The Netherlands is an attractive destination for qualified foreign nurses looking to build an international healthcare career. Dutch hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres, home-care organisations and other healthcare providers employ nurses in a wide range of settings. For nurses from outside the European Union (EU), however, getting a nursing job is more than simply finding an employer: you generally need to have your foreign nursing qualification recognised, meet Dutch language requirements and obtain the appropriate residence and work permission.

The good news is that some Dutch healthcare employers are recognised sponsors and can support eligible foreign workers with immigration procedures. This makes the Netherlands a realistic option for internationally trained nurses who are prepared to complete the required professional and language steps.

Can Foreign Nurses Work in the Netherlands?

Yes. Foreign-trained nurses can work in the Netherlands, but nursing is a regulated healthcare profession. A foreign nursing diploma must be officially recognised, and nurses generally need registration in the Dutch BIG-register before they can practise independently under the protected nursing title.

The route depends partly on where your nursing qualification was obtained.

For nurses with certain EU or Swiss qualifications, there are recognition routes that may be more straightforward. For nurses who obtained their qualification outside the EU or Switzerland, the Certificate of Competence procedure generally applies. The Dutch BIG-register provides an advice tool to determine the correct procedure for an individual applicant.

Dutch Language Requirements for Foreign Nurses

One of the most important requirements is Dutch-language proficiency.

Because nurses communicate directly with Dutch-speaking patients and healthcare teams, the BIG-register requires foreign healthcare professionals to demonstrate adequate Dutch-language skills. For nursing, which is classified at the Dutch secondary vocational education (MBO) level for this purpose, the required Dutch language level is B1.

The language assessment covers:

• Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing

A simple certificate showing that you attended a Dutch course is not enough. The BIG-register says the applicant must provide evidence of successfully completing an appropriate language examination or assessment.

Foreign nurses should therefore consider learning Dutch early—even before beginning the full recognition process. Strong Dutch skills can also make job interviews, clinical communication and integration into a Dutch healthcare team considerably easier.

BIG Registration: A Key Step

The BIG-register is central to the process of becoming a practising nurse in the Netherlands. Nursing is one of the professions for which BIG registration is required.

For an internationally trained nurse, the process may involve:

1. Determining which foreign-diploma recognition procedure applies.
2. Preparing educational and professional documents.
3. Demonstrating Dutch-language proficiency.
4. Providing evidence concerning education and professional experience.
5. Completing any required assessment or additional steps.
6. Obtaining recognition of professional competence.
7. Applying for BIG registration.

For nurses educated outside the EU or Switzerland, the Certificate of Competence route can involve additional assessment. The BIG-register specifically advises nurses, doctors and dentists to familiarise themselves with the professional competence test, known as the BI test.

What Does “Visa Sponsorship” Mean in the Netherlands?

For a foreign nurse, visa sponsorship generally means that a Dutch employer supports the immigration application required for the nurse to live and work legally in the Netherlands.

One important route is the Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit. Under this route, the employer must be recognised by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), and the employee must meet the applicable income and other requirements.

The employer applies for the residence permit and, where required, the provisional residence permit (MVV) on the worker’s behalf. The IND states that the employer can apply for both at the same time.

However, nurses should not assume that every nursing vacancy can qualify for highly skilled migrant sponsorship. The salary and immigration requirements must be satisfied, and regulated healthcare work also requires the appropriate BIG registration.

2026 Salary Requirements

The Dutch highly skilled migrant route has specific salary thresholds that change periodically.

For 2026, the IND lists the following gross monthly salary thresholds for highly skilled migrants:

• Under 30: €4,357 per month
• 30 or older: €5,942 per month
• Reduced salary criterion: €3,122 per month, where the applicant qualifies for the reduced criterion

These amounts are gross monthly salaries excluding holiday allowance.

This is particularly important for nurses because a normal nursing salary may not automatically meet the highly skilled migrant threshold. Therefore, a job advertisement saying “visa sponsorship available” should be examined carefully to determine which immigration route the employer actually intends to use.

For some foreign nurses, another immigration route may be more appropriate depending on their nationality, qualifications, employment situation and the employer.

How to Find Nursing Jobs With Sponsorship

A good strategy is to target employers that have experience hiring international healthcare professionals.

The IND maintains a public register of recognised sponsors. The register allows jobseekers to check whether an organisation is recognised as a sponsor for work and highly skilled migrant purposes. The register was updated on 3 August 2026 and is updated monthly.

