GitLab does not offer any form of work or study sponsorship anywhere in the world, other than our specific, internal Netherlands process and support for highly skilled candidates in certain countries, where a candidate is already based in that country. GitLab does not offer any form of support to transfer an existing work permit. During the screening process, recruiters will ask applicants if they require any type of sponsorship or support.
For assistance with any employment or relocation visa please reach out to the People Connect.
You can expense:
You can not expense relocation costs.
In some cases when traveling to a conference or summit you might need to arrange a visa to enter that specific country.
Always check the website of the Embassy of the Country you want to visit located in your home country. They will have the most updated information on whether or not you need a visa and what is needed for your application. In some instances you can travel under a visa waiver program (e.g. ESTA) in other cases you might need to arrange a tourist or business visa. Read their website carefully and ask People Connect Team members if you need any help with acquiring the needed documents for your application.
We gladly organize and pay for local legal assistance, especially if you are at high risk of having a long process.
Please note that the below timeline is just a guide, and you should always check the guidance on the official website of the embassy for the country you are applying to before making your application or traveling to an interview.
Some of our GitLab team-members in the Netherlands have a "werkvergunning" or work permit under the highly skilled migrants category of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND).
Here is a generally but not authoritative helpful guide on considerations around permit extensions.
The IND (Dutch immigration services) in general take about 4 to 6 weeks’ time to make a decision on the renewal application, but officially they have 90 days to decide.
The 30% reimbursement ruling (better known as the 30% ruling) is a tax advantage for highly skilled migrants moving to the Netherlands. This benefit, granted for five years, allows them to receive 30% of their employment income tax free. As an example, when your employment income is EUR 60,000; the 30% ruling ensures a net pay of EUR 18,000. The remainder of EUR 42,000 is subject to Dutch taxes. In addition, when being entitled to the 30% ruling you can exclude your savings from Dutch income tax (which can be beneficial once you have exercised your stock options).
The 30% ruling is a mutual application filed by the employee and GitLab BV as the employer. During the onboarding procedure a questionnaire is shared in order to gather the necessary information to file the application for the 30% ruling. People Ops shares the 30% ruling questionnaire and supporting documentation with HRSavvy (the company that supports GitLab with visas and payroll in the Netherlands). HR Savvy will subsequently apply for the 30% ruling. There are some conditions to be satisfied to be granted the 30% ruling.
The decision from the Dutch Tax Authorities can take up to four months. Once your 30% ruling is granted, the application will be made retroactively in the payroll administration to your starting date. Read more from the Dutch tax authorities by clicking this link.
Here is an approximate net-salary calculator in The Netherlands to reckon additional salary payment with 30% ruling.
The 30% ruling is a tax advantage granted for five years, which means that you can carry this over to a new employer if your new role still fulfills the requirements of the 30% ruling. Note that you are only allowed to transfer the 30% ruling when there is a gap of maximum three months between your previous employment and your employment at GitLab BV. The 30% ruling questionnaire includes a section where you can state that you have already been entitled to the 30% ruling. Transferring the 30% ruling tends to be faster since your qualifications were already assessed at your previous employment.
A BSN number is like a citizen number. It is required so new team members can be added to the B.V. Netherlands payroll. It's also required for things like health insurance and opening a bank account.
There are two options to get a BSN number in the Netherlands:
Getting a BSN number at the municipality. This process will take at least 1-4 weeks. There are no costs involved with registering and receiving a BSN at the municipality.
Getting a BSN number at your local Expat center. It is possible to make an appointment within 2 weeks.
If a team member wishes to immigrate and relocate to the Netherlands, they will need to first follow the relocation process and requirements and obtain approval to relocate. Once approved, team members will also need to pass the formal visa application process to qualify. The requirements are:
Tenure of less than 1 year at GitLab may be possibly waived as a requirement if:
If you meet these requirements, kindly read our Relocation handbook page, as well as our specific Netherlands section, to ensure that your request is evaluated and approved following our protocols. Please email people-connect@gitlab.com if you have any questions.
Someone already in the Netherlands on a partner visa can be transferred to their own highly skilled migrant visa in order to not be dependent anymore. The process can take up to three months and is subject to above eligibility criteria and executive approval. Please email people-connect@gitlab.com to start this process.
Tasks for People Connect:
Our #netherlands Slack channel is a good place to ask immigration-related questions.
