Workforce Migration Report 2026: Netherlands

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Canal houses on the Damrak in Amsterdam at blue hour
Workforce Migration Report 2026
Netherlands
20,673
First residence permits for work issued in 2025

Contents

In brief

The Netherlands issued 20,673 first residence permits for work in 2025 to citizens of countries outside the EU, 11.7 percent fewer than in 2024 and 35.6 percent below the 32,123 of 2022. That is 2.0 for every 1,000 residents aged 20 to 64, against 4.9 across the EU and 2.2 in Germany. The rules are holding; the count fell for a third year. India was the largest origin with 3,419 permits; the seven sourcing centres received 4,464. Our estimate is about 20,600 permits in 2026, between 12,800 and 31,300; for 2027 the range is too wide for a yearly number and the direction is flat. Held flat, a stated assumption, the count is 20,600 a year in 2031 and in 2036.

Observed

First residence permits for work issued in 2025, down 11.7 percent on 2024

20,673
Our estimate

Permits in 2026, between 12,800 and 31,300

20,600
Our estimate

Permits a year in 2031, held flat, a stated assumption

20,600
Projection of the source

Fewer people aged 20 to 64 in 2041 than in 2026

6,770

18.1 million people, among the EU's richest per head

The Netherlands has 18.13 million people, 1,229,482 more than in 2015. Since 2022 more people die than are born, 173,494 deaths against 164,870 births in 2025, and people moving in account for all of the growth. Output per head is 155 percent of the EU average, and 83.4 percent of people aged 20 to 64 are in work. On Eurostat's 2025 projection their number barely changes by 2041.

The Oudezijds Kolk, Amsterdam, at night

People living in the Netherlands on 1 January 2026

18,130,208

7.3 percent more than in 2015, and 4.0 percent of the EU's 452.0 million. People aged 65 and over were 20.8 percent of the population in 2025.

GDP in 2025, billion euro at current prices

1,170.6

6.2 percent of the EU economy.

GDP per head in 2025

64,710euro

155 percent of the EU average of 41,700 euro in 2025. Counting higher prices at home, 133 percent, up from 132 percent in 2015.

Real growth in 2025

1.6%

Against 1.4 percent across the EU. Over 2021 to 2025 the economy grew 14.0 percent in all, the EU grew 13.7 percent (our estimate from the yearly rates).

People aged 20 to 64 in work, 2025

83.4%

Against 76.1 percent across the EU.

Salary floor and single permit

2026A highly skilled migrant aged 30 or over must earn 5,942 euro a month.
21 May 2026The recast EU single permit directive, Directive (EU) 2024/1233, applies from 22 May 2026.

Sources: Eurostat, demo_gind (population, updated 21 July 2026), nama_10_gdp and nama_10_pc (GDP, updated 21 September 2026), tec00114 (price adjusted GDP per head), tec00115 (growth), lfsi_emp_a (employment), demo_pjanbroad (age). All retrieved 27 September 2026. Figures for 2025 GDP, GDP per head and growth are provisional. Key dates: Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), required amounts 2026; EUR-Lex, Directive (EU) 2024/1233, Article 28; retrieved 28 September 2026.

Deaths outnumber births, arrivals drive all growth

Since 2022 deaths outnumber births, and net migration of 94,805 in 2025 more than fills the gap

In 2025, 173,494 people died and 164,870 were born. Net migration added 94,805, so the population grew by 86,181.

Births minus deathsNet migration
0+100,000+200,0002019202020212022202320242025Births minus deathsNet migrationChange in the populationMoved inMoved out+17,795+107,627+125,422215,756107,906+3+67,827+67,830182,244102,502+8,469+106,788+115,257214,105110,342−2,608+223,227+220,619326,798109,616−5,034+136,685+131,651274,597123,574−6,022+107,107+101,085257,714140,087−8,624+94,805+86,181

Source: Eurostat, demo_gind (updated 21 July 2026), migr_imm1ctz and migr_emi1ctz (moves of a year or more), retrieved 27 September 2026. Net migration includes Eurostat's statistical adjustment. Not published: moves in and out for 2025.

About 18.95 million people by 2041 on Eurostat's projection

Observed to 2026, then Eurostat's 2025 projection in the lighter line.

16 million17 million18 million19 million20 millionEurostat's projection16.90 million in 201518.13 million in 202618.95 million in 204119.60 million, more migration18.35 million, less migration201520202026203120362041

Source: Eurostat, demo_gind (observed, updated 21 July 2026) and proj_25np (EUROPOP2025 baseline and migration tests, updated 11 June 2026), retrieved 27 September 2026.

The share aged 65 and over rises to 25%

0 to 1415 to 6465 and over
2025, observed15.0%64.2%20.8%2041, Eurostat's projection14.5%60.8%24.6%

Source: Eurostat, demo_pjanbroad (2025) and proj_25np (2041), retrieved 27 September 2026.

1,170.6 billion euro in 2025, and the IMF forecast to 2031

Billion euro, 2025 pricesIMF forecast
1,0001,1001,2001,3001,170.6 in 20251,263.7 in 203120172.8%20192.3%20216.3%2023-0.6%20251.6%20271.4%20291.3%20311.2%

Real growth under each year: observed to 2025 (Eurostat, tec00115), the IMF forecast after. Sources: Eurostat, nama_10_gdp (2025 provisional); IMF, World Economic Outlook April 2026; Werklist calculation: the other years are the 2025 value moved by the real growth rates; retrieved 27 September 2026.

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What this report answers

  • How many first residence permits for work has the Netherlands issued each year since 2019?

    20,673 in 2025, 11.7% fewer than the 23,415 of 2024 and 35.6% below the peak of 32,123 in 2022. In 2019 the Netherlands issued 22,030.

  • Which countries do the new hires come from?

    Citizens of India received 3,419 permits in 2025, of the United States 2,294 and of China 1,968. The seven Werklist sourcing centres received 4,464, India 3,419 of them.

  • How does the Netherlands compare with the EU and Germany?

    2.0 first residence permits for work for every 1,000 residents aged 20 to 64 in 2025, down from 3.1 in 2022, below Germany's 2.2 and the EU rate of 4.9.

  • For which work are the permits issued?

    Mostly skilled work: of 18,715 arrivals from outside the EU and EFTA with work as their motive in 2025, 13,905 came on a highly skilled migrant permit, Statistics Netherlands reports.

  • Which rules apply to employers who hire from abroad?

    The IND decides on a single permit or a highly skilled migrant permit within 90 days; the fee is 423 euro. A highly skilled migrant aged 30 or over must earn at least 5,942 euro gross a month in 2026, and the employer must be a recognised sponsor.

  • How is the working age population changing?

    Eurostat projects 10,589,542 people aged 20 to 64 in 2026 and 10,582,777 in 2041, a fall of 0.1 percent, about 6,770 fewer.

  • How many first residence permits for work do we expect the Netherlands to issue in 2026, and what comes after?

    About 20,600 in 2026, between 12,800 and 31,300, a little below the count of 2025; for 2027 the range is too wide for a yearly number, and the direction is flat. Held flat, a stated assumption, the count is 20,600 a year in 2031 and in 2036; the peers' rate, a scenario, gives 22,000 in 2031.

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