The Dutch government has published a list of 30 countries whose citizens are permitted to work in the Netherlands without applying for a work permit. The exemption covers nationals of other European Economic Area (EEA) member states and Swiss citizens, according to information on the official Dutch government website.
Under the policy, Dutch nationals, EEA nationals, and Swiss nationals may work freely in the Netherlands. Citizens of all other countries must satisfy certain conditions before they can legally take up employment in the country.
Full List of 30 Countries Covered by the Exemption
The 30 countries included in the exemption are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
What This Means for Nationals Outside the EEA
Citizens from countries not on the list, including most African nations, are required to meet separate conditions before they can legally work in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has not detailed those conditions in the same section of its website, but they generally involve employers securing the appropriate work authorisation on behalf of prospective employees.
The Netherlands is a member of the EEA, which includes all 27 European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Switzerland, although not an EU or EEA member, has a separate bilateral agreement with the EU that grants its nationals similar freedoms across member states.
Related: Canada Lists Categories for Special Work Permits
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that the Canadian government released a list of 10 categories of foreign workers eligible for employer-specific work permits under special instructions in 2026. The categories include caregivers, seasonal agricultural workers, medical doctors, Francophone Mobility workers, and staff of foreign diplomatic missions, with some applicants requiring a job offer and an LMIA.
