
International students in the Netherlands are usually given a residence permit for the duration of their studies. After graduating, they have a few months to find another job while their residency permit is still valid. To stay in the country, international students can apply for an 'orientation year' or 'search year' visa, which allows them to stay in the country for one more year and work freely without requiring their employer to apply for a work permit. This visa must be applied for within three years of graduation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to find a job after graduation | A few months to 1 year |
| Time to apply for a "Search Year" visa | Within 3 years after graduation |
| Time to stay in the Netherlands with a "Search Year" visa | 1 year |
| Work rights with a "Search Year" visa | Yes |
| Work rights for non-EEA citizens without a residence permit | No |
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What You'll Learn
- International students can stay in the Netherlands for one year after graduation to search for a job
- This is known as the 'Search Year' or 'orientation year' visa
- Students must apply for this visa within three years of graduating
- The visa allows students to work in the Netherlands without a work permit
- However, not all jobs will be able to sponsor students with a residence permit

International students can stay in the Netherlands for one year after graduation to search for a job
The 'orientation year' residence permit is intended for highly educated migrants, giving them the chance to find a job or set up their own company in the Netherlands. It is available to non-EU/EEA citizens who have graduated or are about to graduate and would like to stay longer in the Netherlands. This permit can be applied for within three years of graduating, allowing graduates to return home and then come back to the Netherlands. The 'orientation year' residence permit is also available to EEA and Swiss citizens, who are free to live and work in the Netherlands by default.
It is important to note that not all jobs will provide an adequate reason to remain in the country and apply for another residence permit. Usually, only qualified jobs will allow graduates to pursue a new residence permit. Additionally, the employer needs to have the relevant permission to apply for the residence permit for the graduate.
To increase their chances of finding employment in the Netherlands, graduates can start their job search as soon as possible, build a professional network, and learn Dutch, as it is the main language of the country and can be a prerequisite for employment.
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This is known as the 'Search Year' or 'orientation year' visa
International students in the Netherlands are usually given a residence permit for the duration of their studies. After graduation, they have a short time, typically a few months, to find a job while their residency permit is still valid. However, the Dutch government allows international students to apply for an additional year-long residence permit, known as the Search Year or orientation year visa, to give them more time to find a job or set up their own company. This visa allows graduates to stay in the country for one year after graduation to search for stable employment or start a business.
The Search Year visa or orientation year residence permit is intended for highly educated migrants, providing them with the opportunity to enter the Dutch workforce or labour market. It grants graduates the right to work in the Netherlands without requiring their employers to apply for a work permit. This visa can be applied for within three years of graduation, either immediately or after returning home and deciding to come back to the Netherlands.
To apply for the Search Year visa, individuals must visit the migration office with their diploma received in the Netherlands. They will receive a stamp in their passport, after which their new residence permit will be issued, valid for one year. During this year, graduates can legally stay in the country and work in any job or choose not to work if they have sufficient savings. It is important to note that the Search Year visa only provides the right to stay and does not cover accommodation and expense costs.
While the Search Year visa offers free access to the Dutch job market, not all jobs will provide an adequate anchor for remaining in the country. Only qualified jobs or those in large international companies, and certain smaller ones, may be able to sponsor individuals with economic justification for another residence permit. Employers must have the relevant permission to apply for a residence permit for their employees. Therefore, it is recommended to inform the company about your 'Search Year' status when applying for jobs.
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Students must apply for this visa within three years of graduating
International students in the Netherlands are usually given a residence permit for the duration of their studies. After graduating, they have a short period, typically a few months, to find a job while their student residence permit is still valid. This grace period is meant to allow graduates to secure employment or set up their own company before their residence permit expires.
For international students who wish to stay in the Netherlands after their studies, the Dutch government offers an 'orientation year' residence permit, also known as a 'search year' visa. This permit allows graduates to stay in the country for one additional year to seek employment or start a business. The 'orientation year' residence permit is intended for highly educated migrants and provides them with free access to the Dutch labour market. It is important to note that this permit must be applied for within three years of graduating.
The application process for the 'orientation year' residence permit is straightforward. Graduates only need to present their diploma received in the Netherlands and apply for the permit before their current residence permit expires. Once approved, they will receive a stamp in their passport, granting them the right to work in the Netherlands during the orientation year.
It is worth mentioning that not all jobs will provide sufficient grounds for obtaining a new residence permit. Generally, only qualified jobs or positions in large international companies can sponsor individuals with adequate economic justification to remain in the country. Additionally, employers need to have the relevant permissions to apply for a residence permit on behalf of their employees.
