NL
ENFor candidates
Working in the Netherlands or Belgium
SkillShift helps Filipino professionals find suitable work opportunities in the Netherlands and Belgium. We assess your experience and qualifications, connect you with suitable employers, and guide you through the documents, permits and preparation needed to start in Europe legally and well prepared.
Our support
More than just finding a job
SkillShift guides you through the full international process: not only finding a job, but also preparation, documentation and the transition to working in Europe.
Assessment of your profile
We review professional experience, education, certifications, language ability and suitability for available roles. This assessment depends on the requirements of the employer and the applicable immigration route.
Matching with suitable employers
We only introduce candidates when their experience and profile fit a genuine vacancy. Before you make a decision, we provide information about the employer, the role and the employment conditions.
Interview preparation
We help you understand the vacancy and prepare for interviews with European employers. This may include guidance on presenting your experience, discussing technical knowledge and understanding employer expectations.
Work and residence permits
Depending on the role and country, a Dutch or Belgian work and residence route must be arranged. SkillShift coordinates this with the employer and helps you prepare and provide the required documents.
DMW documentation and pre-departure requirements
Filipino professionals who leave the Philippines for overseas employment generally need to be processed under the rules of the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers. SkillShift coordinates the Philippine recruitment, documentation and pre-departure requirements, so you do not travel abroad as an ordinary tourist to start employment.
More about DMW requirements →Preparing to live and work in Europe
We help you prepare for the move, the first working period and the practical transition to the Netherlands or Belgium. For some roles, particularly in healthcare, this can also include Dutch-language preparation that starts while you are still in the Philippines.
More about our language training →Destinations
Working in the Netherlands or Belgium
The available route depends on the vacancy, qualifications, salary, employer and the applicable immigration rules.
Working in the Netherlands
Depending on the role, employment may be possible through routes such as a GVVA for regular employment or the Highly Skilled Migrant scheme for qualifying professional positions. You may work directly for the client, or in suitable situations through SkillShift on a staffing or secondment basis. Not every candidate qualifies for these options — SkillShift first assesses whether the role, salary, your profile and the employment structure fit an available route.
Opportunities in the NetherlandsWorking in Belgium
For long-term employment in Belgium, a combined authorisation for work and residence is generally required. For employment in Flanders, feasibility can depend on the occupation, qualifications, experience, salary and employment conditions, whether the role fits an applicable economic migration category, and whether a recognised labour shortage exists. Candidates are normally recruited for a specific, eligible vacancy and employer.
Opportunities in BelgiumSafe recruitment
Legal and transparent recruitment
You are always entitled to clarity about:
- which company is recruiting you
- which employer and vacancy you are being considered for
- what your employment conditions are
- which permits and documents are required
- how your departure from the Philippines is being arranged
SkillShift works within both the European immigration framework and the Philippine DMW framework for overseas employment. Our Dutch and Belgian entities are registered with the DMW as a Foreign Recruitment Agency for the respective markets.
You should never be asked to travel to Europe as a tourist in order to start a job without the required employment and departure documentation.
Your responsibility
What we expect from candidates
A successful international placement requires active cooperation from the candidate. This means:
- accurate information about education and work experience
- genuine and verifiable documents
- timely communication
- active preparation for interviews and assessments
- patience and cooperation during permit and DMW procedures
Inaccurate documents or incomplete information can delay or stop a case.
Registering is not yet a job guarantee
Registering with SkillShift does not automatically mean you will receive a job offer. A placement depends on:
- available vacancies
- employer selection
- professional experience
- qualifications
- language ability
- salary and permit requirements
- successful completion of the required documentation and procedures
SkillShift only starts a formal international placement route when there is a realistic match with an employer and a vacancy you are eligible for.
Clarity about costs
Before you enter a formal procedure, SkillShift explains which costs are covered by the employer, which costs may be personal expenses, and which documents you may need to obtain yourself.
SkillShift never charges candidates prohibited recruitment, placement or staffing fees. Costs that must be borne by the employer or principal under applicable Philippine, Dutch or Belgian rules are not passed on to the candidate. Only personal document expenses that are legally permitted may be for your own account; these are explained clearly in advance.
You should never make payments to unknown intermediaries or individuals claiming to guarantee a SkillShift job.
All official communication and any payment instructions come only through verified SkillShift channels or authorised recruitment partners.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply without a current vacancy?
You may submit your profile, but a formal placement route only starts when there is a suitable, eligible vacancy and employer.
Does SkillShift guarantee a job?
No. Selection depends on the vacancy, the employer and the applicable eligibility requirements.
Can I travel on a tourist visa and start working later?
No. Candidates must use the appropriate legal route for employment, immigration and the Philippine DMW documentation and pre-departure requirements.
Does SkillShift help with permits?
Yes. SkillShift coordinates this with the employer and the candidate, but approvals remain with the relevant authorities.
How long does the process take?
Timing varies by country, permit category, employer, required documents and other DMW requirements. We cannot promise a fixed timeline.
Do I need to speak Dutch?
This depends on the role. Some positions may be possible in English, while healthcare, customer-facing or regulated roles often require a certain level of Dutch or another language. For suitable candidates, SkillShift can start Dutch-language preparation while still in the Philippines.
Can my family come with me?
This depends on the residence route and personal circumstances, and must be assessed separately.
Ready for an international next step?
Submit your professional profile so SkillShift can assess whether your background may fit current or future opportunities in the Netherlands or Belgium.