Working in the Netherlands as a Labor Migrant: How to Apply

Reading time: 7 minutes

Imagine this: you've packed your bags, hugged your family, and entered a country whose language you don't yet speak. You know why you're doing it. Better pay, a family counting on you, a chance to start over. And yet there's a knot in your stomach. Who can I trust? What do I need to sign? What if something goes wrong?

Does that sound familiar? Then you're not alone, and that knot isn't a weakness. It's wisdom. Those who start carefully start better.

First, the good news. In agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and technology, employers are short on workers. Your work is needed, and that gives you more leverage than you might think. Let's walk together through what you need to arrange, how a staffing agency works, and what to watch for, so you don't have to do this blind.

Am I allowed to work in the Netherlands?

The answer depends on your passport.

Are you from Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, or another EU country? Then you have it easy. You don't need a work permit, a valid ID or passport is enough. So you can apply right away. After that, you arrange your BSN (citizen service number), so your wages are paid properly and legally.

Are you from Ukraine? You've had to leave a lot behind, and work can offer stability. Fortunately, the rules are clear. If you fall under the Temporary Protection Directive, you may work as an employee without a work permit. Your employer registers you with the UWV in advance, and you'll need a BSN. Protection has been extended through March 4, 2028. Always check the current status with the IND.

Are you from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, or Montenegro? Here, let's be honest: this path is more complicated. Outside the EU, your employer must apply for a work permit on your behalf (TWV or GVVA). This is only possible if the UWV determines that no suitable candidate is available in the Netherlands or the EEA. So you can't arrange this yourself, since it's your employer who applies for the permit.

A warning, because it belongs here: there are people who ask for money to "arrange" work or papers for you. Don't do it. A real employer or a real agency never asks for money to give you a job.

What paperwork do you need to arrange in the first few weeks?

There are a few things you need to sort out quickly, and after that everything feels lighter:

• Your BSN. Without a BSN, you can't legally receive wages.
• A Dutch bank account. This is where your salary will be deposited.
• Health insurance. This is mandatory as soon as you work here.
• A copy of everything you sign. Keep contracts and pay slips. Always.

The staffing agency: who's actually your boss?

Many labor migrants start through a staffing agency. It can be confusing at first, so here it is in plain language. You sign your contract with the staffing agency, not with the company where you work. The agency is your employer, the company is the host company. The agency pays your wages. The company is where you work.

That distinction matters, because for questions about your pay, your schedule, or your contract, you go to your agency.

How does the phase system work?

Your security grows the longer you work:

• Phase A. You start with a maximum of 52 weeks worked. Usually, a temp agency clause applies: if the assignment at the company ends, your contract generally ends too. That can feel unsettling. It's normal at this stage, and you should be informed of it in advance.
• Phase B and C. If you keep working longer through the same agency, you build up more security, eventually leading to a permanent contract.

What can you expect in terms of pay and treatment?

You deserve respect, and that's reflected in the rules too. Since January 1, 2026, the new Collective Labor Agreement for Temporary Workers from ABU and NBBU applies. You're entitled to employment conditions that together are worth at least as much as those of a permanent colleague in a comparable role.

As for minimum wage, since July 1, 2026, it's €14.99 gross per hour for workers aged 21 and older. That's the floor, not the goal. Is your pay slip showing less? Then something's not right.

How do you choose a reliable staffing agency?

You're allowed to ask questions. A good agency is fine with that, and an agency that gets annoyed by questions is already telling you something.

The SNA certification mark is currently the standard norm in the industry. On January 1, 2027, the Placement of Workers Admission Act will take effect. Starting January 1, 2028, agencies will only be allowed to place workers if they have admission from the Dutch Labour Market Authority (NAU), which you can check in its public register. Three questions you're always allowed to ask:

1. Are you SNA-certified, or already admitted by the NAU?
2. Will I get my contract in a language I understand?
3. Can you explain exactly what will be on my pay slip?

Housing through your employer: what are your rights?

A place to sleep is more than a room. It's your home. That's why it's good to know your rights:

• Housing through the agency is a choice. Your rental agreement is separate from your employment contract.
• The agency may withhold a maximum of 25% of the gross minimum wage for rent, only for certified housing and only with your written authorization. Because of this, what you actually get paid out may end up lower than the minimum wage.
• The phase-out planned before 2026 didn't go through. In September 2026, the minister did propose eliminating this deduction entirely as of July 1, 2028. That's still just a proposal.

Your resume: your first handshake

A recruiter scans your resume quickly, and your resume is often the first thing someone sees of you. Make it easy for yourself to be noticed.

Example of how the top could look:

Warehouse Worker | Forklift Certified | 6 Years of Experience
Available from November 1 | Location: Venlo | Own transportation: yes

This helps:

• Put your job title and strongest qualification at the top. That way a recruiter immediately knows who you are.
• Make your certifications visible. Forklift, VCA, driver's license.
• Be honest about your language level. Write it in words or as A1 through C2. That's appreciated.
• State when you can start. Start date, location or willingness to relocate, own transportation yes or no.
• Keep it to one page. Two is the maximum.

And your experience counts, even if your job title back home was called something different. Describe what you did and what you can do.

Red flags: trust your gut

Something feel off? Then you're allowed to stop and ask questions. Here are the warning signs:

• An agency that asks for money to "place" you.
• A contract you don't understand. Ask for a translation before you sign.
• Housing that's mandatory to get the job.
• Promises about hours or pay that aren't written down.
• No pay slip, or an hourly wage below the minimum.
• An agency that can't show proof of certification.

Where can you find help?

You don't have to face this alone. The Dutch Labour Inspectorate and labor unions also help labor migrants. Don't hesitate to ask for help if something doesn't seem right. That's what they're there for.

You don't have to do this alone

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In short

• EU: no work permit needed, just ID and a BSN. Ukraine: work without a TWV under temporary protection. Outside the EU: your employer applies for the permit.
• With temp agency work, the agency is your employer, and your employment conditions together must be worth at least as much as those of a permanent colleague.
• Ask about certification and read your contract in your own language.
• Housing is a choice, and the rent deduction is capped at a maximum.
• A resume with job title, certifications, language level, and availability at the top gets read faster.