Guide to temporary entry into the Netherlands under CETA
On this page
- Short-term business visitors
- Business visitors for investment purposes
- Investors
- Contractual service suppliers
- Independent professionals
- Intra-corporate transferees
This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to the Netherlands to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for business people under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and under Dutch law. This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into the Netherlands for the purposes of exploring, entering and expanding operations in the Dutch market. You will find relevant links and summaries of main steps for work permit and visa applications, including costs and lengths, for the categories of business people covered in CETA.
CETA entered into force provisionally in 2017, which means that the Netherlands is bound by the Temporary Entry Chapter. However, there are still significant differences between CETA requirements and the national Dutch laws regulating temporary entry. As such, some of the paths for entry identified in this guide do not fully overlap with the categories of business people covered in CETA.
For any questions regarding the Netherlands's temporary entry commitments under CETA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca
Before you travel:
This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of the CETA or Dutch law. Always verify information using the text of the Agreement and official government sources of the country you wish to do business in. You may also seek advice from licensed or authorised individuals like an immigration lawyer or immigration consultant.
Familiarize yourself with the European Union Immigration Portal and Canada’s travel advisory for the Netherlands before your business travel.
Short-term business visitor
Do I qualify as a short-term business visitor under CETA?
Under CETA, a short-term business visitor is a Canadian traveling to the Netherlands and for one of the following activities:
- trade fairs and exhibitions
- after sales or after lease service
The detailed list of activities can be found under the Annex 10-D of CETA. No application process is required as these are work permit exempted activities. For more information, consult the requirements for a short-term stay in the Netherlands.
A short-term business visitor cannot:
- sell a good or service to the general public
- receive from a source located in the Netherlands
- provide any other service to a consumer in the Netherlands that is not listed under activities of a business visitor
Canadian short-term business visitors can stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as a short-term business visitor?
Under CETA, an eligible short-term business visitor does not need a work permit, but may need a visa.
Under Dutch law, Canadian short-term business visitors do not need a Schengen C visa to enter the Netherlands. You are entitled to stay within any country of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Canadian companies can also send non-Canadian nationals locally hired in Canada for short-term business travel in the Netherlands. In this case, a Schengen C visa may be required, if the short-term business visitor is not a national of Canada or another a visa exempt country. They must file their application for Schengen C visas with the relevant Dutch Consulate/Embassy. The processing time is approximately 2 weeks.
Related links
No application process is required as these are work permit exempted . For more information, please refer to the short stay, holiday or business visa webpage from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization service.
If you have encountered problems entering the Netherlands as a short-term business visitor, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Business visitor for investment purposes
Please note: The business visitors for investment purposes category is covered under CETA, but does not exist under Dutch law. If you have encountered problems entering the Netherlands as a business visitor for investment purposes, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Do I qualify as a business visitor for investment purposes under CETA?
Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes is a Canadian manager or specialist responsible for setting up an enterprise in the Netherlands.
A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes cannot:
- work directly with the general public in the Netherlands
- receive compensation from a source located within the Netherlands
Under CETA, Canadian business visitors for investment purposes can stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Do I need a work permit or visa as a business visitor for investment purposes?
This category does not exist under Dutch law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes. A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes may qualify under the short-term business visitor category under Dutch law. If you have encountered problems entering the Netherlands as an investor, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Investor
The investor category is not covered under the Netherlands’ CETA commitments but does exist under its domestic regime. If you have encountered problems entering the Netherlands as an investor, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Contractual services supplier
Do I qualify as a contractual service supplier under CETA?
Under CETA, a contractual services supplier is a Canadian service supplier employed by an enterprise in Canada with a contract to provide a service to a consumer in the Netherlands in an eligible service sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.
A Canadian contractual service supplier must also:
- have provided services as an employee of the contracted Canadian enterprise for at least 1 year before the date of their application for entry into the Netherlands
- have a university degree or an equivalent qualification
- have at least 3 years of professional experience since the age of 18 in the sector of the contracted activity
- have any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in the Netherlands
A Canadian contractual service supplier cannot get paid for their services during their stay in the Netherlands other than what is paid to them by their Canadian employers.
The Canadian enterprise that employs a Canadian contractual service supplier cannot have any establishment in the Netherlands.
Fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the Canadian contractual service supplier in the Netherlands.
Under CETA, a Canadian contractual services supplier can stay in the Netherlands for up to 12 months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. Extensions are possible at the discretion of Dutch officials.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as a contractual service supplier?
Under CETA, a contractual service supplier may need a work permit and a visa, and for some occupations, an economic needs test may apply.
Under Dutch law, there is no specific work permit options for a Canadian contractual service supplier. However, a Canadian contractual service suppliers aiming to deliver services in the Netherlands should obtain a single permit and visa or in some cases a work permit, residence card and visa. To determine which route is most appropriate for your needs, please consult the Immigration and Naturalization Department of the Netherlands' Single Permit webpage.
