Following an inspection report from the Ministry of Security and Justice in 2017, the Ministry and the IND concluded that compliancy checks at recognized sponsors were not sufficiently executed nor enforced. The IND was not fully equipped to monitor immigration practices at recognized sponsors.

As a result of this report the Dutch Aliens Act was amended by the beginning of this year to equip the IND with better monitoring tools. The policy with regard to imposing fines and the withdrawal of the recognized sponsorship status has been amended in several respects.

Amongst others, the imposing of three fines within four years does no longer in all cases give cause to withdraw a company’s recognized sponsorship status. The new policy also gives the IND tools for a more differentiated interpretation with regard to the assessment of the severity and culpability of the violation in determining whether a fine must be imposed and subsequently the amount of this fine.

Over the last few months Expat Management Group has noticed an increase of checks on the company’s duty to notify related to their foreign workforce. If you have any questions concerning the mandatory notifications of your company to the IND do not hesitate to contact our immigration team.