Working in the Netherlands as a migrant worker: how to apply

Reading time: 7 minutes

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

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

First, the good news. In agriculture, logistics, healthcare and technical trades, employers are short of people. Your work is needed, and that gives you more strength than you might think. Let's walk together through what you need to arrange, how an employment agency works, and what to look out for, so you don't have to do this blindly.

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've got it easy. You don't need a work permit, a valid ID card or passport is enough. So you can apply straight away. After that, you arrange your BSN, 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're allowed to 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 up to and including 4 March 2028. Always check the current status with the IND.

Are you from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo or Montenegro? Let's be honest here: this path is more complicated. Outside the EU, your employer has to apply for a work permit for you (TWV or GVVA). This is only possible if the UWV decides 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 genuine employer or genuine agency doesn't ask for money to give you a job.

What paperwork should you sort out in the first few weeks?

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

• Your BSN. Without a BSN you can't legally receive wages.
• A Dutch bank account. Your salary will be paid into this.
• Health insurance. This is compulsory as soon as you work here.
• A copy of everything you sign. Keep contracts and payslips. Always.

The employment agency: who is actually your boss?

Many migrant workers start out through an employment agency. It can feel confusing at first, so here it is in plain language. You sign your contract with the employment agency, not with the company where you work. The agency is your employer, the company is the client. The agency pays your wages. The company is the place 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. A temporary agency clause usually applies: if the assignment at the company ends, your contract generally ends too, in principle. That can feel unsettling. It's normal at this stage, and you should be told about it in advance.
• Phase B and C. If you work 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 1 January 2026, the new Collective Labour Agreement for Temporary Agency Workers from ABU and NBBU applies. You're entitled to employment terms that together are worth at least as much as those of a permanent colleague in a comparable role.

For the minimum wage, since 1 July 2026, €14.99 gross per hour applies for employees aged 21 and over. That's the floor, not the goal. If your payslip shows less than that, something's wrong.

How do you choose a reliable employment agency?

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

The SNA quality mark is currently the standard norm in the sector. On 1 January 2027, the Posting of Workers Admission Act comes into force. From 1 January 2028, agencies will only be allowed to lend out staff with 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 receive my contract in a language I understand?
3. Can you explain exactly what will appear on my payslip?

Housing through your employer: what are your rights?

A place to sleep is more than just 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 contract is separate from your employment contract.
• The agency may deduct a maximum of 25% of the gross minimum wage for rent, only for certified accommodation and only with your written authorisation. Because of this, what you actually receive may end up lower than the minimum wage.
• The phase-out that was announced for 2026 didn't go ahead. In September 2026, the minister did propose abolishing this deduction entirely as of 1 July 2028. That's still just a proposal.

Your CV: your first handshake

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

Example of what the top could look like:

Warehouse worker | forklift certificate | 6 years' experience
Available from 1 November | Location: Venlo | Own transport: yes

This helps:

• Put the role and your strongest qualification at the top. Then a recruiter knows straight away who you are.
• Make your certificates visible. Forklift, VCA, driving licence.
• 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 transport yes or no.
• Keep it to one page. Two is the maximum.

And your experience counts, even if your work had a different name back home. Describe what you did and what you can do.

Red flags: trust your gut

Does something not feel right? Then you're allowed to stop and ask questions. Here are the signs:

• An agency asking for money to "place" you.
• A contract you don't understand. Ask for a translation before signing.
• Housing that's compulsory to get the job.
• Promises about hours or pay that aren't in writing.
• No payslip, or an hourly wage below the minimum.
• An agency that can't prove it's certified.

Where can you find help?

You're not on your own. The Netherlands Labour Authority and trade unions also help migrant workers. 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

A good start also means a good CV. We're CV-Refresher, built by people who spent years reviewing CVs themselves. With us, you can create a CV for free as a PDF, no account needed and no watermark. The site is also available in Polish and Ukrainian, so you can use your own language while putting together a CV for Dutch employers. Already have a CV? Then we'll refresh it into something you can be proud of. A one-off payment, no subscription.

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In short

• EU: no work permit needed, but ID and BSN are required. Ukraine: work without a TWV under temporary protection. Outside the EU: your employer applies for the permit.
• With agency work, the agency is your employer, and your employment terms 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 CV with role, certificates, language level and availability at the top gets read faster.