Losing your job on a visa in the Netherlands (2026)
3-month HSM search period | Plan B routes | Protecting your PR timeline
Quick summary
Losing your job as a migrant worker in the Netherlands can threaten both your income and your right to stay, especially if you hold a highly skilled migrant (HSM) permit or another work-dependent permit. This guide explains what happens legally, how timelines work, which Plan B routes may keep you in the country, and how to protect long-term goals like permanent residency and citizenship.
- →HSM permit holders normally get up to three months from the employment end date to find a new qualifying job.
- →The search period cannot extend past your current permit's expiry date.
- →New employer must be a recognised IND sponsor and must notify the IND within four weeks of your new start date.
- →Plan B routes include the orientation year (zoekjaar), self-employed permit, and partner/family routes.
- →Permit withdrawal can interrupt the five-year uninterrupted stay required for permanent residency.
1. How job loss affects your right to stay
Highly skilled migrants (kennismigranten)
If you become unemployed as a highly skilled migrant, the IND can grant you a job-search period of up to three months from the date your employment contract ends, during which you may look for another qualifying job without immediately losing your residence right.
This three-month period cannot extend past the expiry date of your current residence card. If your permit expires sooner, the search period ends on the permit's expiry date.
If you do not find a new qualifying job within the allowed period and your employer or you notify the IND, your residence permit can be withdrawn as of the end of that search period.
Three-month rule: key facts
- • Clock starts on the end date of your employment contract, not on the day you stop working
- • Cannot go beyond your permit's expiry date, whichever comes first
- • New employer must notify the IND within four weeks of your new employment start date
- • During the search period, you generally cannot work unless you find a new qualifying HSM sponsor
Other work permits and intra-corporate transferees
For other work-based permits, your right to stay is also directly tied to the conditions of your employment and your sponsor status. If the employment relationship ends and you do not switch to another sponsor or permit type, the IND may withdraw your residence permit, often with shorter or no job-search grace periods compared to HSM permits.
Partners and family members
If your partner's permit is based on their work as a highly skilled migrant, your own dependent residence is linked to that status. When the main permit holder loses their job and cannot secure a new one within the search period, both their residence and the residence of their dependants can be withdrawn, unless a different route such as self-employment or a new main sponsor is successfully arranged. See our family reunification guide for details on switching routes.
2. Key rules and timelines you need to know
The three-month job-search period
- • Up to three months from end of employment contract
- • New qualifying job found: new employer notifies IND within four weeks, permit not withdrawn
- • No new job after three months: IND can withdraw HSM permit as of last day of search period
- • Period capped at permit expiry date if sooner
Unpaid leave and salary thresholds
- • HSM status requires meeting the applicable gross salary threshold every month
- • Prolonged unpaid leave or salary below threshold can be grounds for permit withdrawal
- • Using unpaid leave to delay formal unemployment is often riskier than it appears
- • Any such arrangement should be reviewed with an immigration lawyer first
Orientation year (zoekjaar) after graduation
The orientation year is a one-year residence permit for highly educated people, available within three years of completing certain Dutch or qualifying foreign degrees. During the orientation year you may work freely on the Dutch labour market and take time to search for a job that meets HSM or other long-term residence conditions. This is one of the most useful Plan B routes for recent graduates who find themselves without a qualifying job.
3. What to do the moment you know your job is at risk
Before you receive formal notice
As soon as you suspect your role might be at risk, update your CV, LinkedIn profile, and portfolio and start networking with recruiters and recognised sponsors in your field. Check the end date and notice period in your contract so you know the exact date your job-search period would start if termination happens.
Also review your permit expiry date. If your permit expires within three months of a potential termination date, you may have even less time than the standard rule provides. An immigration lawyer can help you plan a proactive transition before any formal notice arrives.
After you receive notice
Get the end date in writing
Clarify whether you are paid during any notice period, as both factors impact when your three-month HSM search period starts and whether you still meet salary thresholds during that time.
Ask your employer about the IND notification
Ask when your employer will notify the IND of your employment ending. The IND's records and the timing of that notification can influence how the three-month rule is applied. While some Reddit reports suggest the IND can factor in late notifications and individual circumstances, this is discretionary and not something to rely on.
Start your job search and Plan B immediately
Begin applying for new HSM-qualifying roles and simultaneously assess whether the orientation year, self-employed permit, or a partner route applies to your situation. Do not wait until the three-month period has started.
Consult an immigration lawyer
The stakes are high and individual situations vary considerably. See our immigration lawyers guide for vetted options with English support.
Legal insurance for expats
If you do not already have legal insurance (rechtsbijstandverzekering), this is the time to consider it. Legal insurance can cover the cost of immigration or employment lawyers, which can otherwise run to hundreds of euros per hour.
Compare legal insurance via Legalec →4. Switching employers safely on a work-based permit
Finding a new recognised sponsor
To continue on an HSM route, your new Dutch employer must be a recognised sponsor with the IND and must offer you a position and salary that meet the HSM conditions for your age. Once you have a signed contract, the new employer must submit the change-of-employer application and notify the IND within four weeks of your employment start date.
Employer switch checklist
- New employer is a recognised IND sponsor (check IND's public register)
- Salary meets the current HSM threshold for your age group
- New employer submits change-of-employer notification within four weeks of your start date
- Switch happens within the three-month search period
- New start date is before permit expiry
Protecting your PR and citizenship timeline
Long periods of unemployment or time outside the Netherlands can interrupt the uninterrupted lawful stay required for permanent residence and Dutch citizenship. Starting another non-temporary residence route (such as self-employed work or a new HSM employer) as quickly as possible reduces the risk of residence gaps affecting these long-term goals. See also our guide on Dutch citizenship and naturalisation.
