30% ruling
Eligible incoming highly skilled migrants can receive up to 30% of salary tax-free for a limited period, materially raising net pay.
In-demand occupations · 2026
🇳🇱 Netherlands in-demand & shortage occupation list
updated for 2026.
18 shortage occupations across 4 sectors, with indicative salaries, official codes and the visa route each one unlocks.
IND / UWV · 2026 salary thresholds
Overview
Highly Skilled Migrant shortage roles & Orientation Year occupations
The Netherlands does not publish a single legal shortage list; instead, the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) route lets IND-recognised sponsors hire any foreign professional who clears an age-based salary threshold. UWV's Spanningsindicator identifies the roles employers genuinely struggle to fill, and those are the roles where Indian applicants get sponsored fastest.
How the Netherlands shortage list works
- 1Find an employer registered as an IND recognised sponsor — this is non-negotiable for the Kennismigrant permit.
- 2Clear the salary threshold: roughly €5,688 gross monthly for 30+ and €4,171 for under-30s (2025 levels, indexed annually).
- 3No labour market test and no diploma evaluation is required for the Highly Skilled Migrant route.
- 4Recent graduates of Dutch or top-200 global universities can use the Orientation Year (zoekjaar) permit to job-hunt for 12 months.
Sector-wise demand
Netherlands shortage occupations by sector
Technology & data
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & backend engineer | — | €65,000 – 95,000 | |
| DevOps & cloud engineer | — | €70,000 – 100,000 | |
| Data engineer & data scientist | — | €68,000 – 100,000 | |
| Cyber security specialist | — | €72,000 – 105,000 | |
| Product owner & IT project manager | — | €70,000 – 100,000 |
Engineering & semiconductors
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor & photonics engineer | — | €70,000 – 105,000 | Eindhoven / Brainport cluster |
| Mechanical & mechatronics engineer | — | €62,000 – 90,000 | |
| Electrical and embedded systems engineer | — | €65,000 – 95,000 | |
| Process & chemical engineer | — | €62,000 – 90,000 | |
| Civil engineer & water management specialist | — | €58,000 – 85,000 |
Healthcare & education
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse (BIG registration) | — | €38,000 – 55,000 | Dutch B2 required |
| Medical specialist | — | €90,000 – 160,000 | |
| Pharmacy and lab technician | — | €40,000 – 58,000 | |
| STEM school teacher | — | €45,000 – 68,000 |
Logistics, finance & trades
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supply chain and logistics manager | — | €60,000 – 90,000 | Rotterdam / Schiphol clusters |
| Financial controller & risk analyst | — | €62,000 – 92,000 | |
| Electrician and installation technician | — | €38,000 – 55,000 | |
| Welder and construction technician | — | €36,000 – 52,000 |
Salaries are indicative gross annual figures for 2026 hiring and vary by employer, city, experience and negotiation. Shortage lists are revised by the issuing authority — we re-verify your occupation before any filing.
Why it matters
What a shortage occupation gets you in Netherlands
No diploma evaluation
The Kennismigrant route is salary-driven — no credential recognition delays.
English-friendly workplaces
Dutch tech, semiconductor and logistics firms operate largely in English.
Matching visa routes
File under the right Netherlands category
Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
Netherlands' flagship 2-week skilled-worker route
Orientation Year (Zoekjaar)
12-month open work permit for recent graduates
Netherlands EU Blue Card
EU-wide skilled permit with mobility across EU
Netherlands Student Visa (MVV / VVR)
Study at TU Delft, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Amsterdam, Erasmus
Documents Required for Netherlands
Dutch consular documentation checklist
Netherlands in-demand occupations — FAQs
Is there an official Dutch shortage occupation list?
+
No single legal list. UWV's tension indicator and the recognised-sponsor register are the practical guide, and the Highly Skilled Migrant permit is salary-based rather than occupation-based.
Can I come to the Netherlands to search for work?
+
Yes, if you graduated in the last three years from a Dutch institution or a top-200 ranked global university — the Orientation Year permit gives you 12 months with full work rights.
How fast is the Kennismigrant permit?
+
Recognised sponsors usually receive a decision in 2-4 weeks, with the MVV entry visa taking a further 2-4 weeks.
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