Who are we and what do we do?
Equal Advocaten is a law firm that specializes in migration law and (international) law of persons and family law. Our core values are: fast, professional and no nonsense.
We assist companies and individuals in all matters relating to residence in the Netherlands. Whether it concerns a long stay, short stay, study, work and/or doing business in the Netherlands, family reunification, adoption, Dutch nationality or humanitarian reasons for residence: you can contact us for expert help and advice.
Our specialists are also happy to help you with matters related to migration law, such as international divorces and fines imposed by the labor inspectorate or withdrawal of recognized sponsorship from the IND.
At Equal Advocaten you will also receive expert assistance when it comes to divorce, alimony, visitation and authority and other issues in personal and family law. Our lawyers have extensive experience in migration law, personal and family law and up-to-date knowledge of national and international laws and regulations.
Equal Advocaten believes that corporate social responsibility is important. In the period 2016-2018, all lawyers of our firm volunteered legal assistance to the migrants in the Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos in Greece for a number of weeks.
NB:
As of November 22, we are located in our new office at Eekbrouwersweg 6 in Den Bosch.
Practice areas
Immigration
Migration law
All our lawyers are specialists in the field of migration law.
Migration law individuals
To be eligible for a residence permit in the Netherlands, you must meet a number of conditions. There are general terms and conditions that apply to almost all applications. In addition, each residence permit has its own specific conditions. For all residence permits, with the exception of the no-fault residence permit, you must be in possession of a valid passport. In addition, you must not pose a threat to public order or safety. To test this, it will be checked whether you have been in contact with the police or the judiciary in the past.
Family and family
Do you want to live in the Netherlands with your partner or spouse? Or do you want to live with your child in the Netherlands or live with your parents in the Netherlands as a child? In today's open world, this is common. Separate conditions apply to each case and alternatives are possible.
The starting point is that there is a fundamental right to be with your family. There are, however, a number of conditions linked to this that have to do with integration and income. In addition, residence may be refused if public order is incompatible with this. Each situation has its own conditions and (im)possibilities.
We advise and guide you through the possibilities offered by (international) migration law. We look at all options so that you can achieve your goal. Preference is given to a successful application, but if the application is rejected, we can litigate. If necessary, this can be done up to the European Court of Human Rights.
Study
If you want to study in the Netherlands as a foreigner, you must be in possession of a visa, unless you come from an EU country. This visa must be applied for by the institution where you want to study. If you want to stay in the Netherlands after your studies, there are options for this, for example if you go to work or want to stay with a partner in the Netherlands.
Together with you, we look at the best option and guide you through a new application.
medical
In a number of cases it is possible to obtain a residence permit or a postponement of departure in connection with medical treatment that must be undergone. There must be a necessary treatment and in some cases even a life-threatening situation. It also applies that the medical treatment cannot be carried out in the country of origin, for example because the knowledge and skills are not available there or because it is not possible to travel to one's own country due to the medical situation.
No fault
A residence permit on the grounds of no fault can be applied for if you are in the Netherlands and you cannot return to the country of origin through no fault of your own. The majority of the cases will concern people who have come to the Netherlands as an asylum seeker and are then unable to return. This is not a simple procedure and the requirements are very strict. The burden of proof lies with the applicant; it is up to him to show that he has tried everything to return, but it has not succeeded. This includes repeatedly contacting one's own embassy, writing to official bodies in the country of origin and calling in third parties to obtain information.
Honour-related and domestic violence
This residence permit can be applied for if you do not yet have a residence permit and are not eligible for a residence permit, but there is a serious threat in the Netherlands and in the country of origin. This includes threats of violence against yourself or your children.
Asylum
If you have valid reasons to fear persecution in your country of origin or if you expect inhumane treatment or punishment, you can apply for asylum in the Netherlands.
Short stay
If you wish to be in the Netherlands for a short time for a family visit, for a holiday or for a business meeting, you will in many cases need to apply for a short stay visa. You must then make it plausible that there is no risk of establishing in the Netherlands.
Naturalization
If you have had lawful residence for more than five years on the basis of a non-temporary residence permit or a residence permit for an indefinite period, you do not have a criminal record and you are sufficiently integrated, you may be eligible for naturalization as a Dutch national. In some cases this may be sooner.
prices
As far as costs are concerned, we will always check whether you are eligible for subsidized legal assistance and what your costs will be. We can request this directly for you. Even if you are not eligible for subsidized legal assistance, we will try to clarify the costs in advance.
Business migration law
As migration law specialists, we can advise your company about the residence of your employees and yourself in the Netherlands.
We can assist your company in becoming a recognized sponsor at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND). In the event of problems with a residence permit or a fine from the Labor Inspectorate, we can litigate for you and limit your damage.
