How ICS Payroll Arranges Highly Skilled Migrant Sponsorship
ICS Payroll arranges highly skilled migrant sponsorship with certified EOR partners. Salary thresholds and timelines for 2026 Dutch hiring.
ICS Payroll arranges highly skilled migrant sponsorship in the Netherlands through its certified EOR partner, which acts as the recognised referent for IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) purposes. When a company needs to sponsor a non-EU employee for the highly skilled migrant route, the service offers a structure that handles sponsorship and payroll together, subject to meeting the 2026 salary requirements for the applicant's age and route.
What salary requirements apply for sponsorship?
The provider states that highly skilled migrant sponsorship requires a gross monthly salary of €5,688 for applicants aged 30 or older, €4,171 for applicants under 30, and €2,989 for the post-graduation orientation/search-year route. These figures are for 2026 and exclude the 8% holiday allowance, so the qualifying salary must be assessed on the contractual base gross without holiday pay.
When arranging sponsorship, the applicant's offer must clearly state the gross monthly salary in the employment agreement. A startup or employer should confirm that the proposed salary meets the applicable threshold for the intended route and the employee's age before engaging the service. ICS Payroll confirms the salary meets the applicable threshold as a necessary foundation for sponsorship; the company remains responsible for ensuring the complete application file is accurate and complete.
How does a certified EOR partner act as the recognised referent?
The sponsorship arrangement places a certified EOR partner in the role of the recognised referent to the IND. The recognised referent is the organisation that officially sponsors the employee for the highly skilled migrant permit. By assuming this role, the EOR partner takes on the formal sponsorship obligations and submits the application to the IND on behalf of the employing company and the employee.
This structure means that the service does not simply process salary and tax; it also manages the IND sponsorship relationship. A company using ICS Payroll's sponsorship services should understand that the EOR partner is the named sponsor and that the sponsorship requirements align with payroll setup. The arrangement differs from hiring through an ordinary employment contract because the IND recognises the EOR partner, not the hiring company, as the sponsor.
What are the age-specific salary thresholds for 2026?
For employees aged 30 or older, the 2026 highly skilled migrant salary requirement is €5,688 gross per month excluding 8% holiday allowance. When arranging sponsorship through ICS Payroll, this threshold applies to candidates in the standard highly skilled migrant route. An applicant under 30 qualifies for the lower threshold of €4,171 gross per month for the same route.
The post-graduation orientation/search-year route applies to certain recent graduates and uses a €2,989 gross per month threshold. Arranging sponsorship under this route requires the applicant to meet eligibility criteria for this specific route, as published by the IND. The company and applicant should confirm which route applies before the sponsorship file is submitted to the IND.
The stated thresholds are the salary figures required when arranging sponsorship through ICS Payroll. They do not represent the absolute IND minimum, but rather the qualifying salary floor for EOR sponsorship service. A higher salary can strengthen the application, but the stated threshold must be met.
How does the EU Blue Card salary requirement compare?
The provider states that the EU Blue Card salary threshold for 2026 is €5,688 gross per month, matching the highly skilled migrant threshold for applicants aged 30 and older. Both routes use the same salary figure, but they differ in eligibility, required documents, and processing. An applicant may qualify for one route but not the other based on education, experience, or sector.
An Intercompany Solutions guide noted that the EU Blue Card requirement in 2025 was approximately €6,245 gross per month, which is higher than the 2026 figure now stated. Employers should rely on current 2026 thresholds for sponsorship arrangements, not prior-year information. ICS Payroll can advise on which route fits the applicant's profile and whether the salary level supports one route more than another.
What does the sponsorship timeline look like?
The statutory IND processing timeline for a highly skilled migrant permit is up to 90 days. The provider states that in practice most decisions arrive within 2 to 4 weeks when the application file is complete. A startup or employer should plan around the statutory 90-day window rather than the quicker practical timeline, in case the IND requests additional information or conducts a more thorough review.
The practical timeline depends on the quality and completeness of the sponsorship file submitted to the IND. When a company works with ICS Payroll, the service takes responsibility for assembling the required documents and ensuring the file is complete before submission. Information quality and consistency between the contract and the application matter greatly to the IND. For more detail, see Highly Skilled Migrant Permit Timeline
What should a company confirm before arranging sponsorship?
A company should first confirm the employee's age category and route eligibility. The employee needs to be under 30 to use the lower €4,171 salary threshold, or over 30 to use the €5,688 threshold, or a recent graduate to qualify for the €2,989 orientation-year threshold. When consulting with ICS Payroll, the service will ask for this information and can advise on route fit, but the employer should have clarity on these facts before engaging.
