Orientation Year
A year to explore starting your career in the Netherlands. With the Orientation Year permit you can look for a job or start a business after your graduation, promotion or scientific research.
Requirements
If you are a non-EU/EEA graduate and you have completed your studies or research in the Netherlands or a top 200 university worldwide, you are eligible for a one year permit to look for a job or start a business in the Netherlands with easy conditions.
Graduated in the Netherlands
- You completed your bachelor or master's degree, or obtained your PhD at a Dutch university.
- You conducted scientific research in the Netherlands with a permit as scientific researcher or highly skilled migrant.
Graduated worldwide
- You completed a master degree or obtained a PhD at a top 200 university worldwide.
- The university must be listed on the date of your graduation on 2 out of 3 (general or subject) university rankings: QS, Academic or Times Higher Education.
- Your programme was taught in English or Dutch, or you scored a 6.0+ on IELTS
- All foreign diplomas (except Flanders) need to be evaluated by Nuffic before.
General
- The orientation year is valid for 1 year. You cannot extend it. You can get a second orientation year after you finish another degree.
- You must apply within 3 years of graduation
- You are free to work without salary conditions beyond minimum wage
- Your employer does not need to sponsor or apply for a work permit
Application procedure
The procedure to apply for the orientation year permit depends on whether you are already in the Netherlands or abroad.
Already in the Netherlands
- You can apply after completing a bachelor, master, PhD or scientific research.
- You do not need a MVV visa.
- You can stay in the Netherlands during processing time.
- You can directly start working with a residence endorsement sticker.
- You apply online with DigiD.
- Apply before your current permit expires or within 3 years of graduation.
Outside of the Netherlands
- You can only apply after completing a master or PhD and not a bachelor.
- Depending on your nationality you may need a MVV
- You need to wait abroad before the permit is approved
- You need to evaluate your foreign diploma at Nuffic
- You apply via Dutch representation or post
- You need to register for a BSN upon arrival, open a Dutch bank account and take out health insurance
- Apply within 3 years of graduation
“During the interview I mentioned that I would need visa sponsoring in the future. Although scary at first, I advocated for the conditions of the highly skilled migrant permit and indicated the minimum salary criteria. Luckily, it was within budget and they would only need to sponsor me after the first five months of the contract as I was already on my orientation year.”
Salary conditions
With the orientation year you have time to find a job as a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands. During the orientation year you can work without a work permit in the Netherlands. A potential employer only has to pay at least the legal minimum wage. You can also use the time to start your own business.
Once you find a job as highly skilled migrant a reduced salary criterion applies to you. This makes it easier and less expensive for an employer to hire you. You keep the reduced salary criterion even when you change employers. You qualify for this reduced salary condition up to three years after graduation. Whether you have applied for the orientation year permit or not.
Salary during orientation year
- No minimum salary requirements for residence permit.
- Only minimum wage requirement.
- €14.99 hourly rate.
- €2,598.26 monthly without holiday pay for 40 hours.
Salary after orientation year
Minimum gross salary requirements:
- €3,122 monthly without holiday pay
- €37,464 anually without holiday pay
- €40.461 with holiday pay
A reduced salary criterion applies if you transfer to the highly skilled migrant permit. You keep the reduced salary criterion when you change employers.
Highly skilled migrant below 30
Minimum gross salary requirements
- €4,357 monthly without holiday pay
- €52,284 anually without holiday pay
- €56,468 with holiday pay
Change to 30 year and above salary condition if change from employer.
Highly skilled migrant 30 years and above
Minimum gross salary requirements:
- €5,942 monthly without holiday pay
- €71,304 anually without holiday pay
- €77,016 with holiday pay
Tips for your orientation year
- Know your rights. Not every employer knows about the orientation year and the reduced salary criteria for the highly skilled migrant permit.
- Start your job search early. You can start applying before graduation.
- Prepare with the university career services. Create your Dutch CV, cover letter examples, set up your LinkedIn profile and connect with hiring companies.
- Increase your employability: improve your Dutch language skills, do internships or volunteer work, build your professional network.
- Have a backup plan. Think about setting up a startup. If you do not have a credible lead to get sponsored as highly skilled migrant after 9-10 months, be realistic about returning home or switching countries.
“When I first connected with YES!Delft, I was still on my student permit. I explained that I would soon transition to the orientation year, which would allow me to work without restrictions. This clarity gave them the confidence to offer me the opportunity to join their team.”
FAQs
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The legal decision period is 90 days. The real processing time depends on the capacity of the IND. Applicants indicate processing time can be close to 90 days when applying in between July and November. During this timeframe most graduates apply for the orientation year permit. Missing documents can lead to additional processing time. The IND can also extend the 90 days decision period if the application was incomplete.
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Yes, in most situations you can start working during the application process:
- Your application included a copy of a Dutch diploma, certificate or a ‘statement on completion of study’.
- Your application included a copy of a foreign diploma or certificate. This diploma or certificate has been assessed by Nuffic.
- You have conducted scientific research over the past three years.
You do not need to wait for a positive decision from the IND. You need a residence endorsement sticker to proof you have a residence permit application and are allowed to work without a work permit. The sticker indicates: work freely permitted, TWV not required. In Dutch: Arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist.
You can apply for the residence sticker once the IND sends a confirmation of your application. This usually takes a few working days after your applied for the orientation year permit online. You can collect your sticker at the international centre in The Hague and Rotterdam or at the IND desk in The Hague.
