From January 1, 2026, the Netherlands will require stronger evidence that highly skilled migrants and EU Blue Card holders have actually received their salaries, not just submitted payslips. “Recognised sponsors will be required to include proof that highly skilled employees … have actually received their salary …” according to a legal update.
Under the new framework, employers designated as “recognized sponsors” must provide documentation such as bank statements or batch-payment records showing salary payments into the employee’s own account. Payslips alone will no longer suffice.
This reform coincides with broader efforts by the Dutch government to tighten its highly skilled migrant system. In July 2025, ministers proposed raising the minimum salary thresholds for migrants to qualify under the scheme, aiming to restrict access to those who truly contribute to the Dutch knowledge economy.
The provisional salary thresholds set to apply from January 2026 are:
€5,937 per month for migrants aged 30 or older,
€4,354 for those under 30,
€3,120 for migrants after their orientation year,
€5,937 for EU Blue Card holders, and €4,750 for recent graduates holding the Blue Card.
These figures reflect an indexed adjustment, but the government is also considering a shift to a new model: using a multiple of the national average salary rather than fixed minimums. Under this proposal, the threshold could become 1.3× the average gross annual salary for people over 30, and 1.1× for those under 30.
In addition to raising pay levels, the government plans to tighten rules around which companies can serve as “recognized sponsors.” Firms will face stricter reviews of their financial health, integrity, and past compliance. A company could lose its sponsor status if it has been fined repeatedly or if it hasn’t employed any highly skilled migrants in two years.
These changes are motivated by concerns over misuse of the skilled migrant scheme. Regulators have reportedly found instances where low-skilled or even unrelated workers, like cleaners and hospitality staff were being brought in using the highly skilled visa route.
For employers, the new proof-of-payment requirement means higher administrative burdens: payroll teams will likely need to adjust their internal systems, maintain more detailed records, and potentially deliver new types of documentation to immigration authorities.
Although the stricter salary-receipt rule begins in 2026, current income thresholds adjusted for 2025 are already in force. For example, the monthly gross minimum for a highly skilled migrant aged 30 or older is €5,688 (excluding holiday pay), rising from previous years.
Economically, these reforms aim to sharpen the focus of the Netherlands’ migration policy toward genuine high-value contributors, reducing potential abuse while preserving the country’s appeal for top talent. By raising salary and documentation demands, the government hopes to protect local labor wages and encourage only highly productive, well-paid migration.
