Someone you know has left or is planning to leave. 1,000 Ways to Japa speaks to real people and explores the endless reasons and paths they take to japa.
Nnamdi* (36) and his wife have always worked hard to ensure the comfort of their family, but did not know that the best opportunity to achieve their goals would come so easily. In this story, Nnamdi shares how a LinkedIn opportunity landed his family in the Netherlands for free, how beautiful the country is, and how happy he is to live there.
Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?
I live in the Netherlands. I left Nigeria in 2020
Oh, wow! So you’ve lived in the Netherlands for six years?
Not really. My migration story is quite interesting.
Initially, I left the Ivory Coast for Nigeria in 2020 before finally moving to the Netherlands. My wife had moved to the Ivory Coast a year before me, after she got a job there. I joined her in 2020.
So, why did you leave the Ivory Coast for the Netherlands?
We left for economic reasons. My wife got a job in the Netherlands, so we moved.
What route did you leave through?
We moved to two different countries: the Ivory Coast and the Netherlands. We didn’t need a visa to move to the Ivory Coast because it’s a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
To go to the Netherlands, we (my wife, I, and our two children) had to be sponsored by the company with whom my wife got the job. They sponsored our visas and our resident permits. It’s part of their Expat programme, and it’s called the Highly Skilled migrant Visa or Kennismigrant; if a country within the European Union (EU) is unable to find resources (workers) within the EU and the Schengen zone, they are permitted to recruit globally under this programme.
Sounds like a sweet deal.
It is. When companies offer to sponsor an applicant to the country they operate from, they tend to make it a package deal for spouses and offspring included.
I’d like to emphasise that we’re not special; I know tons of Nigerians, Americans, and people from different nationalities who have moved to the Netherlands using the job route. In fact, it’s not peculiar to this country; other EU countries also do it.
So, how did your wife land the job?
She got it via LinkedIn. As much as I can, I have always told people who beat down the platform or see it as a nuisance to do away with that impression, because LinkedIn is quite useful. Granted, there are some noisemakers there, but you have to diligently sieve through the chaff to get what you want.
Any tips on how to easily find similar opportunities on LinkedIn?
Go to the search bar and type in visa sponsorship; the search results will likely include job adverts. Some of those adverts will say they sponsor, while others will say they do not offer sponsorship; you just have to go through the details.
Thank you for sharing. Was the job application process hectic?
It was just a regular job application process. My wife applied for the job, got called for an interview, did a presentation, and got a job offer. Once the job offer came in, the company handled every single thing regarding our migration process, flight tickets and all.
You had to have incurred some minor expenses, right?
No, we didn’t spend a dime. The company covered our flight and the processing of our visa. They also gave us settle-down money to help us find accommodation and all that.
That’s genuinely awesome
Yes. We probably would have spent on passports, but we had already gotten that way before the job application. This was just a case of opportunity meeting preparation.
I always advise everyone around me to be prepared at all times, and I’ll share the same advice with those reading this. I know someone who was scheduled for a professional training opportunity in China but missed out on it because he didn’t own a passport at the time. It was heartbreaking. In our case, we had passports already; All we had to do was present them, and the company just took care of everything else. They have a department that caters to that.
Speaking of documents…What other documents were you asked to present?
The visa process was pretty straightforward; they didn’t ask for outrageous or hard-to-get documents. We already had everything they asked for. They asked for our passports, our marriage certificate and our children’s birth certificates. We also had to get the documents validated (stamped and signed) by the respective population commissions.
Essentially, the documents we were asked to present were those that would prove we were who we claimed to be. We had to prove we were indeed a family unit.
Awesome. So, what are the rules for your visa?
Once in the Netherlands, you have to maintain your employment with the company sponsoring you; it’s the only way to keep your permit valid. In the event that you lose the job, you are allowed a period of about three to six months to secure employment with another company that will sponsor you. Failure to find a sponsor will invalidate your permit and lead to deportation.
Do spouses of sponsored individuals also have to secure employment?
No. I’m not bound by the same rules as my wife. As long as my spouse’s visa permit is valid, I can decide whether or not to work. No pressure at all.
So, did you get employment here?
Yes. I’m currently in between jobs while being a stay-at-home dad. I had to make the decision to go for a part-time job rather than a full time employment, because I needed to take care of our children. I also needed to ensure that my wife is not having a hard time; it was very important to me, and it still is.
