Conditions
There are certain conditions that apply to everyone who wants to stay in the Netherlands for more than 3 months.
You or your employer apply for a Single Permit (GVVA) for seasonal work. This is a permit that entitles the third-country national to stay and work in the Netherlands as a seasonal worker. The GVVA combines the residence permit and the TWV (work permit). You only have to apply for one permit, to one authority: the IND. The IND asks advice from the Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency (UWV) about the labour market aspect. UWV assesses the request for advice based on the criteria of the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Wav). The IND takes a decision on the basis of the advice of the UWV. If the decision is positive and the Single Permit for seasonal work is issued, the IND will inform you accordingly.
The GVVA consists of a residence document and an additional document. The additional document states for which employer the third-country national may work and under which conditions.
Your employer can choose to become a recognised sponsor. This is not obligatory. Recognition as sponsor has various advantages.
Other conditions apply to persons with the nationality of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and their family members.
Conditions to migrate to the Netherlands as a seasonal worker
Procedures
| Where and how to apply | You apply for the provisional residence permit (mvv) and Single Permit for seasonal work at the same time. This can be done in two ways: your employer applies to the IND in the Netherlands. Or you apply to the Dutch representation in your country of origin or the country of continuous residence. This application costs € 210,00 (in 2023). More information about fees can be found here. |
| Documents required | The application form lists the documents that you must enclose with the application. You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. |
| Duration of validity of permits | The period of validity of your Single Permit depends on the advice of UWV. The Single Permit for seasonal work is valid for a maximum of 24 weeks. |
| Further requirements | Upon arrival, you must:
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| Appeals | If the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has rejected your application, this will be specified in an official letter (= Decision) from the IND. If you do not agree with the decision, you can register an objection to it, or authorise someone in the Netherlands to do so on your behalf. The official letter explains how to start the procedure for this. In some cases, the IND is not able to reach a decision in time. The IND may be in default. You can then send a written notice of default to the IND. If after having registered an objection, the IND has stated your objections to be unfounded, it is possible for you to appeal against this decision to the Dutch court. |
| Further information | More on the admission as a seasonal worker in the Netherlands |
Rights
| Extension of stay | A residence permit for seasonal work is issued for no more than 24 weeks. You can only apply for an extension if the GVVA has been issued with a shorter period of validity. It is not possible to extend the maximum stay of 24 weeks. |
| Change of status | Has something changed in your situation that influences your residence permit? Please report this immediately to the IND. It may mean that the residence permit has to be changed sooner. |
| Employment | Besides the residence permit, you also get an additional document. Your employer receives a copy of the additional document. The residence permit states 'Arbeid toegestaan conform aanvullend document' (work permitted according to additional document). The residence document and the additional document allow you to live and work for your employer in the Netherlands. The additional document states for which employer you may work and under which conditions. |
| Permanent residence | It is not possible to qualify for permanent residence on the basis of a residence permit for seasonal labour. |
| Family reunification | It is not possible to bring your family members to the Netherlands, as seasonal labour is a temporary purpose of stay. |