5. Plan B routes if you cannot find a new job in time
Orientation year (zoekjaar)
If you recently completed an eligible Dutch bachelor's, master's, or PhD degree, or certain qualifying foreign programmes, you may be able to switch to an orientation year permit instead of leaving the country, provided you apply within three years of graduation.
- • Lasts one year, not tied to a single employer
- • You may work freely on the Dutch labour market during the year
- • Gives breathing room to find work that meets HSM or other long-term criteria
- • Must be applied for within three years of graduation
Self-employed or entrepreneur permit
Non-EU nationals can apply for a residence permit as a self-employed person if their business is of "essential interest" to the Dutch economy, assessed via a points-based system that looks at personal experience, business plan, and economic value.
For some nationalities covered by treaties, including Americans via the DAFT visa, investment thresholds and assessment rules can be simpler, with a relatively low minimum capital investment and more accessible criteria. Starting this application before your HSM search period ends can in some cases allow you to remain in the Netherlands while the new application is processed.
Going self-employed also means arranging your own business insurance. Insify offers liability and professional indemnity cover tailored to Dutch ZZP (freelance) professionals.
Get business insurance via Insify →Partner and family routes
If you are in a stable relationship with someone who has or can obtain their own independent residence status in the Netherlands (for example, as an HSM holder, EU citizen, or Dutch national), you may in some cases be able to transition to a partner or family reunification route.
These routes usually require proving your relationship, meeting income and housing conditions, and following specific application procedures with the IND, often including an MVV (long-stay visa) step if you are outside the EU. See our partner visa guide for the full process.
6. Housing, money, and practical life when job loss hits
Many Dutch landlords expect tenants to have a gross monthly income of roughly three to four times the rent, and job loss can therefore make it harder to secure a new lease or pass income checks for a move. See our guide to securing rental housing for tips on navigating landlord income checks even in difficult circumstances.
Finding a new rental quickly
If you need to move to something more affordable, speed matters in the Dutch rental market. Rentbird monitors Funda, Pararius, and 30+ platforms and sends instant alerts, so you are among the first to respond to new listings.
Set up rental alerts via Rentbird →As of 2026, Dutch rent allowance (huurtoeslag) rules have been relaxed so that even people in higher-rent homes can qualify, as long as they meet income and asset thresholds, which may provide some relief if your income drops but you remain within the system.
If your residence permit is withdrawn and you must leave the country, you will usually need to deregister from your municipality, close or adjust contracts (housing, utilities, health insurance), and settle taxes before departure. Our complete exit guide covers this process in full.
Health insurance while between jobs
Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) is mandatory as long as you are registered in the Netherlands, even if you are not working. Compare affordable basic packages to make sure you stay covered and compliant during your job search period.
Mental health and support
Losing a job while abroad often comes with intense stress, shame, and isolation, particularly when your family's residence also depends on your permit. Consider reaching out to international therapists, your employer's assistance programme, or expat support groups to help you navigate both the administrative and emotional side of this transition. You are not alone in going through this.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in the Netherlands after losing my job on an HSM visa?
Highly skilled migrants can receive a job-search period of up to three months from the end date of their employment contract, but not beyond the expiry date of their current residence card. If you have not found a new qualifying HSM job by the end of this period, the IND can withdraw your residence permit, after which you are expected to leave the Netherlands unless you transition to another legal residence route such as the orientation year or a self-employed permit.
Can the IND extend the three-month search period if I still have not found a job?
The three-month job-search period is the formal rule and there is no standard, guaranteed extension mechanism beyond this in the regulations. Some cases suggest the IND can show discretion when notification was late or circumstances were unusual, but these are not outcomes you can rely on. Immigration lawyers generally advise treating three months as a hard limit and exploring other legal routes (orientation year, self-employed permit) before the period ends.
Does losing my job reset the five-year clock for permanent residency?
Your five-year clock for permanent residence depends on uninterrupted lawful stay on a non-temporary residence permit. If your permit is withdrawn and you leave or overstay, this can interrupt or reset that clock. If you transition quickly to another qualifying non-temporary permit, such as a new HSM job or a self-employed permit, your overall lawful stay may remain continuous. Individual situations can be complex, so specialised legal advice is strongly recommended.
What happens to my partner and children's permits if I lose my HSM job?
If your partner and children hold dependent residence based on your HSM permit, losing your job and failing to secure a new one within the search period can lead to withdrawal of both your permit and their dependent permits. If you or your partner can obtain a different main residence permit through their own employment or self-employment, your family may be able to switch to being dependants of the new main permit holder.
Can I ask my employer for unpaid leave instead of being laid off to protect my visa?
For highly skilled migrants, your permit requires that you meet the salary threshold every month. Prolonged unpaid leave means you no longer meet the conditions of your residence permit and may create a residence gap. Experienced immigration practitioners warn that using unpaid leave to avoid formal termination can backfire and may be riskier than it looks. Any such arrangement should be carefully reviewed with an immigration lawyer before agreeing to it.
Can I start freelancing right after losing my job to keep my permit?
You cannot simply convert your HSM permit into a freelancer visa. To stay on a self-employed basis, you need to qualify for a self-employed or entrepreneur residence permit, which has its own criteria around business plans, essential interest to the Dutch economy, and in some cases capital investment. Starting the application for a new self-employed permit (or, for eligible US citizens, a DAFT-based entrepreneur permit) before your HSM search period ends can in some cases allow you to remain in the Netherlands while the new application is processed, depending on your situation and legal advice.
Official resources
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