The Price of Staying: IND Reveals Steep Salary Increases for 2026
The Hague – For the international community in the Netherlands, January is not just about new resolutions; it is the month the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) draws a new line in the sand. The 2026 salary thresholds for Highly Skilled Migrants (Kennismigranten) are now officially in effect, and the numbers have risen significantly.
This year’s increase of approximately 4.4% might look like a standard inflation adjustment on paper, but for startups, non-profits, and expats hovering on the edge of the threshold, it represents a massive hurdle. Failing to meet this specific number doesn’t just mean a lower paycheck—it means losing your legal right to live in the country.
In this deep dive, The Dutch Daily breaks down exactly what you need to earn to keep your residence permit, exposes the deadly “Holiday Pay Trap” that gets visas rejected, and explains the “30th Birthday Rule.”
Table of Contents
- Official 2026 Thresholds: The New Reality
- ⚠️ The ‘Holiday Pay’ Trap: Why You Might Be Rejected
- What ‘Rejection’ Really Means: The Logic of IND
- The ’30th Birthday Rule’: A Career Risk
- The EU Blue Card Alternative
- Key Takeaways
- Dutch Learning Corner
Official 2026 Thresholds: The New Reality
If you are applying for a new visa or renewing an existing one in 2026, your **gross monthly salary** (excluding holiday allowance) must meet these minimums:
| Category | 2026 Requirement (Gross/Month) | Change from 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Highly Skilled (> 30 years) | €5,942 | + €254 |
| Highly Skilled (< 30 years) | €4,357 | + €186 |
| Orientation Year (Graduates) | €3,122 | + €132 |
| EU Blue Card | €5,942 | Aligned with HSM |
⚠️ The ‘Holiday Pay’ Trap: Why Your Contract Might Be Invalid
This is the single most common reason for Highly Skilled Migrant application rejections, and it often catches expats off guard. To understand it, you must understand Dutch payroll law.
In the Netherlands, almost every employee is legally entitled to a holiday allowance (vakantiegeld), which is 8% of the gross salary. THE CRITICAL RULE: The IND salary threshold must be met by your **Base Gross Monthly Salary alone**. You strictly cannot include the 8% holiday allowance, 13th month, or performance bonuses in this calculation.
❌ The Deadly Mistake (Don’t Do This)
Imagine you are over 30, and you receive a job offer. The IND threshold is €5,942.
- Your Offer: “€5,600 Gross per month + 8% Holiday Pay”.
- Your Math: €5,600 + €448 (8%) = €6,048 Total.
- Your Logic: “€6,048 is higher than €5,942. I am safe!”
- IND’s Decision: REJECTED.
Why? The IND ignores the €448. They only see the €5,600 base salary. Since €5,600 is lower than €5,942, you do not qualify.
✅ The Correct Structure
To be safe, your contract must explicitly state a base monthly salary equal to or higher than the threshold.
- Correct Offer: “€5,942 Gross per month + 8% Holiday Pay”.
- Total Package: €5,942 + €475 = €6,417 Total Monthly Value.
- IND’s Decision: APPROVED.
What ‘Rejection’ Really Means: The Logic of IND
Why is the IND so strict about a few hundred euros? The logic is brutal but simple: Money equals Quality.
The Dutch government does not assess your coding skills, your university grades, or your potential. They use your salary as the sole proxy for your “skill level.”
* The Logic: “If a company pays you at least €5,942, you are highly skilled. If they pay €5,940, you are not.”
* The Consequence: If your permit renewal is rejected because your salary is too low, it is not just a paperwork error. You lose your legal status. If you cannot find another job that pays the required amount within 3 months, you must leave the Netherlands.
The ’30th Birthday Rule’: A Career Risk
One of the most complex aspects of the system is the age bracket jump.
* Scenario A (Stay): If you are already employed on the “Under 30” permit (€4,357) and you turn 30, you can stay on the lower salary threshold as long as you remain with the same employer.
* Scenario B (Switch): If you decide to change jobs one day after your 30th birthday, your new employer MUST pay you the “Over 30” salary (€5,942).
This creates a “lock-in” effect. Many expats find themselves unable to switch jobs because potential new employers are unwilling to match the nearly €1,600/month jump in salary requirement.
The EU Blue Card Alternative
Historically, the Dutch Highly Skilled Migrant permit was superior to the EU Blue Card. However, for 2026, the salary threshold for the Blue Card has been aligned with the Highly Skilled Migrant scheme (€5,942).
If you qualify for the high salary, the **EU Blue Card** might now be a better option. It offers easier mobility to move to other EU countries (like Germany or France) after 12 months, and provides more favorable rules for long-term residency accumulation across the EU.
Key Takeaways
- Check Your Contract: Ensure your base gross salary meets the new 2026 limits strictly.
- No Holiday Pay: Do not include the 8% allowance in your threshold calculation.
- Job Hopping: Be careful changing jobs if you recently turned 30; the price tag for hiring you just went up.
- Renewals: These rules apply to extensions submitted after Jan 1, 2026.
Dutch Learning Corner
| Word (Dutch) | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📋 De Inkomenseis | In-ko-mens-ice | Income Requirement | Voldoe jij aan de inkomenseis? (Do you meet the income requirement?) |
| 💰 Het Bruto Salaris | Bru-to Sa-la-ris | Gross Salary | Het bruto salaris is exclusief vakantiegeld. (Gross salary is excluding holiday pay.) |
| 🚫 De Afwijzing | De Af-way-zing | The Rejection | Een afwijzing van de IND is ernstig. (A rejection from IND is serious.) |
Are You Safe?
Does your current contract meet the new €5,942 threshold? Have you ever felt “trapped” in a job because of the 30-year-old rule? Share your experiences (anonymously if you prefer) in the comments below.
Source / Official Guidelines: Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
