The Netherlands wants more International Talent

On 10 July 2026, the Dutch government announced a new national Talent Strategy. The plan aims to ensure that the Netherlands has enough skilled professionals to support its economy, public services and most important industries in the years ahead.

For international professionals considering moving to the Netherlands, the announcement could signal new career opportunities. However, it is important to understand that the strategy is currently a policy direction rather than a new immigration programme.

Why does the Netherlands need more international talent?

Like many European countries, the Netherlands has an ageing population. This means that a relatively smaller working population will eventually need to perform more work.

At the same time, employers are already struggling to find people with the right qualifications. The government describes this as a mismatch between the skills available in the labour market and the skills that employers need.

The Talent Strategy therefore focuses on three areas: training people in the Netherlands, helping existing workers develop new skills and attracting specialised knowledge from abroad.

Four sectors will receive particular attention

The Dutch government has identified four areas in which the country wants to strengthen its international position:

• Digitalisation and artificial intelligence
• Security and resilience
• Energy and climate technology
• Life sciences and biotechnology

These sectors were selected because the Netherlands already has strong companies, research institutions and innovation networks in these fields. They are also considered important for challenges such as climate change, healthcare, digital security and technological independence.

International professionals with experience in areas such as software development, data science, cybersecurity, engineering, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, medical technology and biotechnology could therefore become increasingly important to Dutch employers.

The government also wants to ensure that enough workers are available for essential services, including education, childcare, primary healthcare, elderly care and housing construction.

Will it become easier to move to the Netherlands?

Not immediately.

The Talent Strategy does not introduce a new residence permit or change the existing requirements for highly skilled migrants. Instead, the government intends to develop a broader package of measures covering education, the labour market, taxation and migration.

One of the stated objectives is to attract international knowledge and skills more strategically. At the same time, the government wants to reduce the Dutch economy’s dependence on lower-paid and relatively low-productivity labour migration.

The details will be developed together with employers, educational institutions, government organisations, employee representatives and other stakeholders. A wider progress update is expected before the end of 2026.

This means international professionals should view the announcement as a positive signal, but not yet as a change to the application process.

Current requirements for highly skilled migrants

For most non-EU professionals, the highly skilled migrant scheme remains one of the main routes for working in the Netherlands.

An application normally has to be submitted by an employer that is recognised as a sponsor by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service, known as the IND.

For 2026, the main gross monthly salary requirements, excluding holiday allowance, are:

• €5,942 for highly skilled migrants aged 30 or older
• €4,357 for highly skilled migrants under the age of 30
• €3,122 under the reduced salary criterion
• €5,942 for most European Blue Card applications

The reduced salary criterion can apply to certain recent graduates and former orientation-year permit holders.

Meeting the salary threshold alone does not guarantee a residence permit. The employment agreement, employer, salary structure and other conditions must also meet IND requirements.

What about the 30% ruling?

The Dutch coalition agreement states that the government does not intend to scale back the tax allowance for expats.

Under the 30% facility, qualifying employees recruited from outside the Netherlands may receive part of their salary tax-free as compensation for the additional costs of working abroad. Eligibility depends on several conditions, including salary, previous residence and the circumstances under which the employee was recruited.

Maintaining the facility could help the Netherlands compete with other countries for specialised professionals. However, employees should never assume that they automatically qualify simply because they have moved from abroad.

What international jobseekers can do now

Professionals interested in working in the Netherlands do not need to wait for the strategy to be developed.

It may already be worthwhile to focus job searches on employers operating in the four priority sectors. International candidates should also check whether a potential employer is an IND-recognised sponsor before accepting an offer that depends on a highly skilled migrant permit.

Other useful preparations include comparing the offered salary with the applicable IND threshold, researching the Dutch housing market and calculating the complete cost of relocation.

A high salary does not necessarily mean that finding accommodation will be easy, particularly in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven.

A more selective approach to international migration

The announcement represents a notable shift in tone.

Rather than approaching international migration primarily as something that should be reduced, the government is distinguishing between different types of migration. It wants to actively attract knowledge and expertise in areas considered crucial to the Dutch economy, while reducing dependence on labour migration in less productive sectors.

For highly skilled professionals, this could eventually result in more targeted recruitment campaigns, closer cooperation between employers and educational institutions, or adjustments to migration and tax policies.

The exact measures remain to be seen. For now, the message is clear: the Netherlands expects international professionals to continue playing an important role in its future economy.

Please note: Government and immigration policies can change. Always check the latest requirements with the IND or obtain professional immigration and tax advice before making decisions.