Doing Business in the Netherlands 2012 - American Chamber of ...

Doing Business in the Netherlands 2012
Depending on the purposes of stay, obtaining an MVV can take
between two weeks and six months. For employment purposes and if
the Dutch employer applies by means of the expedited procedure, the
MVV will usually be granted within two to three weeks. Please note
that during the MVV procedure, a foreign national is not allowed to
enter or reside in the Netherlands.
16.6 Residence Permit
A foreign national who intends to stay in the Netherlands for more
than three months and who has gained entry into the Netherlands is
required to obtain a residence permit. Please note that a residence
permit will not be granted if the foreign national was first required to
obtain an MVV.
The residence permit is generally issued for a maximum of one year
and if no change of circumstances has occurred, it is extendible on a
yearly basis. After having been in possession of a residence permit
for five years, the foreign national may apply for a permanent
residence permit. This permanent residence permit is renewable every
five years.
16.7 Work Permit
An employer who wants to recruit an employee from outside the
EU/EEA usually needs to apply for a work permit for that employee.
For completeness’ sake, please note that the Netherlands has
(temporarily) opted out for the full mobility of the workforce in
respect of Romania and Bulgaria. In this respect, for Romanian and
Bulgarian nationals, work permits are required. Dutch Parliament is
discussing when the work permit requirement for Romanian and
Bulgarian nationals will be abolished. At the moment, the majority
argue for the obligated abolishment by January 2012.
There are different procedures for applying for a work permit. The
applicable procedure depends entirely on the applicant’s specific
circumstances and the nature of the company he/she is being posted
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