In summary, international students in the Netherlands have a grace period after graduation to find employment while their student residence permit is still valid. They can also apply for an 'orientation year' residence permit, which provides them with one additional year to seek employment or start a business. It is important to note that the 'orientation year' permit must be applied for within three years of graduating.
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The visa allows students to work in the Netherlands without a work permit
International students in the Netherlands are usually given a residence permit for the duration of their studies. After graduation, they have a few months to find a job while their residency permit is still valid. However, finding a job within a short time frame can be challenging, especially in a foreign country.
To address this issue, the Netherlands offers a 'Search Year' or 'Orientation Year' visa, which allows graduates to stay in the country for up to one year after graduation to look for a job. This visa can be applied for within three years of graduation and provides the right to work in the Netherlands without a work permit. During this year, graduates can work freely or do an internship or traineeship, and employers do not need to apply for a work permit on their behalf. It is important to note that the 'Search Year' residency does not cover accommodation and expenses, so graduates may need to find a job quickly to support themselves.
The 'Orientation Year' residence permit is intended for highly educated migrants, including graduates and researchers, who wish to seek employment or start their own company in the Netherlands. It grants free access to the Dutch labour market and allows individuals to work without the need for a separate work permit. This permit is available to non-EEA citizens who have completed their studies or a research project in the Netherlands within the last three years.
To apply for the 'Search Year' or 'Orientation Year' visa, individuals need to visit the migration office and submit their diploma received in the Netherlands. Shortly after applying, they will receive a stamp in their passport, confirming their right to work in the country. The residence permit for the orientation year as a highly educated migrant seeking employment came into effect on 1 March 2016.
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However, not all jobs will be able to sponsor students with a residence permit
Foreign students in the Netherlands are typically given a residence permit for the duration of their studies. After graduation, they have a few months to find a job while their student residence permit is still valid. Some countries, including the Netherlands, allow international students to extend their stay by a year to find a job. This is known as the 'Search Year' visa or the orientation year residence permit. During this time, graduates can stay in the country and work any job to support themselves while seeking a more stable position.
The 'Search Year' visa can be applied for within three years of graduation. It is intended to give highly educated migrants the opportunity to find a job or start a company in the Netherlands. However, not all jobs will be able to sponsor students with a residence permit. Only qualified jobs can provide an adequate anchor or economic justification for international students to remain in the country and apply for another residence permit. The employer also needs to have the relevant permission to apply for the residence permit on the student's behalf. While many large international companies and smaller companies can do this, not all companies are qualified to do so. Therefore, it is advisable for students to inform prospective employers that they are on a 'Search Year' visa and inquire about the company's ability to sponsor their residence permit.
To be recognised as a sponsor, employers must meet specific obligations. Failure to do so can result in administrative fines, suspension, or withdrawal of recognition as a sponsor by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Employers who become recognised sponsors can more easily and quickly apply for residence permits for their employees. However, it is important to note that the availability of sponsorship jobs does not guarantee that all international students will be granted a residence permit to stay in the Netherlands. The UWV (Employee Insurance Agency) assesses whether there are suitable Dutch or EU/EEA/Swiss citizens for the position before approving work permits for non-citizens.
International students seeking employment in the Netherlands may consider jobs in large international companies or recognised sponsors. Some of the well-known companies that can sponsor visas for workers include Allianz, Booking.com, bunq, Shell, Johnson & Johnson, and Netflix. Additionally, certain jobs, such as top athletes, spiritual ministers, musicians, or chefs in Asian restaurants, require a residence permit but are exempt from the labour market test conducted by the UWV.
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Frequently asked questions
International students can stay in the Netherlands for one year after graduation by applying for an 'orientation year' or 'search year' residence permit.
The orientation year residence permit is a visa that allows graduates to work freely or do an internship or traineeship in the Netherlands for one year without their employer having to apply for a work permit.
Non-EU/EEA citizens who have graduated or are graduating soon and would like to stay longer in the Netherlands are eligible for the orientation year residence permit. EEA and Swiss citizens are free to live and work in the Netherlands by default.
To apply for the orientation year residence permit, you need to go to the migration office with your diploma received in the Netherlands. Shortly after applying, you will receive a stamp in your passport and a new residence permit that will be valid for one year.


























