New salary-related requirement when employing knowledge migrants and EU Blue Card holders in 2026

Important changes have come into effect since 1 January 2026 for those employing knowledge migrants and EU Blue Card holders in the Netherlands. From this date, additional documents must be kept to show compliance with the salary-related requirements. These measures form part of the Dutch government’s efforts to safeguard the integrity of the knowledge migrants scheme and prevent abuse.

Keeping additional salary-related documents

From 1 January 2025 recognised sponsors must include company bank statements or a list of batch payments in their administrative records, in addition to payslips. These documents must show that the salary is paid into a current account in the name of the employee within a maximum period of one month. At the moment it is sufficient just to keep payslips but from 2026 the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) can also ask for these additional documents during inspections. Failure to comply may lead to sanctions. This is a significant change relative to the present situation.

New salary standards for 2026 

The new salary standards for knowledge migrants were published in the Government Gazette on 18 December 2025. These are the gross standard amounts per month, excluding holiday pay, applicable from 1 January 2026:

• Knowledge migrants aged 30 and over: €5,942
• Knowledge migrants under the age of 30: €4,357
• Knowledge migrants with a lower salary standard following graduation: €3,122
• European Blue Card: €5,942
• European Blue Card with lower salary criterion: €4,754

NB: the salary requirements for knowledge migrants also apply to ICT applications.

Impact on employers

The above changes bring new administrative requirements. Employers will have to adjust internal processes to ensure compliance and limit the risk of delays or penalties. It is advisable to check as soon as possible whether your organisation is ready to meet these new requirements.

Questions or help needed? 

For questions or support on assessing the situation and deciding on the necessary steps, you are welcome to contact our immigration team.