EU Blue Card buys EU-wide mobility; the national knowledge-migrant permit does not
Both permits exist in NL at a similar salary, but after 12 months on a Dutch EU Blue Card you can move to most other EU countries and apply there on a fast track without a new entry visa. The national HSM permit is Netherlands-only - moving means starting from zero. If you might want Germany/France/Spain later, choose the Blue Card. Reduced Blue Card criterion for recent grads: 4,754 eur/month (2026). Verify the exact destination-country procedure per country.
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MAS reads your IND letter, checks whether an employer can legally sponsor you, and finds work that will actually take you. Free, no account.
More on visas and permits
- The startup permit: an easier on-ramp than the self-employed permit (no points system)
- US founders (and Japanese nationals) get a self-employment permit with only 4,500 eur and no points test
- A partner/family permit can come with FULL, unrestricted work rights
- Married to a Dutch national? Naturalise after 3 years and skip the permanent-permit prerequisite
- Permanent residence: ask for the EU long-term resident permit, it is a free upgrade
- The master sequence: study, then orientation year, then knowledge migrant at the reduced rate, then permanent