When your new employee arrives in the Netherlands, arrange three things first: a valid right of residence via the highly skilled migrant route, registration with the municipality to obtain a BSN, and a workable starting base such as payroll and a bank account. This prevents delays in onboarding and helps you stay compliant from day one.
The exact order varies by municipality, nationality, and appointment availability, but you save time by planning the steps in parallel. This is especially true for Highly Skilled Migrants who want to start quickly and need to be able to arrange practical matters right away.
Below, for each question, you’ll find the first actions, the key nuances, and a practical checklist for the first week and the first month.
What should you arrange first when a new employee arrives in the Netherlands?
Immediately after arrival, arrange the basics that make living and working possible: schedule municipal registration for a BSN as soon as possible, ensure the residence document can be collected from the IND if applicable, and get payroll and banking set up. By organizing these three tracks at the same time, you prevent the start date, salary payment, or registration from getting stuck.
In practice, this works best if you prepare appointments and documents before arrival. Think of a rental contract or address declaration, an employment contract that aligns with the permit application, and a clear plan for the first working days.
- Days 1 to 3: check residence status and appointment options with the IND and the municipality
- Week 1: start the BSN process, prepare the bank account and salary payment
- Weeks 2 to 4: health insurance, stabilize housing, finalize tax and administration
How do you arrange municipal registration and a BSN for your employee?
You arrange municipal registration by making an appointment to register in the BRP at the residential address, after which the employee receives a BSN. Bring a valid passport and proof of address, such as a rental contract. Which step comes first varies by municipality and situation, so plan both as soon as possible after arrival.
Note that municipalities handle temporary addresses differently. The options for temporary registration vary widely by municipality, and not every business address qualifies. Always check this in advance with the municipality where you want to register.
- Make the appointment as soon as the residential address is confirmed
- Check exactly which documents the municipality requires
- Allow time for waiting periods, especially in larger cities
Without a BSN, many things become much more difficult: payroll administration, health insurance, banking, and sometimes even taking out a phone subscription.
Which immigration and work documents must be in order before someone starts?
Before someone starts, the correct right of residence via the highly skilled migrant scheme and the related employer and employee documentation must be in order. For Highly Skilled Migrants, the employer applies for a residence permit with the IND. After arrival, the employee collects the residence document from the IND if that is part of the procedure.
Whether someone can already enter the country while the procedure is ongoing depends on nationality. For non-MVV-required countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea, the situation differs from MVV-required nationalities. If an MVV is required, the employee must travel to the Netherlands within the MVV’s validity period and then collect the residence document.
Also check whether the employment conditions align with IND standards. As of 1 January 2026, three separate salary thresholds apply, depending on the category:
- Highly skilled migrant aged 30 and over: € 5,942
- Highly skilled migrant under 30: € 4,357
- Orientation year scheme: € 3,122
If you work with a recognized sponsor, take into account four obligations: the notification obligation, information obligation, record-keeping obligation, and duty of care. Depending on the setup, the employer is the recognized sponsor itself, or an external party is.
What do you need to arrange for payroll, banking, and taxes in the first week?
In the first week, you ensure that salary can be paid on time, that the employee can open a bank account, and that the basics for tax and payroll withholdings are correct. In practice, this means: setting up payroll administration, confirming a start date and salary components, and ensuring the employee has the correct identification and, where needed, has a BSN or will receive one quickly.
Banks apply different requirements for opening an account. It often helps if the employee can show a residential address, passport, and sometimes a BSN. If a BSN is not yet in place, the bank may request additional steps or finalize the application later.
- Record salary agreements: gross salary, holiday allowance, any fixed allowances
- Check whether the salary agreement fits the correct IND category
- Make a plan for the bank account: which bank, which documents, which lead time
- Set up payroll withholdings and the personnel file properly, so you can respond to audits and questions
For taxes: avoid assumptions. The personal situation, residence status, and start date determine what exactly you need to record and when.
Which practical matters prevent problems in the first month?
In the first month, you prevent most problems by stabilizing housing, arranging health insurance on time, and making all registrations and contracts consistent. Anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must, in principle, take out Dutch health insurance within four months. In addition, a tight onboarding plan helps prevent misunderstandings about appointments, documents, and deadlines.
These practical points often cause the most friction if you address them too late:
- Housing: ensure an address that works for municipal registration and receiving mail
- Health insurance: start the process early, especially if the BSN or registration is still in progress
- Phone and internet: contracts often require an address and identification
- Work arrangements: clearly set out working hours, hybrid policy, travel expenses, and leave
- Document consistency: the same spelling of the name and date of birth on the contract, IND documents, and municipal registration
Also create a single overview of all appointments and deadlines. This helps your employee take steps independently and prevents HR from having to constantly make ad hoc adjustments.
How All About Expats helps with the first essentials upon arrival in the Netherlands
We help you plan the first essentials for Highly Skilled Migrants tightly and carry them out compliantly, so the employee can start quickly without surprises with the IND, the municipality, or payroll. We combine immigration expertise with practical execution, including guidance on recognized sponsorship, employer responsibilities, and relocation steps that directly impact the first week and month.
If you’d like to align which steps should happen first in your situation and what you can prepare in advance, please get in touch via contact us.
For employers who want to organize or outsource the highly skilled migrant procedure, you can find the options at immigration for employers.
