To move from Nigeria to the Netherlands for work, you need a job offer from an IND recognised sponsor that pays at least €5,942 a month (or €4,357 under 30) in 2026. Your employer applies for the permit. Nigeria is not part of the Apostille Convention, so your NPC birth certificate is legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You collect the MVV at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos.
the route: a highly skilled migrant permit
For a skilled job, the usual route from Nigeria is the highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) permit. Two things decide whether it works: the employer must be on the IND register of recognised sponsors, and the salary must meet the 2026 threshold of €5,942 gross a month at 30 or older, €4,357 under 30, or €3,122 if you qualify for the reduced criterion (for example a Dutch degree in the last 3 years). Holiday allowance does not count. The employer applies for you; the IND fee is €423. The full process is in the highly skilled migrant guide.
documents from nigeria
Nigeria is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Nigerian documents must be legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Documents in English do not need translating.
- Birth certificate: only the original birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC), or a legalised photocopy of it, is accepted in the Netherlands.
- Births never registered: if you were born before 14 December 1992 and your birth was never registered, you need an age declaration instead. Netherlands Worldwide explains the conditions.
- Legalisation does not prove a document is genuine. The municipality or the IND may still decide to verify it, which can add time.
To register at your Dutch address you need your legalised birth certificate (with a translation if required), and for a partner or children, legalised marriage and birth certificates. Ask your municipality in advance which other documents it wants. Once legalised, birth and marriage certificates stay valid; how old they are does not matter.
timeline, step by step
| step | who | time limit or usual time |
|---|---|---|
| Legalise your birth certificate (and marriage and children's certificates) | you | Start several months before the application, the IND advises |
| Job offer and contract from a recognised sponsor | you and the employer | - |
| Application for MVV and residence permit (TEV) | the employer | IND target 2 weeks for a complete application; legal maximum 90 days; fee €423 |
| Collect the MVV visa sticker | you | Request the appointment by email within 3 months of the IND decision; scheduling up to 7 working days, passport back in up to 10 |
| Travel to the Netherlands | you | Within the MVV's 90-day validity |
| Register with the municipality, get your BSN | you | Within 5 days of arriving, in person |
| Collect your residence permit card at an IND desk | you | Book within 2 weeks of arriving |
| TB test at the GGD (required for nationals of Nigeria) | you | Within 3 months of receiving the permit |
| Dutch health insurance | you | Within 4 months; late cover is not backdated |
| DigiD (government login) | you | Apply after you have a BSN; the activation code is posted to your address |
where you collect the mvv
You can collect the MVV visa sticker at the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos, if that is the post named in your IND letter. Appointments are requested by email, as described on Netherlands Worldwide; include your V-number, your contact details and your employment start date. Scheduling can take up to 7 working days. You have 3 months from the IND's decision to apply, and getting your passport back can take up to 10 working days.
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months on the day of the appointment and have at least 2 empty pages. You give fingerprints, a photo and a signature at the appointment.
money: the 30% ruling
If you are recruited while living in Nigeria, you meet the 30% ruling's distance rule (more than 150 km from the Dutch border for more than 16 of the 24 months before you start). With a taxable salary above €48,013 in 2026 (€36,497 if you are under 30 with a qualifying master's), your employer can pay up to 30% of your salary tax-free. You and the employer apply to the Tax Administration within 4 months of your start date. Details in the 30% ruling guide.
pitfalls that cost people weeks
- Starting documents after the offer. You need the legalised birth certificate in your first week in the Netherlands, so start early.
- Applying to employers that cannot sponsor. For this permit only registered sponsors can apply. Check a company before you spend time on it; every employer on JobThing is already on the register.
- Paying for a job. The employer files the application, and the IND fee is paid when it is submitted. Be wary of anyone who asks you for money to get you a job or a visa: Dutch law generally forbids charging job seekers a fee for placement, and you can report fraud to the IND.
- Missing the TB test. Nationals of Nigeria are not on the IND's exemption list, so the test is required.
- Driving on your Nigerian licence too long. You may drive on it for the first 185 days after you move. It cannot normally be exchanged for a Dutch licence, except if the 30% ruling applies to you: then the RDW lets highly skilled migrants exchange a licence from any country.
sources
- Netherlands Worldwide: legalising documents from Nigeria
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
- Netherlands Worldwide: applying for an MVV in Nigeria
- IND: highly skilled migrant residence permit
- IND brochure: residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (PDF)
- IND: required amounts (income requirements) for 2026
- IND: fees, costs of an application (2026)
- IND: decision periods
- IND: nationalities exempt from the TB test, valid from 30 May 2025 (PDF)
- Government.nl: when to register with the Personal Records Database (BRP)
- Government.nl: when to take out health insurance after moving to the Netherlands
- DigiD: apply for a DigiD
- Belastingdienst: the 30% facility (expat scheme)
- RDW: driving with a foreign driving licence
- RDW: exchanging a foreign driving licence
- Waadi, article 3: no fee may be charged to job seekers for placement (Dutch)
- IND: report fraud or abuse
questions
Can I use an apostille on Nigerian documents in the Netherlands?
No. Nigeria is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Documents are legalised by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. English documents need no translation.
Which Nigerian birth certificate does the Netherlands accept?
Only the original birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC), or a legalised photocopy of it.
Where do I collect my MVV in Nigeria?
At the Dutch consulate-general in Lagos, by email appointment, within 3 months of the IND's positive decision.
Do I need a TB test if I move from Nigeria to the Netherlands?
Yes. Nigeria is not on the IND list of exempt nationalities, so you book a tuberculosis test at the GGD within 3 months of receiving your residence permit.
What salary do I need to move from Nigeria to the Netherlands for work?
For a highly skilled migrant permit in 2026: €5,942 gross a month at 30 or older, €4,357 under 30, or €3,122 under the reduced criterion for recent graduates. Holiday allowance does not count.
Can I exchange my driving licence in the Netherlands?
Normally not, but if the 30% ruling applies to you as a highly skilled migrant, the RDW lets you exchange a licence from any country. Otherwise you may drive on it for the first 185 days after moving.