How do I apply for a Single Permit?
Step 1: Confirm you meet the requirements of the Single Permit scheme
Step 2: Collect the required documents for the Single Permit, including translations if necessary
Step 3: Apply online to the IND
Step 4: Pay for the application
Step 5: Wait for a decision via letter
Step 6: If approved, make an appointment to collect your Single Permit from an IND office
How much will it cost for a Single Permit?
The Single Permit application costs EUR 350.00.
How long will it take to process a Single Permit?
Typically, the IND will issue a decision within 90 days, you may be contacted by the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).
Independent professional
Please note: the independent professional category is covered in CETA but does not exist under Dutch law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for Canadian independent professionals seeking temporary entry into the Netherlands. If you have encountered problems entering the Netherlands as an independent professional, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Do I qualify as an independent professional under CETA?
Under CETA, an independent professional is a self-employed Canadian service supplier with a contract to supply a service to a consumer in the Netherlands in an eligible sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.
A Canadian independent professional must have:
- at least 6 years of professional experience in the sector of the contracted activity at the date they apply for entry
- a university degree or equivalent qualification
- any professional qualifications required to practice the activity, according to the laws or requirements in the Netherlands
Other requirements:
- a Canadian independent professional must not have established an enterprise in the Netherlands
- fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the independent professional in the Netherlands
Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional can stay in the Netherlands for a total period up to 12 months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. Extensions are possible at the discretion of Dutch officials.
Do I need a work permit or visa as an independent professional?
Currently, there are no specific application procedures in place for Canadian independent professionals who are aiming to service a Dutch client temporarily without establishing a company in the Netherlands. For more information consult the EU Immigration Portal for the Netherlands.
Intra-corporate transferee
Do I qualify as an intra-corporate transferee under CETA?
Under CETA, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are senior personnel, specialists, or graduate trainees at a Canadian enterprise who are being temporarily transferred to a subsidiary, branch, or head company of the Canadian enterprise in the Netherlands.
Senior personnel are Canadian business people in a senior position within an enterprise who:
- primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a department or sub-division of the enterprise
- make a wide range of decisions, including recruitment, promotions and dismissals
- receive only general supervision or direction principally from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the business or their equivalent or supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations
Specialists are Canadian business people who have:
- uncommon knowledge of the enterprise's products or services and its application in international markets, or
- an advanced level of expertise or knowledge of the enterprise's processes and procedures such as its production, research equipment, techniques, or management
In assessing such expertise or knowledge, the Netherlands's officials will consider abilities that are unusual and different from those generally found in a particular industry and that cannot be easily transferred to another business person in the short-term. These abilities are obtained through specific academic qualifications or extensive experience with the enterprise.
Graduate trainees are Canadian business people who:
- have a university degree
- are being temporarily transferred to an enterprise in the Netherlands for career development purposes, or to obtain training in business techniques or methods
The training delivered to a graduate trainee must be linked to their university degree.
Canadian companies can transfer highly skilled managers, specialists and graduate trainees to an entity in the Netherlands belonging to the same group by obtaining an EU Intra-Corporate Transferees permit for their employees. This permit also grants the employees the right to work at a client site as well.
Under CETA, Canadian managers and specialists can stay in the Netherlands for whichever is shorter, 3 years or the length of the contract.
Canadian graduate trainees can stay in the Netherlands for whichever is shorter, 1 year or the length of the contract.
Do I need a work permit or visa as an intra-corporate transferee?
Under CETA, you may need a work permit and a visa. Under Dutch law, the main route for intra-corporate transfers to the Netherlands is the Single Permit scheme. This scheme is available to Canadians placed on a local Dutch employment contract or on a long-term assignment to the Netherlands.
How do I apply for a Single Permit?
Step 1: Confirm you meet the requirements of the Single Permit scheme
Step 2: Collect the required documents for the Single Permit, including translations if necessary
Step 3: Apply online to the IND
Step 4: Pay for the application
Step 5: Wait for a decision via letter
Step 6: If approved, make an appointment to collect your Single Permit from an IND office
How much will it cost for a Single Permit?
The application costs EUR 350.00.
How long will it take to process a Single Permit?
Typically, the IND will issue a decision within 90 days, you may be contacted by the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).
Consult the Single Permit scheme for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.
What if I am a business person from a category that is not covered?
Entry into the Netherlands for Canadian business people not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CETA is subject to the Netherlands's acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
To explore other paths for entry into the Netherlands, please consult the EU Immigration Portal for the Netherlands or the Immigration to the Netherlands webpage of the Government of the Netherlands website.
Disclaimer: The information contained herein is current as of July 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.
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