If you work in the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) and lose your job, your residence permit does not end immediately: you have up to 3 months to find a new employer, or up to 6 months if you have held the permit for 2 years or more. That search period starts on the day your employment contract ends. This is why the end date in a dismissal or settlement agreement matters more for you than for most employees.
The search period after dismissal
According to the IND:
- you have up to 3 months to find a new job with an employer that is a recognised sponsor;
- if you have held the permit for 2 years or more, you have up to 6 months (rule applies from 22 May 2026);
- the search period starts on the day your contract ends and cannot run beyond the expiry date of your permit;
- if the search period ends without a new employer registering you, the IND may revoke your residence permit.
These rules concern the highly skilled migrant permit. Other permits, such as the EU Blue Card or a permit as a family member, have their own rules. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a residence permit to work.
Why the end date is an employment law question
Under Dutch employment law, your employer cannot simply end your contract. For an open-ended contract, the employer generally needs permission from UWV or a decision of the subdistrict court, or your agreement in a settlement agreement (Article 7:670b Dutch Civil Code). The notice period also counts: an employer must observe one to four months depending on the length of employment (Article 7:672 DCC).
In practice this gives you room to negotiate:
- End date. In a settlement agreement the end date is negotiable. A later end date means your search period starts later.
- Garden leave. Being released from work while the contract continues keeps your employment, and your salary, running until the end date.
- Summary dismissal. If you are dismissed with immediate effect, the contract ends at once, and so does the time before your search period starts. You have two months to challenge the dismissal in court (Article 7:686a(4) DCC).
- Transition payment. Your statutory rights, such as the transition payment, apply regardless of your nationality.
Unemployment benefit (WW), a new job during the search period and the 30% ruling each raise their own questions. We look at them together with your contract and your permit.
What we do
We review the termination proposal or dismissal with your residence position in mind, negotiate the end date and terms, and challenge an unlawful dismissal. We work in English. See settlement agreement review and dismissal, or contact us for a free first assessment. For the permit itself, the IND is the competent authority; for complex immigration questions we refer you to an immigration lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my residence permit if I am dismissed in the Netherlands?
If you are a highly skilled migrant and your employment ends while your permit is valid, you have up to 3 months to find a new employer who is a recognised sponsor. If you have held the permit for 2 years or more, the search period is up to 6 months (since 22 May 2026). The search period starts on the day your contract ends and cannot run beyond the expiry date of your permit.
Can I negotiate a later end date to protect my residence permit?
Yes. In a settlement agreement the end date is negotiable, and it determines when your search period starts. A later end date, possibly combined with garden leave, can give you more time. Have the agreement reviewed before you sign.
Written by Onur Arslan, employment lawyer at Arslan Advocaten. Residence rules as published by the IND, checked on 23 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