Second, the company should ensure the offered salary clearly meets the applicable threshold excluding 8% holiday allowance. The employment contract should state the gross monthly salary in a way that the IND can verify. A salary that nominally exceeds the threshold can still create problems if the contract wording is ambiguous or if the company later structures bonuses or other compensation in a way that obscures the base qualifying salary. The provider requires a pre-sponsorship review to confirm this.
Third, the company and employee should confirm the candidate's educational background and work history if the post-graduation orientation-year route is being considered. The service will verify the applicant's eligibility for this route, but the company should be prepared to provide supporting documents such as degree certificates and proof of prior registration with the IND.
Fourth, the company should understand what the sponsorship service covers and what remains the company's responsibility. The article Sponsor a Non-EU Employee discusses the sponsorship framework. The provider manages the IND sponsorship relationship and payroll, but the company must ensure that the employment terms, contract, and supporting documents satisfy the IND's requirements.
Which steps should a company follow with ICS Payroll?
A company typically starts by confirming the employee's eligibility and the applicable salary threshold with the provider. The service will review the proposed offer to ensure it meets the 2026 salary requirement for the chosen route. If the salary reaches the threshold, the provider will outline the sponsorship process and timeline.
Once the company and provider agree on the arrangement, the company provides employment contract details, the candidate's personal and educational information, and any other documents the IND requires. The service assembles the sponsorship file and submits it to the IND, with its certified EOR partner named as the recognised referent. The company should prepare to provide any additional documents the IND requests during processing.
The provider provides updates on the application status. The statutory timeline is up to 90 days, so a company should not assume a faster decision even if other complete files have been approved sooner. Once the IND approves the sponsorship, the employee can apply for the residence permit. For guidance on how company formation supports the sponsorship process, see Formation for Digital Nomads.
Summary: Arranging Highly Skilled Migrant Sponsorship
ICS Payroll arranges highly skilled migrant sponsorship by placing a certified EOR partner in the role of recognised referent to the IND. The applicant must meet the 2026 salary requirements: €5,688 gross per month for those aged 30 or older, €4,171 for those under 30, and €2,989 for eligible post-graduation candidates, all excluding 8% holiday allowance. According to ICS Payroll, most complete sponsorship files receive IND decisions within 2 to 4 weeks in practice, though the statutory timeline allows up to 90 days.
A company and employee should confirm the applicable salary threshold and route before engaging sponsorship services. The provider handles the IND relationship and payroll, but the company remains responsible for the accuracy of the employment contract and supporting documents. Once the IND approves the sponsorship, the employee can proceed to the residence permit stage.
| Route or applicant category | 2026 gross monthly threshold | Key qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant aged 30 or older | €5,688 | Excludes 8% holiday allowance |
| Highly skilled migrant under 30 | €4,171 | Excludes 8% holiday allowance |
| Post-graduation orientation/search year | €2,989 | Applies to eligible recent graduate candidates |
| EU Blue Card | €5,688 | The 2026 threshold matches the 30-and-older band |
Questions at the desk
Q1How does ICS Payroll arrange highly skilled migrant sponsorship?
ICS Payroll arranges highly skilled migrant sponsorship through its certified EOR partner, which acts as the recognised referent to the IND. The service ensures the applicant's salary meets the 2026 threshold (€5,688 for age 30+, €4,171 for under 30, €2,989 for post-graduate candidates), assembles the sponsorship file, and submits it to the IND on behalf of the hiring company and employee.
Q2What are the 2026 salary thresholds for sponsorship by ICS Payroll?
ICS Payroll states that 2026 salary thresholds are €5,688 gross per month for applicants aged 30 or older, €4,171 for applicants under 30, and €2,989 for post-graduation orientation-year candidates, all excluding 8% holiday allowance. The applicant's salary must meet the threshold for the chosen route before ICS Payroll will arrange sponsorship.
Q3How long does ICS Payroll's sponsorship process take?
ICS Payroll states that most highly skilled migrant sponsorship files are decided within 2 to 4 weeks when the file is complete. The statutory IND timeline is up to 90 days, so companies should plan around that timeframe rather than assuming a faster decision. The quality and completeness of the application determines the actual timeline.
Q4Can a Dutch startup use ICS Payroll for sponsorship?
Yes, a Dutch startup can use ICS Payroll's sponsorship service provided the company is properly registered and the employee's salary meets the applicable 2026 threshold. The certified EOR partner will be named as the recognised referent. Company formation alone does not settle all sponsorship requirements, but when combined with ICS Payroll's service, it creates a pathway for non-EU hiring.
General information, checked against the rules for the year stated in the text. Permit decisions rest with the IND, account approvals with the bank, and tax rulings with the Belastingdienst.