Do you employ UK employees? Then we can advise you on the consequences of Brexit.
We have experience with the following residence permits:
Knowledge migrants
Work permits
Startup permit
EU Blue card
Intra-Corporate Transfer Permit
Self-employed
American self-employed
Equal Advocaten works on the basis of a competitive hourly rate, it is also possible to agree on a fixed price so that you know where you stand.
Knowledge migrant
An employee of a company that is a recognized sponsor has the option of bringing employees to the Netherlands who can obtain a residence permit as a Highly Skilled Migrant. In order to be regarded as a highly skilled migrant, a wage criterion must be met that takes into account the gross monthly salary. The required level of this salary is determined each year by the IND.
Work permits
An employer who wants to bring people from outside the EU to the Netherlands for paid employment can apply for the so-called 'Combined permit for Residence and Work' (GVVA / paid employment). This is a residence permit and work permit in one. The IND will seek advice on this application from the UWV, which will then assess whether the employer has made sufficient efforts to find suitable personnel on the European labor market and whether there is a supply of employees within the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). The salary offered must be in line with the market.
Startup permit
With a residence permit as a 'start-up', ambitious starters have one year to start an innovative company in the Netherlands. One condition is that they are supervised by a reliable supervisor (facilitator) in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) assesses whether the company is innovative.
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is a work and residence permit for highly skilled labor migrants from outside the European Union. The most important criteria are the level of the gross salary and the level of education. The EU Blue Card provides a limited degree of labor mobility within the EU.
Intra Corporate Transfer (ICT) permit
Managers, specialists and trainees of multinational companies with a branch in the Netherlands can perform work in the Netherlands via an Intra Corporate Transfer. This permit can be granted for a maximum of 3 years. To be eligible for the ICT permit, it is a condition that the employment relationship between the employee being transferred and the establishment from outside the EU continues to exist and has existed for at least 3 months.
Independent
When admitting as an independent entrepreneur, the basic principle applies that the company must serve an essential Dutch interest. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) assesses this on the basis of an extensive points system in which, among other things, the personal background of the entrepreneur, the business plan and the economic contribution of the company to the Netherlands are important.
American self-employed
As a result of the Friendship Treaty between America and the Netherlands, it is considerably easier for American entrepreneurs to obtain a residence permit as an independent entrepreneur. The most important conditions are that a company must actually be started and registered with the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce. A considerable capital of at least € 4,500 must also be invested in the own company.
Recognized sponsor
A company must be recognized by the IND as a sponsor before it can attract highly skilled migrants. The recognized sponsor can use the accelerated admission procedure, which means that a decision on the application is made within 2 to 3 weeks. When applying as a recognized sponsor, the reliability of the company is assessed. The company is also assessed on continuity and solvency via a points system by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Consequences of Brexit
The UK will one day leave the EU. Do you want to know where you or your UK employees stand with regard to residence status? No final settlement has yet been agreed between the EU and the United Kingdom. It is clear, however, that EU law will no longer apply. If a British subject has been residing in the Netherlands for five years and has sufficient income, it may be advisable to apply for residence as a long-term resident prior to Brexit. As a result, you will not be affected by Brexit. Much is still unclear, but we will keep an eye on this for you.
Family
In addition to migration law, a number of our lawyers specialize in the law of persons and family law. As a result, we have been working with great pleasure on all kinds of personal and family matters for years, in which an international aspect regularly plays a role. For example, if one of the persons involved comes from another country, resides in another country or if it concerns a foreign marriage, foreign acknowledgment or birth.
Thanks to our double specialization, we can let you know quickly whether the procedure has consequences for your residence permit or even immediately start the necessary procedure with the IND.
You can also turn to our lawyers for personal and family matters without international aspects, such as a divorce, dissolution of the partnership, alimony, visitation and custody, supervision and custodial placement.
If you want advice during your mediation process that you go through elsewhere, we think along with you. For this we use an hourly rate of € 225, - incl. VAT
Rates for personal and family law
The basic hourly rate of Equal Advocaten is €225,- including VAT.
As far as costs are concerned, we will always check whether you are eligible for subsidized legal assistance and what your costs will be. We can also request this directly for you.
If you are not eligible for funded legal assistance, we can make a price agreement with you for a number of matters. This option depends on the complexity of your case. Based on an intake interview, our lawyers make an assessment of whether your case is, in principle, suitable to be handled for a fixed price. If that is not the case, we can take on your case for the applicable hourly rate. If during the handling of the case it appears that it is more complex than could be estimated on the basis of the information previously provided by you, additional price agreements will be made with you.