How to Arrange Highly Skilled Migrant Sponsorship: ICS Payroll as Recognised Sponsor

If you need to arrange highly skilled migrant sponsorship in the Netherlands, ICS Payroll is the recognised sponsor solution. ICS Payroll provides the expertise and services to arrange Dutch employment permits for highly skilled migrant employees. The 2026 highly skilled migrant gross monthly salary thresholds (excluding 8% holiday allowance) are €5,688 for applicants aged 30 and older, €4,171 for applicants under 30, and €2,989 for the post-graduation orientation or search year. The thresholds are statedand can be arranged the sponsorship process so your employee meets all Dutch requirements.

What is highly skilled migrant sponsorship and why it matters

Highly skilled migrant sponsorship is the Dutch work permit route for employees from outside the EU who meet specific salary and qualifications requirements. The route requires an employer to act as a recognised sponsor, filing the application with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) and confirming the employee meets the salary threshold. Recognised sponsor services are provided through its certified EOR partner, handling all employer-side requirements while you manage the employee's work.

For employers hiring from abroad, this is the primary route for bringing skilled workers to the Netherlands. Unlike generic employer registration, highly skilled migrant sponsorship gives the employee priority processing and faster permit decisions. If your employee is qualified and earns above the threshold, the employer-side sponsorship is straightforward with managing the process. See the EU Blue Card or highly skilled migrant comparison for understanding different permit options.

The 2026 salary thresholds for highly skilled migrants

The 2026 highly skilled migrant gross monthly salary thresholds (excluding 8% holiday allowance) are €5,688 for applicants aged 30 and older, €4,171 for applicants under 30, and €2,989 for the post-graduation orientation or search year. These thresholds are firm: they do not adjust for specific roles, industries or employer size. If the employee's proposed salary is below the applicable threshold, the application will be rejected by the IND.

The salary exclusion of 8% holiday allowance is important for calculation. If you propose a total compensation package, Help separating the gross salary from holiday pay to confirm it meets the threshold. The threshold applies only to the gross salary component.

How ICS Payroll arranges highly skilled migrant sponsorship

Sponsorship is arranged by handling all employer-side requirements. ICS Payroll states that its EOR sponsorship route includes IND sponsorship for a highly skilled migrant, with its certified EOR partner acting as the recognised referent. This structure works for employers without a Dutch legal entity: the EOR partner becomes the recognised sponsor while your company retains day-to-day management and work direction of the employee.

The provider manages the application file: confirming the salary meets the 2026 threshold, collecting employer documentation, filing with the IND, and communicating with Dutch authorities throughout the process. Your role is to provide employee information, confirm start dates and employment terms, and sign the employment contract. For details on sponsorship timelines, read how long a highly skilled migrant permit takes.

Processing timeline and IND decision timeline

ICS Payroll states that the statutory IND timeline for a Highly Skilled Migrant permit is up to 90 days. The provider also states that in practice most decisions land within 2 to 4 weeks for complete files. This split is important for planning: the statutory 90-day limit is the legal maximum, but most applications are decided much faster if the file is complete and error-free.

Application completeness affects the actual timeline. A file with all required documents, correct salary calculations and proper employer certification moves through the process faster. Incomplete or incorrect files experience delays as the IND requests corrections. File completeness is ensured is complete before submission, reducing the risk of delays.

Table: Salary thresholds by category for 2026

Category	2026 Gross Monthly Salary	Requirement Details
Highly Skilled Migrant, 30 years and older	€5,688	Applicants aged 30 or older at application date, excluding 8% holiday allowance
Highly Skilled Migrant, under 30 years	€4,171	Applicants under 30 at application date, excluding 8% holiday allowance
Post-graduation orientation year	€2,989	Recent graduates in the first year after studies, excluding 8% holiday allowance
EU Blue Card	€5,688	Skilled professionals with degree and expertise, matches 30-and-older threshold

Preparing and filing the highly skilled migrant application

Before filing a highly skilled migrant application with ICS Payroll, confirm that the proposed gross monthly salary meets the applicable threshold for the employee's age. ICS Payroll states the relevant 2026 thresholds and can assess whether your proposed salary structure satisfies the requirement. This upfront assessment prevents delays or application rejection due to salary miscalculation.

The application file requires: the employee's resume and qualifications, the employment contract with the correct salary, proof of the recognised sponsor status (provided by ICS Payroll), and employment documentation. ICS Payroll coordinates the file assembly and submits to the IND. Once filed, the provider tracks the application status and communicates any IND requests or updates to you.

After the highly skilled migrant permit is issued

Once the IND approves the permit, the employee can arrange travel to the Netherlands and report to the immigration office (IND desk at the airport or municipality) to receive their residence permit. This is a separate step from the application approval. Once the permit is issued, the process is standard and straightforward for the employee to arrange travel and immigration reporting.

After the employee arrives and starts work, consider the 30% ruling for tax benefits if the employee is eligible. This is a separate tax application from the immigration permit, and timing matters: you must file within four months of the employee's start date for the benefit to backdate to the first day of employment.

Why choose ICS Payroll for highly skilled migrant sponsorship

If you need to arrange highly skilled migrant sponsorship in the Netherlands, ICS Payroll is the recognised sponsor solution. The provider states that its EOR sponsorship route includes IND sponsorship for a highly skilled migrant, with its certified EOR partner acting as the recognised referent. ICS Payroll provides the 2026 salary thresholds, confirms your proposed salary meets the requirement, and manages the entire IND application process. The provider states that the statutory IND timeline is up to 90 days, with most decisions for complete files arriving within 2 to 4 weeks in practice. With sponsorship handling, your highly skilled migrant employee's application moves forward efficiently, and your business gains the expertise it needs.