What does job hunting in the Netherlands look like?
I wasn’t really job-hunting. I was already working remotely for a non-Dutch company, but a friend recommended my current job, so I switched, seeing as it’d be better to work for a Dutch company. Now, I’ve been recognised and integrated into the Dutch system in terms of employment.
How would you advise people looking to move to the Netherlands?
I’d honestly recommend that they leave through the job route. Find a company to sponsor you because it’s the safest way to migrate. The only problem that could possibly arise here is a falling out with one’s employers.
The peace of mind you enjoy when you’re sponsored is different from the one you’ll enjoy when you move through the study route with hopes of getting a job later. That job may never come, and things are likely to change given the current political climate. Just put yourself out there and apply for a job.
You won’t have to worry about things like IELTS and proof of funds. Just be good at your job, then apply, apply, and apply. You might want to avoid all these tech companies because I personally feel they’re in a bubble; look for companies that are grounded, that will sponsor you.
I also strongly advise that people learn the language before they come over. And this is not just for the Netherlands, where I reside. Anybody planning to move to an EU country should endeavour to do a course in the language and get to a minimum of a B2 proficiency level. This way, you can communicate in an official setting.
Did you and your wife learn to speak Dutch before leaving for the Netherlands?
No, we didn’t. We are learning while we’re here.
How has the learning process been?
Outside of the English Language, Dutch is one of the easiest languages to learn. However, it’s still been a little challenging for us.
While learning the language may be somewhat challenging, it hasn’t been a major blocker for us; Dutch people know how to speak English. As a matter of fact, the Dutch are the best non-English speakers in the world; because a good number of them can speak English, you tend to always find people who will switch to English if you’re having a hard time with Dutch.
What’s citizenship like in the Netherlands?
To become a citizen of the Netherlands, you have to have stayed up to five years in the country. You will have to take the Inburgering exam, where your language proficiency will be tested, and you’ll also write an exam to confirm how integrated you are into the country. Once you successfully get all these done, you’ll do a ceremony and get your passport. There’s a catch, though; you’re not allowed to be a dual citizen, so you have to renounce your country of origin, no matter where it is you come from.
The surest way for a foreigner to attain citizenship here is to marry a Dutch citizen. In that case, you can remain a citizen of your original country and still be a Dutch citizen. You also wouldn’t have to stay for five years; it’s three instead. There are other exceptions, but they are subject to the approval of the immigration and naturalisation department of the country.
Interesting. Can you switch visas if you want to remain in the country?
Not exactly. If you’ve stayed up to five years in the country, you can get the EU long-term visa, which allows you to move between all the EU countries. It’s called the EU Blue Card. The card allows you to live and work in the country (and other EU member states but you will not enjoy the benefits of a citizen.
Have you guys made any friends?
Yes, we have. We’ve made Dutch friends, and we’ve made Nigerian friends as well. The Nigerian community here is quite robus,t so that has been great.
Have you experienced racism in the Netherlands?
A couple of people have experienced it, but I personally haven’,t so I can’t necessarily speak to it. I want to say that racism is not predominantly practised here, but again, I’m not in the best position to talk about that. One thing I would say is that the Dutch are blunt people, almost as blunt and direct as Germans.
What’s one thing you dislike about the Netherlands?
I honestly can’t think of anything, but if I absolutely have to mention one thing, it’d be the shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) here. It’s frustratingly hard to see a medical doctor here. It’s a whole thing; you can read it up.
Some people complain about the weather, but I don’t have an issue with it. It’s cloudier than normal here, and that’s because of its geographical position on the planet. It’s almost like the weather in the UK; you can have sun, rain, and hail all within the same hour.
On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate life in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is the best country in the world! I would rate it 1000 over ten
Oh, wow. Would your rating still be this high if your family weren’t there with you?
Yes. It’d still be 1000 over ten. This is a country of people who recognise that they’re dealing with their fellow human beings. They put in so much care to ensure the systems are working, people are safe, and that things are functioning. I have no words to describe it. Fun fact: The Netherlands is one of the smallest countries in the world, with a population of 17 to 18 million, yet it’s the second largest exporter of food behind the US. It’s impressive.
It is. You seem so happy to be in the Netherlands; I wish you and your family the best of times
Thank you!
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