Passport Atlas
Netherlands

Passport Atlas

Netherlands travel, immigration and PR

The Netherlands uses the highly skilled migrant scheme and the 30% ruling for salary-qualified hires, and DAFT as a US founder exception. Short stays remain Schengen.

ImmigrationPermanent residence

Openness rank

#113

Entry openness

93

Visa free

93

Briefing updated

2026-09

Country profile

Capital

Amsterdam

Population

18.1 million

Area

41,526 km²

Currency

Euro EUR

Languages

Dutch

Time zone

UTC+01:00

Foreign-born

3 million · 2024

Migrant share

16.2%

Ethnic groups · 2021

  • Dutch75.4%
  • other9.3%
  • EU6.4%
  • Turkish2.4%
  • Moroccan2.4%
  • Surinamese2.1%
  • Other2%

Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.

Entry visas and immigration pathsPassport visa-free listPaperwork and passport photosVisa siteImmigration site

Who this handbook is for

For tech and engineering hires of recognised sponsors, US founders, and families counting five years to PR.

How to visit, and for how long

Schengen 90/180. Visa-exempt passports use EES / ETIAS. Chinese passports need a Schengen visa. Visitors cannot work for a Dutch employer.

How to work or reside

Highly skilled migrants need a recognised sponsor and a salary line; the EU Blue Card is a parallel option. DAFT lets US citizens enter as entrepreneurs. Graduates may take an orientation year. The 30% ruling is tax, not a visa.

PR and citizenship

PR is commonly five years of continuous lawful stay plus civic integration (some exemptions). Nationality also looks at five years and Dutch. Long absences interrupt. Confirm with IND.

Time to PR：5 years

How popular passports enter

FAQ

Is the 30% ruling a residence status?

No. It is a tax advantage on top of lawful work residence, with conditions such as the 150 km rule.

Is DAFT only for US passports?

Yes. It sits on a US–Netherlands treaty. Other passports use highly skilled or ordinary entrepreneur permits.

Does a Chinese passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa required”. confirm length of stay with the destination. The port and mission are authoritative.

Does a US passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa free”. typical stay on the matrix is 90 days. The port and mission are authoritative.

Related destination guides

Handbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.