The Port of Rotterdam and Europe’s wider freight network make the Netherlands an important base for commercial trucking. Dutch carriers may recruit overseas, but non-EU applicants have to clear two distinct barriers: permission to work and the qualifications needed to drive commercially. Neither automatically provides the other. This 2026 guide sets out the GVVA permit process, Code 95 and pay considerations.
JOB DETAILS
See if you qualify
Three quick questions. This is a self-check, not an application, and no employer receives your answers.
This is an informational self-check only. It does not confirm job eligibility, immigration status, or an offer of employment. Always verify requirements with the employer and official sources.
Documents and next steps
Check the original job listing and prepare the documents the employer requests, such as experience letters, education records and any required language results.
Two questions you must answer
A Dutch job offer cannot be assessed on the immigration permission alone. Before professional truck driving is possible, applicants need two separate authorisations and qualifications to be in place:
- Are you allowed to work?: Work and residence permission from the Dutch authorities
- Are you allowed to drive professionally?: A recognised licence, Code 95, a tachograph card and medical fitness
A work permit will not make you a qualified driver, and a licence will not give you the right to work. An employer needs to confirm both before you can start.
Dutch work permits for non-EU drivers
The official Dutch government guidance sets out two main permissions.
- GVVA (single permit): What it is: Combined work and residence permit; When it applies: Non-EEA nationals working for more than three months.
- TWV: What it is: Work permit applied for by the employer; When it applies: Generally shorter periods of work, up to 90 days.
A work permit or combined permit is typically issued only after an employer shows that it could not find a suitable candidate within the Netherlands and the wider EU. This labour market test is a significant barrier. With a large pool of drivers across Europe, an employer has to demonstrate that it genuinely needs someone from further away.
What you need to drive professionally
- A category C or C+E licence that is valid and recognised in the Netherlands
- Driver CPC, shown as Code 95
- A digital tachograph driver card
- A valid medical certificate
- ADR certification, if you carry dangerous goods
An International Driving Permit is only a translation of your national licence, and it does not give you an entitlement to drive trucks professionally.
Understanding the driver attestation
A driver attestation is a document for non-EU drivers carrying goods internationally for an EU operator. It is issued to the employer, and shows that the driver is lawfully employed. In the Netherlands, the transport body NIWO deals with it. Without an attestation where one is required, a driver can be in serious trouble during a roadside check, and so can the employer.
The practical order matters. NIWO guidance for one group of foreign drivers shows that you first obtain your Code 95 and find an employer, and then the attestation can follow.
What jobs are available
- International C+E driver: Typical work: Cross-border routes with days away; Main requirements: C+E, Code 95, card, experience.
- Distribution driver: Typical work: Regional and national deliveries; Main requirements: C or C+E, Code 95, card.
- Container driver: Typical work: Trips to and from ports; Main requirements: C+E, Code 95, sometimes port training.
- Tanker driver: Typical work: Bulk liquids and chemicals; Main requirements: C+E, ADR, site training.
Pay and conditions
Dutch employers must meet Dutch legal requirements, and for many roles the transport collective agreement sets out pay scales. Instead of relying on a monthly figure from a recruitment website, ask for a written breakdown:
- Basic gross wage and pay scale
- Overtime and night rates
- Daily allowances for overnight trips
- Deductions for housing or transport
- Holiday pay
Be especially careful about jobs where a driver is registered in one country but works mainly in another. EU road transport rules, including those under the Mobility Package, have tried to limit this kind of arrangement, and your real employer and place of work have to match your permit.
Your employer’s role
For a driver coming from outside the EU, the employer normally starts and supports the permit process. It provides the contract and evidence, and it cannot put you to work until authorization is granted. A company that asks you to manage everything yourself, or that tells you to come first and “sort it out later”, is giving you a warning sign.
A Schengen visa is not a work permit
A Schengen short-stay visa is for visits. It does not permit you to work as a truck driver in the Netherlands, or anywhere else in the Schengen area. Agents who suggest entering on a tourist visa and starting work put you at risk of being removed and banned.
