In 2022, the Netherlands received 204 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), 19% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 47% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 16% labour migrants, 22% family members (including accompanying family) and 15% humanitarian migrants. Around 23 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 3 300 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 173 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2022, a 13% increase compared to 2021. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Ukraine, Poland and Syria were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Ukraine registered the strongest increase (103 000) and Germany the largest decrease (‑600) in flows to the Netherlands compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 8%, to reach around 38 000. The majority of applicants came from Syria (13 000), Türkiye (2 900) and Eritrea (2 300). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Eritrea (1 000) and the largest decrease nationals of Afghanistan (‑2 100). Of the 18 000 decisions taken in 2023, 81% were positive.
Emigration of Dutch citizens to OECD countries increased by 5% in 2022, to 43 000. Approximately 20% of this group migrated to Spain, 19% to Belgium and 13% to Germany.
The government has initiated various measures to better protect migrant workers from the risk of exploitation. A draft law to regulate the mandatory certification of employment agencies is due to enter into force in 2026. To check that migrants are living in safe conditions, since October 2022 all labour migrants who register as a non-resident can also opt to have their address and other contact details entered in the Personal Records Database. As of 2023, this data is provided to authorised users and municipalities.
The Good Landlordship Act, which came into effect on 1 July 2023 aims at combatting undesirable practices in renting, such as discrimination. Specific rules for renters and renting agencies apply for the protection of labour migrants. One such rule is the separation of labour and rental contracts.
In 2023 the government prepared legislation to control the inflow of international students. The number of international students tripled from 2005 to 2022, to 115 000, comprising 40% of university enrolment. In November 2023, the Minister of Education requested that institutions for higher education develop a plan to meet government concerns, in anticipation of legislation. In 2024, the group of government-funded universities and universities of applied sciences released their lists of measures, reducing intake of international students, English-language programmes, and improving Dutch language proficiency. Another plan, the National Action Plan for Student Housing, came into force in 2022 and aims to combat the student housing shortage by 2030. The plan includes the creation of more support for international students, for instance through increased transparency regarding rents charged for student accommodation.
Since 2019 the tax relief measure which applies to highly skilled migrants has been adjusted. The five‑year exemption from taxation on 30% of salary was capped at EUR 223 000 (adjusted annually) and the exemption rate set to decline over the course of five years. From 2024 onwards the tax relief measure will be limited to 30% of the salary in the first 20 months, 20% in the second 20 months and 10% in the last 20 months.
The decision period in the asylum procedure has been extended at the end of August 2022 from 6 to 15 months. The problem of acute shortages of reception facilities for asylum seekers and housing for asylum migrants with a residence permit continues. In order to ensure sufficient reception capacity, Parliament adopted the Distribution Act in October 2023 and the Senate voted in favour in early 2024. In July 2023, the Rutte IV coalition cabinet resigned due to mutual disagreements about reducing asylum applications in the Netherlands in order to solve the capacity problem with regard to the reception of migrants seeking asylum.
In October 2023 regulations for school boards in primary and secondary education, that could impede schools from organising sufficient educational capacity for migrant children, were relaxed (Temporary Newcomer Facilities Act). Conditions for access to citizenship have been relaxed for stateless children born in the Netherlands in an amendment to the Dutch Nationality Act.
For further information: www.government.nl.
