06 · EUICT
The scheme in short
The EUICT is a program introduced in November 2016 to regulate work and residence permits on EU level due to transfers of managers, specialists and trainees of international group companies. An EUICT permit can be issued for a maximum of three years, and can be renewed after the employee stays at least six months outside the EU.
With the exception of US and Japanese employees, the EUICT overrules the Knowledge Migrants and GVVA program if the application meets all of the following criteria:
- The employee has a non-EU nationality.
- The employee has an employment contract with a group company outside the EU during the application and the stay in the Netherlands.
- The employee is transferred to a group company within the EU.
- The employee is a manager, specialist or trainee as described in the EUICT guideline.
When these conditions are met, the application will be treated as an EUICT application, regardless of the program used for the actual application.
Conditions
To qualify for an EUICT permit the following conditions must be met
About the employee
- The employee is a manager, specialist or trainee and has university or vocational level.
- Foreign professional qualifications must be recognised if the employee has a regulated profession, such as pharmacist, doctor, architect or lawyer.
- The employee has been employed within the group for at least three months.
- The employee has a valid employment or trainee contract and, if applicable, an assignment letter from the non-EU employer stating the conditions of the transfer.
- The employee has their main residence outside the EU when the application is filed.
- The employee has not resided in the EU via the EUICT program within the last six months prior to placement in the Netherlands.
- The employee will return to work for a group company outside the EU after the placement.
- The salary meets Dutch market standards given age, job title, education and work experience. The minimum salary requirements of the knowledge migrants program apply to the EUICT as well.
About the Dutch guest entity
- The Dutch guest entity and the foreign employing entity belong to the same group.
- The Dutch guest entity was not established to facilitate entrance of workers to the EU market.
- During the period of placement, the Netherlands is the primary place of stay.
- The Dutch guest entity has not been sentenced for undeclared or illegal employment.
- The Dutch guest entity is economically active. Seconding of employees as primary activity is allowed.
- The employee must meet the requirements of Article 16 of the Vreemdelingenwet: among other things a valid entrance visa, cooperation with medical investigation, no danger to society, and sufficient means to live on.
Recognised sponsor
Two weeks instead of three months
Companies and organisations that are a recognised sponsor at the Immigration Service (IND) benefit from a faster procedure of two weeks to apply for work permits via the EUICT program. Otherwise the application takes three months. Recognised sponsors also have less paperwork to provide for an application.
Mobility within the EU
Holders of an EUICT permit can apply for short term mobility, up to 90 days within a 180 day period, or long term mobility. This enables them to work temporarily in other EU countries without having to apply for a work permit there.
We advise you free of charge
Would you like more information?
Tell us briefly about your situation. You get an honest assessment of the odds and a fixed fee, before you decide anything.