Post Study Work Visa In Netherlands

A Post Study Work Visa in Netherlands is the most desirable and prestigious visa. It is aimed at allowing those that have completed their studies to gain valuable working experience in the Netherlands prior to returning home. This visa has been designed for students aged 18 – 30 years old. It is a highly competitive visa with only a limited number of slots available annually, so it’s important to apply early.

When you’ve finished your studies in Netherlands and has both practical and theoretical experience of the Dutch language, you can apply for a Post Study Work Visa. This makes it possible to stay in the country, find a job and get an (indirect) entry to the labor market.

Do you have aspirations to study in Netherlands? If your answer is yes! Then it’s good for you! Whatever level of education you are updated with, there is a wider scope for studies in Netherlands. It can be like an open and fresh world for the aspirants who are wanting to explore and make their dreams come true.

Post Study Work Visa In Netherlands

Having a bachelor’s degree is not enough; you need to make it ‘stand out.’ Being in the top of your class and having an impressive resume will substantially increase your chances of landing in your dream school. It doesn’t mean that the student who graduated with a 3.8 GPA is going to get the job, however, it could be a basic criterion for their application.

Netherlands’ as a study abroad destination offers unique opportunities to international students. The most pronounced one is the post study work permissions – called the Search/ Orientation Year or ‘zoekjaar’ in Dutch. Simply put, students completing their bachelors’ or/and masters’ from an accredited Dutch University are eligible to apply for a Residence Permit for ‘Orientation Year’ which is valid for one year. Not only that, as per new regulations in effect from March1, 2016 – students have three years after completion of their degree program to apply for this permit. What it suggests is that if you have completed your bachelors/ masters or research work in 2016 then you have till 2019 to apply for the permit to arrive and work in Netherlands and find a relevant job. Even graduates of Top 200 Ranked Universities of the World* can also apply for this permit to find meaningful employment in Netherlands. This article deals in explaining the eligibility in detail, what all does the Orientation year entail and how to convert the same to a Work Permit.

*Top 200 as per

• Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• QS World University Rankings
• Academic Ranking of World Universities

Eligibility Requirements for application for a residence permit for Search/ Orientation year

As an International Student you are eligible to apply for a permit for Orientation Year in Netherlands if:

• You have completed bachelors/ master’s programs from a Dutch higher education institution, or
• You have completed a postgraduate course of minimum 12-month duration in Netherlands, or
• You are a PhD graduate from a Dutch University, or
• You have completed a scientific research and fall under the highly skilled migrant category (under the directive 2005/71/EC)
• You have completed an Erasmus Mundus Master’s course, or
• You have completed training in the framework of specific cultural policy development cooperation policy, or
• You have completed a master’s degree or postgraduate training from a foreign top 200 university* – this is to ensure that the candidate has relevant English language proficiency and is well versed in the subject (high skilled professionals)

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Rules pertaining to Residence Permit for Orientation Year in Netherlands

There are certain rules related to validity, minimum income criteria, and application fee, which a candidate needs to fulfill in order to obtain a permit for the Orientation year.

Validity

This residence permit is valid for one year only and cannot be extended. If, however, you pursue another course (as per requirements mentioned above) then the validity of this residence permit is renewed. For example, if you undertake a research program, then even if you have had one orientation year, you can apply for another on completion of the research program.

Working & Work Permit Requirements

As per the new guidelines, you do not need a work permit to work while on this residence permit as against the working while studying guidelines for international students on Student Visa for Netherlands.