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Yes, you can get a new orientation year. You need to complete a new study or doctoral programme or conduct a new research project after your first orientation year permit expires. You must have held a residence permit as scientific researcher or highly skilled migrant to qualify for the second orientation year.
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The orientation year is a one-year permit. The permit is valid from the date of application. Not the date the date the permit is issued by the IND or you collect the MVV visa sticker or residence permit document. Before the permit ends you need to change to another residence permit.
If you apply from abroad and need a MVV visa sticker to travel to the Netherlands, you may only be able to use your orientation year permit for nine months as the IND can take 90 days to approve your permit.
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No, you cannot extend the orientation year residence permit. You need to change to another residence permit before the end of the orientation year. Or you need to leave the country.
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Yes, you can apply for the orientation year permit with your diploma, a certified copy of your diploma (from your university of DUO) or a statement from your university confirming graduation. This is a standard statement you can request from the university's faculty office or central student administration. For research you can provide proof of completion of the scientific research in form of a employment contract or completion letter from the university or research institute.
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Yes, a family member such as a spouse, partner or child can stay with you if you meet the requirements for the family permit. If your family members already have a Dutch residence permit you do not need to prove sufficient income. If your family members do not have a Dutch residence permit yet, you do need to prove sufficient income. This can be done by having a job with independent, sufficient and sustainable income or a bank statement of having 12 times the benefit level.
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No, the IND does not ask for proof of income or savings when you apply for the orientation year. You will have to sustain yourself during the year. You are allowed to work during the orientation year. You are not entitled to ask for public benefits.
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No, you need at least a master's degree from a foreign university. You can only apply with a bachelor degree from a Dutch university.
Checklist to apply for the orientation year permit
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1
Check the requirements on the website of the IND.
A MVV visa sticker may be required to travel to the Netherlands if you are abroad.
Your nationality determines whether you need an MVV. In some personal situations you may be exempt from a MVV. For example, when you already live in the Netherlands.
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2
Collect all documents before you apply. Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
- IND application form
- Valud passport
- Passport photo
- Diploma or certificate
- Antecedents (criminal records) certificate
- Application fee
If you apply with a foreign degree:
- Nuffic credential evaluation of you degree
- Proof your university degree is on a top-200 ranking
- Language test results: IELTS 6.0 or higher if you programme was not in English or Dutch
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3
You application procedure depends on if you need a MVV visa sticker or if you are already in the Netherlands.
Already in the Netherlands
You can submit your application online if you:
- Live in the Netherlands.
- Graduated, obtained your PhD or conducted research in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit.
- Have a BSN or Citizen Service Number and are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP).
- Have a DigiD.
If you are in the Netherlands and unable to submit the application online you can download and send the application form by post.
If you need a MVV
A MVV visa sticker may be required to travel to the Netherlands if you are abroad.
You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.
Before you can apply for the MVV and residence permit, you must make an appointment at the Dutch representation in your country of origin or country of permanent residence.
During the appointment you submit the completed application form, your passport photo and your valid passport with you to the appointment. In some cases you have to bring extra documents. The Dutch represenation will fill in your application date, provide a confirmation of receipt with your personal V-number and take your biometric data.
After your visit to the Dutch representation abroad you can send in your application to the IND. You need to pay the application fee within three weeks after your appointment.
If you do not need a MVV
if you do not need a MVV you can travel to the Netherlands. You can submit your application and sent it by post to the IND. You can do this when you are still abroad and wait for a positive decision. Or you can wait for the positive decision in the Netherlands.
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The IND must take a decision within 90 days.
The IND can extend the decision permit if the application is not complete.
You will receive a message with a positive or negative decision.
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5
If you are in the Netherlands you can apply for a residence endorsement sticker in your passport once the IND send a confirmation of your application. The sticker proves your residence permit in the Netherlands. You are allowed to start working during your application process in the following situations:
- Your application included a copy of a Dutch diploma, certificate or a ‘statement on completion of study’.
- Your application included a copy of a foreign diploma or certificate. This diploma or certificate has been assessed by Nuffic. Diplomas from Flanders (Belgium) do not have to be assessed by Nuffic.
- You have conducted scientific research over the past three years.
The sticker indicates: work freely permitted, TWV not required. In Dutch: Arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist.
You can collect your sticker at the international centre in The Hague and Rotterdam or at the IND desk in The Hague.
The residence sticker is not the same as a residence permit document. You need a return visa if you want to travel outside of the Schengen area.
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6
Once you get a positive decision you can travel to the Netherlands. Depending on your nationality and personal situation you may need to collect your MVV visa sticker first. You need the MVV visa to travel to the Netherlands. If you do not need a MVV visa you can travel to the Netherlands directly.
- You need to make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate where you submitted the application. You have to make the appointmnet within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
- Your passport must be valid for at least another six months after the Dutch represenation places the MVV sticker in your passport.
- You need to travel to the Netherlands within 90 days after getting the MVV sticker.
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7
When the residence permit document is ready, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect the document at the desk you selected during your application.
If you did not need a MVV visa sticker, you need to first make an appoinment to submit biometrics. You can collect your residence permit document after 10 working days. You will receive a letter when it is ready.
You can collect your document at the international centre in The Hague and Rotterdam or at the IND desk in The Hague.