Here is a document written by a GitLab team member (internal only) detailing their immigration experience to the Netherlands.
Sid and Marin discuss the history of GitLab's right to immigrate to the Netherlands.
GitLab may be able to offer employment agreements to highly skilled candidates seeking employment already in Ireland, who apply for, or already hold, a Critical Skills Employment Permit, where the relevant role falls into a category listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List or a salary threshold is exceeded.
Please note: GitLab does not cover any costs for the application nor does it guarantee the issuance of the Critical Skills Employment Permit. The employment agreement offered will include the condition that the candidate will hold the sufficient right to work and if a permit is required that they will be able to obtain the permit. If the critical skills employment permit application is refused, the employment agreement would be rescinded. Permit holders may apply to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for permission to reside and work without the requirement for an employment permit upon completion of the Critical Skills Employment Permit’s duration.
Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €32,000 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List a relevant degree qualification or higher is required. All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of over €64,000, other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or which are contrary to the public interest. A non-EEA national who does not have a degree qualification or higher, must have the necessary level of experience. The prospective employee concerned must have secured a 2-year job offer in respect of the eligible occupation from the prospective employer.
The prospective employee concerned must possess the relevant qualifications, skills and experience that are required for the employment. An employment permit will not be granted to companies unless 50% or more of the employees in the firm are EEA nationals at the time of application. However, this restriction may be waived in respect of start-up companies within 2 years of their establishment (that is, registered as an employer with Revenue) and which are supported by the enterprise development agencies, Enterprise Ireland, or IDA Ireland (this applies to client companies of Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland only).
The details of what is required are set out on the application form and include:
An application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit can be made online on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). There is a User Guide (PDF document) available on the online system which guides the applicant through the process and details the documentary requirements for each employment permit type.
Before you start an application please see the Critical Skills Employment Permit Checklist (PDF document) which will assist the process.
There are up to three stages in the passage of an employment permit application:
Application received (awaiting processing): Once an application is submitted and the associated fees, if appropriate, are recorded the application is then placed in the relevant processing queue. Please note that applications are processed strictly in date order by Employer Type and applicants can keep track of the current processing dates. They can also check the progress of their specific application online on the Online Status Update Enquiry facility. Processing stage: This stage is where the application is considered by a decision maker, an official with decision making authority. The processor may request additional information, if required, which should be returned within 28 days. The processor will then either grant an application or refuse it for specific reasons.
Review: Where an applicant wishes a refusal decision to be reviewed then they may do so within 28 days on the prescribed Submission of a Decision for Review Form. The review will be considered by a separate and more senior official. The confirmation of a refusal decision on review does not preclude the applicant from submitting a new application following all of the relevant procedures for the specific employment permit type.
The processing fee for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is €1,000 (which must be paid by the applicant, GitLab does not cover the costs of an application). If an application is unsuccessful, 90% of the fee will be refunded.
There is more information here.
GitLab may be able to offer employment agreements to selected highly skilled candidates seeking employment already in Germany, who apply for, or already hold a German EU Blue card.
Please note: GitLab does not cover any costs for the application nor does it guarantee the issuance of the EU Blue card. The employment agreement offered includes the condition that the candidate will hold the sufficient right to work and if a Blue card is required that they will be able to obtain the Blue Card. If the Blue Card is denied, the employment agreement would be rescinded.
The EU Blue Card Germany, is a German residence permit for highly skilled workers. You can apply for a German Blue Card if you:
You can apply for an EU Blue Card from the Foreigner’s Office in Germany. Depending on your current location you may need to obtain an entry visa from your most local German embassy.
If you are already in Germany, and you are offered a position that makes you eligible for a Blue Card, you can apply at the local Ausländerbehörde (German Foreigner’s Authority). You must start the process at least six weeks before your current residence permit expires.
More detailed links on the process:
If there is a change in employer within Germany and the blue card has been held for less than two years then you will need to apply to the immigration service in Germany (LEA). If it has been held for more than two years you are free to change employer without needing to amend the blue card, but the new employment contract must still meet the required threshold for eligibility.
Everyone that meets the following requirements can request to immigrate and relocate to Germany, but you will also still need to pass the formal visa application process to qualify. The requirements are:
Our #gitlab-germany Slack channel is a good place to ask immigration-related questions.
