Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

Netherlands · for applicants from Nigeria

Verified · 20 August 2026

The Netherlands' main skilled-work route. Purely SALARY-based: meet the IND monthly gross threshold and your employer is a recognised sponsor, and you qualify, the IND does not assess skills or qualifications. No labour market test. Fast (about 2 weeks for recognised sponsors). 2026 thresholds indexed annually on 1 January.

Rules last verified: 20 August 2026 · by Elizabeth O

At a glance

Embassy processing

~2-week processing for recognised sponsors

Our turnaround

5–7 working days

Done-for-you Standard

Government fees

~£325

≈ ₦592,150

Why applications get refused

Salary below threshold

Offer under the age-based monthly floor (excl. holiday allowance).

Fix: Ensure base monthly salary clears the correct 2026 threshold before signing.

Employer not a recognised sponsor

Employer not on the IND recognised-sponsor register.

Fix: Confirm the employer's recognised-sponsor status before applying.

Salary not market-conform / not guaranteed

Variable or non-guaranteed pay used to reach the threshold.

Fix: Use a fixed, guaranteed, monthly-paid salary that is market-conform.

Document checklist

Required

Valid passport

When: "all"

Employment contract / appointment letter showing salary

When: "all"

Recognised-sponsor declaration

When: "all"

MVV (provisional residence), Nigeria is MVV-required

When: "all"

Depends on your situation

Birth/marriage certificates (legalised) for any family members

Application timeline

1. Prepare your application

Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms

1–3 weeks

2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)

Specialist checks your file before you submit

5–7 working days

3. Submit online or at visa centre

Biometrics appointment may be required

1 day

4. Embassy decision

Standard processing. Priority options may be available.

~2-week processing for recognised sponsors

All-in government fees

These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.

Mandatory

IND residence permit (HSM)

£325

592,150

Total government fees

325

≈ ₦592,150

Proof of funds (must hold, not pay)

Gross monthly salary (age 30+)

£5,088

9,270,336

Indicative. 1 GBP = 1,822 NGN · 16 September 2026. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.

What a free chatbot cannot do

A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.

  • Rules verified against the official source, with the date
  • Document checklist built for your specific profile
  • The inconsistency check that catches what gets people refused
  • A human reviews your complete file before submission

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Common questions about the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)

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Real outcomes

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Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.