Steps to follow
- Check how your licence is treated in the Netherlands.
- Find out what you must do to obtain Code 95.
- Gather proof of your professional experience.
- Look for employers with experience of hiring non-EU drivers.
- Ask how they will satisfy the labour market requirements.
- Get a written contract that sets out your pay.
- Wait for your permit before you travel.
- Complete your registration, licence and driver card steps.
Could another EU country be easier?
Many non-EU drivers start in a country such as Poland, where well-established employer-led routes exist, and obtain EU qualifications there. However, a permit issued in one EU country does not automatically let you live and work for an employer in another. When someone suggests this as a shortcut to Dutch employment, ask exactly which legal route will apply.
Language and everyday work
English is widely spoken in the Netherlands, and international transport companies frequently use it. You will still benefit from some Dutch, along with German if you regularly drive there. You need enough language to understand loading instructions, safety rules and police checks. Ports and warehouses may have their own induction requirements.
Family and long-term residence
Family reunification for residence permit holders is subject to income and accommodation requirements. Long-term residence typically takes years of continuous lawful stay. Check the current requirements with the IND, the Dutch immigration service, because the conditions depend on your particular permit.
Warning signs
- You are asked to pay a fee to get a Dutch job
- The employer cannot explain the labour market test
- You are told that a Code 95 is unnecessary
- Your contract is with a company in a different country than expected
- You are told to travel on a tourist visa
Where to look
- Dutch transport company websites
- Transport-sector recruitment agencies with verifiable offices
- Government.nl guidance on permits
- EURES, the European job mobility portal
Getting Code 95 as a non-EU driver
Code 95 proves that you have completed the professional training that the EU requires of commercial drivers. If you already hold it through an EU or EEA country, the Netherlands accepts it. If you don’t, you normally need to complete the initial qualification, and the route to this varies. The Dutch licensing body CBR manages examinations, and the RDW is the place to go for licences and qualification cards. Course and exam language can be a serious issue, so ask about this first.
After Code 95 comes the driver card for the digital tachograph, which the Dutch system issues through Kiwa. NIWO guidance lists a proof of residence, a valid licence of the right category, the certificate of competence and the driver qualification card among the items that drivers may need. You should expect several separate applications, each with its own fee and waiting time.
Questions to ask a Dutch employer
- Have you previously hired drivers from outside the EU?
- How will you meet the labour market requirements?
- Will I be employed by a Dutch company, or one in another country?
- Which collective agreement applies, and what is my pay scale?
- Who pays for Code 95, the licence exchange and the driver card?
- Will you obtain the driver attestation?
- Where will I live, and how much will I pay for housing?
- How often will I return home, and where will I take weekly rest?
Get the answers in writing. Some operators pay for training in exchange for a contract that makes you repay the cost if you leave early, so read this clause carefully before signing.
Rest rules and life on the road
EU rules limit driving time and require regular rest. Regular weekly rest typically cannot be taken in the cab, and the Mobility Package has given drivers additional protections, including rules about returning home at regular intervals. Your tachograph records your activity, and inspectors can check it at the roadside. Know these rules yourself, because a driver can be fined personally along with the company.
Our assessment
Dutch employers may need truck drivers, yet the labour market test and professional licensing conditions can make entry difficult for non-EU applicants. Existing EU residence or qualifications may improve the picture. Compare the Netherlands with other routes before paying for a move.
Frequently asked questions
Which permit do I need to work for more than three months?
Non-EEA nationals typically need a GVVA, the combined work and residence permit.
Who applies for the permit?
Government guidance says workers can apply for a GVVA themselves, but in practice the employer is central to the process, and a TWV must be applied for by the employer.
Is Code 95 mandatory?
Yes, for professional drivers in scope of the EU rules.
Can I use an International Driving Permit?
It does not give you a professional truck driving entitlement.
What is a driver attestation?
A document required for non-EU drivers on international haulage with EU operators, obtained through the employer.