Netherlands orientation year residence permit

People who completed qualifying study, a doctorate or qualifying scientific research within the three years before applying.

• Qualifying study or research

  Within the 3 years before applying, you must have conducted qualifying scientific research in the Netherlands; obtained a master's degree through an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme; or completed an accredited bachelor's or master's degree at a Dutch higher education institution, a Dutch post-master's programme lasting at least one academic year (at least 10 months), a Dutch programme under the Cultural Policy (Special-Purpose Funding) Act or Ministry of Foreign Affairs development cooperation policy, or a master's, doctoral or post-master's programme at a designated foreign educational i

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• No repeat permit for the same work

  You must not have held an orientation year permit for the same research, study programme or doctoral programme. For a further orientation year, the new study or doctoral programme must have been completed after the previous orientation year, or the new research must have been conducted afterwards while you held the specified Dutch research or highly skilled migrant residence permit.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Foreign institution ranking

  If applying on the basis of a designated foreign educational institution, it must have been in the top 200 of general or relevant subject rankings from at least 2 of these 3 publishers on the date of graduation or promotion: Times Higher Education, Quacquarelli Symonds and ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. A subject ranking must relate to your study or research subject.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Language condition for foreign study

  If you completed a programme at a designated foreign educational institution, you must meet at least one of these conditions: IELTS 6.0 or higher, on either the Academic or General Training test; a score comparable to IELTS 6.0 on an accepted TOEFL, TOEIC or Cambridge English test listed in the Code of Conduct for International Students in Higher Education; a diploma, certificate or document specified in the cited Dutch civic integration legislation; or a master's, doctoral or post-master's programme taught in English or Dutch.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Foreign diploma evaluation

  Foreign diplomas must be evaluated by Nuffic before acceptance. A diploma from an accredited higher education programme in Flanders, Belgium, does not need this evaluation, but the programme must be registered in the Higher Education Register Flanders.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Valid travel document

  You must have a valid passport or other travel document.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Public order and security

  You must not pose a danger to public order or national security. Everyone over the age of 12 must complete and enclose an Antecedents Certificate with the application.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Entry permit where required

  If your nationality and circumstances require a provisional residence permit (MVV), you must apply for the MVV and residence permit together. The IND lists nationalities and other circumstances exempt from the MVV requirement.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• Tuberculosis test where required

  After arrival, you must take a tuberculosis test unless an exemption applies. If you indicated in your application that you would take the test, make an appointment with the public health service within 3 months of receiving the residence permit.

  ind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource

• First application or change in purpose of stayind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource€254 per person
• Lower application fee for Turkish nationals under the EC–Turkey Association Agreementind.nl · checked 5 days agoSource€85 per person
• Decision timeThe legal decision period is 90 days from the day the IND receives the application. For an initial orientation year application, the IND may extend that period by 30 days and must explain why. An incomplete application can also delay the decision.About 3 months

1. Get ready

   • Check that you qualify

     3 months before you go

     Check the qualifying study or research route, its three-year limit and any conditions that apply to your foreign diploma or previous orientation year.

   • Arrange a foreign diploma evaluation if needed

     3 months before you go

     If your application relies on a foreign diploma, arrange its Nuffic evaluation unless the stated Flanders exception applies.

     You’ll need: Foreign diploma

   • Collect your application documents

     3 months before you go

     Use the application form to identify the documents you need, and have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Documents listed in the application form, Legalised and translated official foreign documents, where applicable

2. Apply

   • Book a Dutch representation appointment

     3 months before you go

     If applying for an MVV from abroad, make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or permanent residence, or the nearest one if neither country has a Dutch representation.

   • Attend the appointment

     3 months before you go

     Take your completed form, passport photo and valid passport; the Dutch representation registers the application and takes your fingerprints and signature.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Passport photo, Valid passport, Any additional documents listed in the form

   • Send the application and pay

     3 months before you go

     Wait one week after the appointment before sending the completed application to the IND and paying, and do both no later than three weeks after the appointment.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Required supporting documents

   • Wait for the IND decision

     3 months before you go

     The IND's legal decision period is 90 days from receipt of the application, although it may be extended.

3. Visa

   • Arrange your MVV sticker if required

     When you arrive

     After a positive decision, make an appointment at the Dutch representation where you applied within three months; your passport must remain valid for at least six months when the sticker is placed in it.

     You’ll need: Passport

4. Travel

   • Travel to the Netherlands

     When you arrive

     If you need an MVV, use it to travel to the Netherlands during its 90-day validity.

     You’ll need: Passport, MVV, if required

5. Settle in

   • Collect your residence permit

     When you arrive

     When the IND tells you that your residence document is ready, make an appointment to collect it at an IND desk.

   • Arrange a TB test if required

     When you arrive

     If you indicated that you would take a TB test, arrange it with the public health service within three months of receiving your residence permit.

     You’ll need: TB test referral form

If you find work and want to stay, you can apply for a different residence permit that allows work, such as a highly skilled migrant, start-up or self-employed permit.

• Fees: costs of an application | INDind.nlOfficial
• Decision periods | INDind.nlOfficial
• Provisional residence permit (MVV) | INDind.nlOfficial
• Requirements that apply to everyone | INDind.nlOfficial
• Residence permit for orientation year | INDind.nlOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.