How to Hire Truck Drivers from Abroad in the Netherlands (2026)

7 min

Road freight transport is a cornerstone of the Dutch economy. Distribution hubs in Venlo, Moerdijk, Tilburg, and Schiphol, alongside the Port of Rotterdam, keep goods moving across Europe. However, Dutch hauliers face a chronic shortage of qualified heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers holding C and CE licenses. While recruiting within the EU remains the first choice, severe shortages across Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria mean many Dutch fleet operators now consider hiring non-EU drivers directly.

Hiring a driver from outside the EU/EEA is legally complex and strictly controlled in the Netherlands. It requires navigating immigration channels, qualification conversions, and mandatory driver attestations. This guide breaks down the real process, costs, and timeline so you can decide if importing drivers directly fits your operational reality.

Is there a real shortage, and is non-EU hiring the right route?

The shortage of C and CE drivers in the Netherlands is structural. Ageing workforce demographics and low intake at vocational schools mean thousands of driving positions remain open across the country. Regional logistics clusters in Noord-Brabant, Limburg, and Zuid-Holland are hit particularly hard. Peak demand occurs during the pre-holiday shipping season between September and December, but basic freight capacity is stretched year-round.

Despite this shortage, direct non-EU hiring into the Netherlands is not a quick fix. Dutch labour rules require employers to prove that no suitable Dutch or EU/EEA candidate is available before hiring from outside Europe. Furthermore, foreign driving credentials cannot simply be converted into a Dutch C/CE licence with Code 95 qualification overnight. Before embarking on non-EU recruitment, Dutch employers must recognise that this pathway requires significant administrative effort, upfront investment, and a preparation lead time of several months.

The legal route: IND, UWV, and driver qualifications

To bring a non-EU driver to the Netherlands on a Dutch employment contract, you must apply for a Combined Residence and Work Permit (GVVA - Gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid). The process involves multiple authorities and strict regulatory steps.

The Single Permit (GVVA): You apply for the GVVA directly to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND - Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst). As part of this application, the Dutch Employees Insurance Agency (UWV - Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen) conducts a labour market test. You must prove you posted the vacancy on national job portals (such as Werk.nl) for at least five weeks and failed to find a suitable EU/EEA candidate.
Driving Licence and Code 95: Drivers must hold a valid C or CE licence. Non-EU licences are generally not valid for long-term commercial employment in the Netherlands. Drivers must pass theoretical and practical examinations at the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR - Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheid) to obtain a recognized European licence and the compulsory Code 95 professional competence qualification. Check current exchange treaties and qualification transfer rules directly with the CBR.
Driver Attestation (Bestuurdersattest): For international transport conducted by a Dutch Europermit holder, non-EU drivers must hold a Driver Attestation issued by Kiwa Register. This document certifies that the driver is legally employed under Dutch terms and conditions.

Always verify current application criteria directly with the IND, UWV, CBR, and Kiwa Register, as immigration and licensing guidelines are subject to change.

Realistic timeline: From decision to first route

Hiring a non-EU truck driver is a long-term investment. Employers should plan for a timeline of 4 to 9 months before the driver takes their first route on Dutch roads.

Recruitment and vacancy posting (Weeks 1 to 6): Post the position locally and across EU networks. Gather foreign candidate applications, verify driving experience, and test basic English or Dutch language skills.
UWV and IND processing (Weeks 7 to 20): Submit the GVVA application to the IND. The UWV reviews the labour market test while the IND conducts background and security checks. Official processing times range from 60 to 90 days.
Visa issuing and entry (Weeks 21 to 24): Once the GVVA is granted, the driver retrieves their entry visa (MVV) from the Dutch embassy in their home country and travels to the Netherlands.
Licence conversion, Code 95, and Kiwa registration (Weeks 25 to 36): The driver registers with the local municipality (BRP), undergoes medical screening, completes required CBR exams or Code 95 modules, and obtains their Kiwa driver attestation.

Pay, collective agreements, and housing duties

Dutch law mandates strictly equal pay for equal work. You cannot pay a foreign driver less than a local worker doing the same job. Most commercial transport companies in the Netherlands fall under the Collective Labour Agreement for Road Transport (CAO Goederenvervoer over de weg).

Mandatory pay scales: Professional drivers holding a C/CE licence typically fall under Pay Scale D or E of the CAO. Hourly gross wages generally range between 16.50 EUR and 21.00 EUR per hour, depending on experience, truck class, and duty type.
Allowances and overtime: You must pay mandatory allowances according to the CAO. This includes night-time surcharges, weekend bonuses, overtime pay, and standardized subsistence allowances (verblijfskostenvergoeding) for overnight stays away from the home base.
Housing obligations: While road transport employers are not legally required to provide permanent housing in every case, you must ensure the driver has registered residential accommodation during their initial integration. If you arrange accommodation, it must meet strict standards established by the Foundation for Flexible Housing Standards (SNF - Stichting Normering Flexwonen). Deductions from wages for housing are heavily restricted under the Dutch Minimum Wage Act (WML).

What this costs you, roughly

Budgeting for non-EU driver recruitment must include official government fees, qualification costs, and onboarding support. Below is an estimated cost breakdown per driver:

IND GVVA application fee: 380 EUR to 420 EUR.
CBR tests and Code 95 training: 1,500 EUR to 3,200 EUR (depending on how many exams or modules must be taken in the Netherlands).
Kiwa Driver Attestation: 75 EUR to 150 EUR.
Relocation and travel support: 500 EUR to 1,500 EUR.
Initial housing setup support: 1,000 EUR to 2,500 EUR.
Total expected setup cost: Roughly 3,450 EUR to 7,770 EUR per driver.

Protecting your business from recruitment fraud

Under Dutch law, particularly the Labour Market Fraud Act (Wet aanpak schijnconstructies - WAS), employers bear strict responsibility for fair treatment in their supply chains and hiring practices. A legitimate employer never charges a prospective worker money for a job offer, contract, or visa processing.

Third-party agencies or intermediaries that charge jobseekers fees for placement, transport, or administrative processing act illegally. Using recruitment channels that extract money from drivers exposes your business to severe liability, financial penalties from the Dutch Labour Inspectorate (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie), and reputational damage. Ensure your hiring process is transparent and that all statutory application fees are covered directly by your company.

Finding truck drivers on the Workuro registry

If you are prepared to manage the immigration and licensing steps, finding candidates who are actively looking to relocate is the first step. The Workuro registry allows you to search profiles of non-EU truck drivers who have stated their intention to move to the Netherlands.

Workuro is not an employment agency, does not charge per-hire placement fees, and does not act as an intermediary in contract negotiations. You search the database, review driver profiles, check their current licensing status, and contact candidates directly. Workuro is a young, growing registry. While candidate volumes are still building, the platform offers direct access to motivated drivers without recruitment middleman markups. You handle the selection and immigration process directly, keeping full control over your hiring quality and regulatory compliance.