Directive (EU) 2016/801: Short-term mobility of researchers

Directive (EU) 2016/801 provides that researchers from outside the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can carry out their research in several EU countries. This is called intra-EU-mobility. Researchers choose a first EU Member State where they are going to carry out research. Afterwards the researcher can carry out parts of the research in one or more other EU countries.

There are 2 forms of intra-EU mobility for researchers.

1. Short-term mobility: the researcher comes to the Netherlands to carry out research for a maximum of 180 days out of a 360-day period. No residence permit is required for short-term mobility. Your residence permit in the other country is also valid in the Netherlands. 
2. Long-term mobility: the researcher will come to carry out research in the Netherlands for more than 180 days. A residence permit is required for long-term mobility. Find out more on the web page Residence permit researcher (Directive (EU) 2016/801).

Family members of researchers

Do your family members in the other EU country have residence permits to live with you? Then they can come along with you to the Netherlands. Your family members do not need Dutch residence permits either. The residence permit from the other EU country must remain valid during the whole period. You must notify the IND yourself of the arrival of your family members with a notification.
 

The following requirements apply to short-term mobility for researchers:

• You have a valid residence permit for the purpose of research under Directive (EU) 2016/801 in a different EU country, except for Ireland en Denmark.
• You are coming to the Netherlands for a maximum of 180 days out of a period of 360 days. Your residence permit from the other EU country will remain valid during your stay in the Netherlands. 
• You are going to carry out research at a research institution in the Netherlands. This research institution is recognised by the IND as sponsor. A recognised sponsor is listed in the Public Register Recognised Sponsors.
• You have a host agreement with the Dutch research institution. The host agreement contains the following information:
  • the title or purpose of the research;
  • a statement that you will try to carry out all of the research;
  • a statement that the research institution will receive you for the purpose of completing the research;
  • the start and end dates of the research, or the estimated duration of the research;
  • information about the research that you are going to carry out in other EU countries, if this information is known;
  • the legal relationship between you and your employer, for example an employment contract; and
  • your terms and conditions of employment. 
• You will earn sufficient income. Will you not receive a salary from your Dutch employer? Then you must have different income. For example a scholarship, grant or money from a sponsor. Or you must have sufficient money in your bank account for the time you are in the Netherlands.
• There are no reasons to assume that you want to live in the Netherlands for a purpose other than to carry out research.
• You are not a danger to the public order or national security.

You are allowed to work during short-term intra-EU mobility without a work permit (TWV). But you must still meet the short-term mobility requirements. Your family members are not allowed to work in the Netherlands.

You can carry out research in the Netherlands for a maximum of 180 days out of a period of 360 days. Your residence permit for the purpose of research in the other EU country must be valid during your stay in the Netherlands.

• Living in the Netherlands
• Researcher Directive (EU) 2016/801
• Recognition as sponsor

Laws and rules

• Directive (EU) 2016/801
• Article 3.3(4) Aliens Decree 2000 (only available in Dutch)
• B6/2.4 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines 2000 (only available in Dutch)

Responsible organisation

Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

Questions?​

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