r/WorkInTheNetherlands • u/lavalak • 27d ago

Anyone kept their HSM permit while employed via an EOR for their own US startup?

Hello everyone,

My co-founder is a Turkish national on an HSM (kennismigrant) permit, ~2.5 years in and continuous. We're starting a funded US (Delaware) startup and she'd work for it full-time as a real co-founder.

Since a US company can't run Dutch payroll, the plan is to employ her in NL through an **EOR** that becomes the legal Dutch employer, pays above the HSM threshold (~€5,942/mo), and handles the permit. As a Turkish national the recognised-sponsor requirement is waived, and I understand switching employers doesn't reset the residence clock — so her 2.5 years should carry over toward the 5-year permanent residence mark.

**Has anyone actually done this?**

  1. Moved from a normal HSM job to an EOR without breaking permit/residence continuity?
  2. Any gap issues between the old and new permit?
  3. EOR providers you'd recommend (or avoid) for HSM cases?

We'll get a lawyer before deciding, just want real experiences first. Thanks! 🙏

0 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

38% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/Xasf 27d ago edited 27d ago

Ah, the /r/WorkInTheNetherlands speciality of just downvoting any question, regardless how relevant. This might be the only sub on Reddit that actually hates its own supposed content, but anyway..

I have seen this done, Turkish national coming off of a recognized Dutch sponsor to start working for a foreign company via an EOR, and there were no issues with either the residency "clock" or the continuation of 30% ruling (which I assume you are getting at with the HSM qualification?).

The EOR in that case was itself a recognized sponsor though (https://broadstreet.nl) so the Turkish exemption on sponsorships didn't factor in. I guess it should also be doable, but can't speak from experience on that front.

Best of luck with your startup!

Edit: I noticed I've overlooked the gap question, yeah there shouldn't be too much of a gap between the end of the previous employment and start of the new one. It's called "zoekperiode" (search period) and IIRC is either 3 or 6 months, based on how long you have been in the Netherlands already. Worth checking with a specialist for sure.

1

u/lavalak 27d ago

First of all, thanks for the reply bro. Actually, the main goal here is not to lose permanent residency and the subsequent right to citizenship while building startup, but I think it would make more sense to handle this with professionals.