlands are described on the Dutch Government (IND) website; this link will take you straight there.  At this stage, you need to go through them and see what ones you would qualify for; also, where there are links in the documents (there are many), please follow them.

Some disjointed thoughts:

Only having a Bachelor's degree does not in itself bar you from a Skilled Migrants visa, it's the job/experience required.  There is another Dutch government agency involved in granting you a work permit "The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV)"; that's a literal translation of the name, they don't sell insurance.  They have to sign off that the job you are being recruited for cannot be done by somebody already resident in the Netherlands, or if you are applying in your own right, that there is a good chance of you finding work there.  Although I don't know for certain, this is where I think you ran foul, the company interviewing you don't think they will get past UWV.  You need to understand that the Dutch need immigrants, but they need to be the right immigrants that will help the country grow and prosper; they don't care much about your ethnicity or sexuality.

I come from a similar professional background as yourself, also with only a Bachelor's degree, you will find it helpful to add something.  There is always the MBA route, which is pretty much accepted worldwide.  My boss at the time wouldn't pay for that, but he was willing to fund me going the Dangerous Goods and trainer route, so I took all the DG exams (road, rail, sea, inland waterways and air) and it took off from there.  So, it will help you to improve your qualifications.

Have to mention languages - if you want to work in the Netherlands, you almost have to learn to speak Dutch, in fact, the more the better (my wife speaks 3 fluently); yes most Dutch people speak English, but many don't and some feel intimidated by being forced to speak another language when confronted by it as opposed to by choice.  So, learn Dutch, it really helps; life around you is in Dutch, the bus timetables, the notices in the doctor's surgery, the newspapers - all in Dutch.

Forget Brexit, it's happened, we ain't going backwards and the UK will never rejoin the EU as it currently is - so, we need to look forward.

Anyway, read the link to the IND, then if you have any specific questions, please come back to us.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Cynic wrote:

Wenley72 wrote:

Hi Cynic,

Thank you for the reply. It is appreciated.

I do not believe I qualify as a ?highly skilled? worker under the MVV guidelines. I have a Batchelor?s degree but did not continue my education after this. The role in question is a supply chain/logistics role, based in a shippers Rotterdam office. I think they were unaware of what the employment rules under the withdrawal agreement are.

Understood re the 30% tax break. Thank you.

I also understand regarding tourists not being able to work in Netherlands, but in an ideal world I would like to work on some sort of visa which allows me to work & live there & apply for citizenship when possible.

Am I correct in saying there is no way for a UK National to work in Netherlands if they haven?t lived there before, have no family there, and don?t qualify under the MVV visa?

Thank you again for your help. If you require any more information regarding myself please let me know.

Hi again.

So what we know right now is that your boss doesn't think that the role you applied for would qualify for a Highly Skilled Migrant visa, that's important to know as it removes one of the options for you to consider.  The whole list of work-related visas available in the Netherlands are described on the Dutch Government (IND) website; this link will take you straight there.  At this stage, you need to go through them and see what ones you would qualify for; also, where there are links in the documents (there are many), please follow them.

Some disjointed thoughts:

Only having a Bachelor's degree does not in itself bar you from a Skilled Migrants visa, it's the job/experience required.  There is another Dutch government agency involved in granting you a work permit "The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV)"; that's a literal translation of the name, they don't sell insurance.  They have to sign off that the job you are being recruited for cannot be done by somebody already resident in the Netherlands, or if you are applying in your own right, that there is a good chance of you finding work there.  Although I don't know for certain, this is where I think you ran foul, the company interviewing you don't think they will get past UWV.  You need to understand that the Dutch need immigrants, but they need to be the right immigrants that will help the country grow and prosper; they don't care much about your ethnicity or sexuality.

I come from a similar professional background as yourself, also with only a Bachelor's degree, you will find it helpful to add something.  There is always the MBA route, which is pretty much accepted worldwide.  My boss at the time wouldn't pay for that, but he was willing to fund me going the Dangerous Goods and trainer route, so I took all the DG exams (road, rail, sea, inland waterways and air) and it took off from there.  So, it will help you to improve your qualifications.

Have to mention languages - if you want to work in the Netherlands, you almost have to learn to speak Dutch, in fact, the more the better (my wife speaks 3 fluently); yes most Dutch people speak English, but many don't and some feel intimidated by being forced to speak another language when confronted by it as opposed to by choice.  So, learn Dutch, it really helps; life around you is in Dutch, the bus timetables, the notices in the doctor's surgery, the newspapers - all in Dutch.

Forget Brexit, it's happened, we ain't going backwards and the UK will never rejoin the EU as it currently is - so, we need to look forward.

Anyway, read the link to the IND, then if you have any specific questions, please come back to us.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hi Cynic,

Thanks again for the detailed and informative reply. I have tried to call the IND but it appears their UK number has been disconnected!

That is correct. Although after reading your message I did have a thought - I too have a qualification / certification regarding dangerous good training. As the shipper in questions shipments are 90% hazardous materials, this could be seen as a highly skilled area that I may fall into?

This also leads me to your next point. I may again fall into this category if I apply through the UWV. I have not looked into this agency yet, but will do so immediately. That is understood, but as a young, keen and skilled worker I find it very frustrating that my job opportunities abroad now seem non-existent.

Regarding the training, that is a great idea. As mentioned before, I do hold basic dangerous goods shipping certifications, but would happily continue further training whilst in the UK if it improved my chances.

I made a promise to myself that if I got offered this job I would take Dutch language lessons! I still plan to if things progress.

I have also looked into the blue card a bit more and it looks to me like my salary falls about ?4-6k a year short of the threshold.

Starting to think it isn?t meant to be..

Thanks again. Louis