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IND Public Sponsor Register

Also known as: Openbaar Register Erkende Referenten, Recognised Sponsor Register

Immigration & VisasLast reviewed: 13 Apr 2026

The IND Public Sponsor Register lists all Dutch organisations approved as recognised sponsors for work, study, research, au-pair, and exchange residence permits.

Quick Answer

Quick Answer

The IND Public Sponsor Register lists all Dutch organisations approved as recognised sponsors for work, study, research, au-pair, and exchange residence permits.

The Public Sponsor Register, maintained by the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND), is the official list of all organisations recognised as sponsors under the Modern Migration Policy Act. It is published online and updated continuously so that workers, students, and researchers can verify whether a prospective employer or institution holds valid sponsor status.

The register is organised by residence purpose. Separate lists cover highly skilled migrants and researchers, intra-corporate transferees, au-pairs and exchange visitors, and educational institutions. Each entry includes the legal name of the sponsor, its statutory seat, and the date of recognition. Sponsors can also appear under multiple categories if they hold recognition for more than one purpose.

Checking the register is an important due-diligence step for candidates considering a move to the Netherlands. Only employment with a recognised sponsor grants access to the highly skilled migrant scheme and its accelerated processing times. Candidates should also confirm the sponsor's category matches the intended residence purpose.

Sources

Related terms

HSM Visa · Recognised Sponsor · VVR · IND · GVVA · Orientation Year

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