When searching for vacancies, use terms such as:

• International nurse Netherlands
• Foreign nurse Netherlands
• Registered nurse Netherlands
• Verpleegkundige Netherlands
• Nurse visa sponsorship Netherlands
• Nursing jobs with sponsorship Netherlands
• English-speaking nurse Netherlands
• Healthcare jobs Netherlands international nurses

You should then check the employer against the IND’s recognised-sponsor register where the vacancy is using the highly skilled migrant route.

Where Can Foreign Nurses Work?

International nurses may find opportunities in several parts of the Dutch healthcare system, including:

Hospitals

Hospitals can offer opportunities in areas such as medical-surgical nursing, intensive care, emergency care, oncology, paediatrics and other specialties. Specialist positions may have additional qualification requirements.

Nursing and Residential Care

Nursing homes and residential care organisations employ nurses to care for older adults and people with long-term care needs. These positions can be an entry point for internationally trained nurses, although Dutch-language communication remains essential.

Home Healthcare

Home-care organisations employ nurses who provide care to patients in their homes. Because these roles involve substantial direct communication with patients and families, good Dutch proficiency is particularly important.

Rehabilitation and Mental Healthcare

Rehabilitation centres and mental-health organisations also employ nursing professionals. Requirements vary according to the position, employer and patient population.

Documents Foreign Nurses Should Prepare

International applicants should expect to provide substantial documentation. Depending on the recognition procedure, this can include:

• Nursing diploma
• Academic transcripts or training records
• Curriculum vitae
• Evidence of professional experience
• Identification documents
• Professional registration information from the home country
• Certificates relating to professional standing
• Dutch-language certificate
• English-language reading evidence where required
• Certified or legalised documents
• Official translations where necessary

The BIG-register recommends collecting required evidence and arranging appropriate translations and certifications before submitting an application because obtaining documents from abroad can take time.

Can You Get a Job Before BIG Registration?

This depends on the employer, the position and the stage of your recognition process.

A foreign nurse should not assume that having a nursing diploma automatically gives permission to practise as a nurse in the Netherlands. BIG registration is mandatory for nurses who practise in the regulated profession.

In some circumstances, a nurse with a recognised foreign diploma may first need to work under supervision while completing the required registration arrangements. The IND specifically notes that where a recognised foreign diploma requires a period of supervised work, the healthcare professional must have the appropriate conditional BIG registration.

This is why it is important to clarify with an employer exactly what they mean when they advertise positions for “international nurses.”

A Practical Route for a Nurse Outside the EU

For a nurse living outside the EU, a sensible pathway can look like this:

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Determine whether your nursing education and professional experience could meet Dutch requirements.

Step 2: Start learning Dutch

Aim for the required B1 level and prepare for an accepted examination. Don’t wait until you have received a job offer to begin learning Dutch.

Step 3: Start the BIG recognition process

Use the BIG-register’s foreign-diploma guidance to identify the procedure applicable to your qualification.

Step 4: Complete any required assessments

Non-EU nurses may have additional competency requirements, including the professional competence assessment.

Step 5: Search for suitable employers

Target hospitals, nursing organisations, home-care providers and other healthcare employers that recruit internationally trained nurses.

Step 6: Check sponsorship carefully

If an employer offers visa sponsorship, confirm which Dutch residence permit they will use and whether the employer is an IND-recognised sponsor where recognition is required.

Step 7: Complete the immigration process

Once you have an eligible employment contract and satisfy the immigration requirements, the employer can submit the relevant application to the IND.

Beware of Fake Nursing Recruitment Offers

Foreign healthcare professionals are sometimes targeted by fraudulent recruitment agencies.

Be cautious if a recruiter:

• Guarantees a Dutch nursing job without checking your qualifications.
• Promises immediate BIG registration.
• Says Dutch language skills are unnecessary for a patient-facing nursing position.
• Requests unusually large upfront payments.
• Refuses to provide the name and details of the actual Dutch employer.
• Claims that a tourist visa allows you to begin working as a nurse.
• Cannot explain which residence permit will be used.

Always verify the employer independently and check whether a claimed sponsor appears in the IND public register when applicable.

Final Thoughts

Nursing in the Netherlands can be an attractive career opportunity for qualified foreign nurses, but visa sponsorship is only one part of the process. Professional recognition and Dutch-language proficiency are equally important.

For most internationally trained nurses, the strongest approach is to prepare for Dutch at B1 level, begin the foreign-diploma recognition process, understand the BIG-registration requirements and then target employers experienced in international recruitment. If an employer offers sponsorship, verify the immigration route and salary requirements before accepting the offer.

The most important official resources are the Dutch BIG-register for professional recognition and registration and the IND for residence and sponsorship requirements. Their requirements can change, so applicants should always check the current rules before paying an agency or accepting a job offer.

Official resources: BIG-register — foreign diploma information and IND — Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit.