Netherlands guide · Orientation year · 3 min read
The orientation year in the Netherlands: 12 months to find work after your degree.
After a Dutch bachelor's or master's you can apply for the orientation year (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden): a residence permit of up to 12 months to look for work or start a business, during which you can work in any job without a work permit. You can apply within 3 years of graduating. A job found in that year can lead to a highly skilled migrant permit, where a lower salary threshold applies to recent graduates.
The short version
- Up to 12 months to look for work or start a business after a Dutch degree.
- No work permit needed during the orientation year: any job, any hours.
- Apply within 3 years of graduating (you don't have to apply the day you finish).
- A job can lead to a highly skilled migrant permit; a lower salary threshold applies to graduates from the orientation year.
- During studies: 16 hours a week with an employer's work permit, or full-time June to August.
The orientation year in one table
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Graduates of a Dutch bachelor’s or master’s (and some graduates of top-ranked foreign universities) |
| Length | Up to 12 months |
| When to apply | Within 3 years of graduating |
| Work | Any job, any hours, no work permit |
| After | A highly skilled migrant permit with a qualifying job, at a lower salary threshold for recent graduates |
How it compares
| Country | Time to look for work after a degree |
|---|---|
| Denmark | Up to 3 years |
| Australia | 2 years (485) |
| Finland | Up to 2 years |
| UK | 2 years if you apply by 31 Dec 2026, then 18 months |
| Germany | Up to 18 months |
| Netherlands | 12 months, usable within 3 years of graduating |
| Sweden | Up to 12 months |
Timing it well
You don’t have to start the orientation year the day you graduate. If you have a short job or travel lined up, you can apply later, within 3 years. Most of our graduates start straight away, because the job search is easiest while your university network is fresh.
Using the 12 months
- Start during your studies. Internships and part-time work in your field are where most offers come from.
- Target employers that sponsor. The IND publishes a register of recognised sponsors for highly skilled migrants.
- Learn some Dutch. Many jobs work in English, but Dutch widens your options, especially outside tech.
- Know the salary threshold for highly skilled migrants who’ve used the orientation year; it’s lower than for other applicants and is set each year.
During your studies
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Up to 16 hours a week, with a work permit (TWV) your employer applies for |
| June to August | Full-time, still with the employer’s permit |
| Internships | Need an internship agreement |
From our files. Ritika Karki from Pokhara had IELTS 6.0, one band short of her first-choice programme in Utrecht. She joined our 6-week IELTS batch and reached 7.0, her writing up from 5.5 to 6.5. The university then applied to the IND for her permit, which came in 6 weeks.
