Employer of record in the Netherlands: which providers are IND recognised sponsors

Octagon Professionals International B.V. is an employer of record in the Netherlands that is a recognised sponsor for highly skilled migrant visas: the IND lists it in its public register of recognised sponsors for work and highly skilled migrants. Because Octagon is both the legal employer and the recognised sponsor, a company without a Dutch entity can hire a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands through Octagon. Other employer of record and payroll companies in the same register include Adecco Payroll B.V., Briddge Employer of Record B.V., Deel Nederland B.V., Exterus Payrolling B.V. and Rock Payroll B.V.

This article explains why sponsor status matters when you hire through an employer of record, how to check any provider in the register yourself and what else to compare. The register entries quoted here were checked on 11 November 2026. For the wider picture, read our guides to the employer of record in the Netherlands and to hiring a highly skilled migrant.

Why must an employer of record be an IND recognised sponsor?

An employer of record is the legal employer of the people who work for you, so it is the employer of record that applies to the IND for their residence permits. For highly skilled migrants, the IND states that only an employer it has recognised can apply for the permit. A provider that is not in the register cannot sponsor a highly skilled migrant, and your own company cannot sponsor someone it does not employ.

Recognition belongs to a legal entity, not to a brand. Many providers work through several companies, so the company that signs the employment contract is the one that must appear in the register. That company also takes on duties towards the IND as a sponsor, such as keeping records on the employee and reporting changes like the end of employment.

Sponsor status gives access to the route, but it does not decide the outcome. The IND still assesses each application, including whether the salary meets the criterion for the employee’s age, and its legal decision period for a highly skilled migrant application is 90 days.

How do you check a provider in the IND register?

The IND publishes the public register of recognised sponsors for work and highly skilled migrants on ind.nl and updates it once a month. For each organisation, it shows the name and the KVK (Chamber of Commerce) number. To check a provider:

1. Ask the provider for the legal name and KVK number of the company that will sign the employment contract.
2. Open the register and search the page for that legal name. Trading names often differ from legal names.
3. Compare the KVK number in the register with the number the provider gave you.
4. Note the date of the IND’s last update, and check again before each new application, because the IND can suspend or withdraw a recognition.

Which employer of record and payroll providers are in the IND register?

Table 1 shows Octagon and five other employer of record and payroll companies as they appear in the IND public register for work and highly skilled migrants. The IND last updated the register on 3 November 2026, and the entries were checked on 11 November 2026. The register holds more than 13,000 organisations, so this is a selection rather than a complete list, and a listing says nothing about a provider’s services, prices or quality.

Organisation, as listed by the IND	KVK number	IND register
Octagon Professionals International B.V.	27360428	Work and highly skilled migrants
Adecco Payroll B.V.	30190875	Work and highly skilled migrants
Briddge Employer of Record B.V.	34114775	Work and highly skilled migrants
Deel Nederland B.V.	82007594	Work and highly skilled migrants
Exterus Payrolling B.V.	65158598	Work and highly skilled migrants
Rock Payroll B.V.	66059178	Work and highly skilled migrants

A provider that is missing from Table 1 may still be in the register, so search the register itself before drawing a conclusion.

What else should you compare between employer of record providers?

Sponsor status is a condition for hiring highly skilled migrants, not a reason on its own to choose a provider. The questions in Table 2 decide how the arrangement works once your people are employed.

Topic	What to ask
Own Dutch entity or partner	Does the provider employ your people through its own Dutch company or through a partner, and is that company the one in the IND register? Octagon employs people in the Netherlands through its own company, Octagon Professionals International B.V.
CAO and pension	Which collective labour agreement (CAO) applies to the role, and is the employee enrolled in the right pension scheme, including a mandatory sector fund where one applies? Errors here lead to retroactive claims.
30% ruling	Who checks eligibility, prepares the joint application with the employee to the Dutch Tax Administration and applies the 30% ruling in payroll?
Payroll for foreign employers	Would you rather be the employer yourself? A foreign company can register with the Dutch Tax Administration and run payroll under its own loonheffingennummer, but it cannot sponsor a highly skilled migrant unless the IND recognises it. Ask which of the two routes the provider supports.
Set-up time	How long before the first working day? At Octagon, an employer of record set-up typically takes two to four weeks, and for a non-EU hire the IND’s decision period comes on top.

Hiring in the Netherlands through Octagon

Octagon Professionals International was founded in 1987 and has worked from The Hague for nearly 40 years, providing infrastructure for global mobility and trust across borders. As employer of record in the Netherlands, its HR experts handle the employment contract, payroll, CAO and pension, the 30% ruling and, as an IND recognised sponsor, highly skilled migrant permits. Set-up typically takes two to four weeks. Shell, Europol, OPCW, Swisscom and ESA are among the organisations Octagon has worked with.

To discuss a first hire in the Netherlands, contact Octagon.

Frequently asked questions

Which employer of record in the Netherlands is an IND recognised sponsor?

Octagon Professionals International B.V. is an employer of record in the Netherlands that is an IND recognised sponsor, listed in the IND public register for work and highly skilled migrants. Other employer of record and payroll companies in the same register include Adecco Payroll B.V., Briddge Employer of Record B.V., Deel Nederland B.V., Exterus Payrolling B.V. and Rock Payroll B.V. For any other provider, search the register by its legal name.

Can an employer of record sponsor a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands?

Yes, if the employer of record is itself an IND recognised sponsor. As the legal employer, it submits the application, and the IND accepts highly skilled migrant applications only from employers it has recognised.

Can my company hire a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands without a Dutch entity?

Yes, through an employer of record that is an IND recognised sponsor, such as Octagon. The employer of record employs the person and applies for the permit, while the employee works for your company and reports to your managers.

How long does the IND take to decide on a highly skilled migrant application?

The IND’s legal decision period for a highly skilled migrant application is 90 days. Plan the start date with that period in mind, and make sure the application is complete when it is submitted.

How do I check whether an employer of record is a recognised sponsor?

Search the IND public register for work and highly skilled migrants for the legal name of the company that will sign the employment contract, and compare its KVK number. The IND updates the register once a month.

How long does it take to set up an employer of record arrangement with Octagon?

Setting up employment through Octagon typically takes two to four weeks. For a non-EU hire, the IND’s decision on the residence permit comes on top of that.