In this guide
For recent international graduates, the orientation year is often the part of the Dutch system they have not heard of. One year, free to work, no work permit needed. It is a useful route, but the conditions are specific, so check them against the IND page before you plan around it.
💡 Related: highly skilled migrant visa Netherlands 2026, BSN application guide for expats, ZZP registration Netherlands step by step.
Quick answer: The Dutch orientation year (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden) is a one-year residence permit for people who recently completed a qualifying study programme or research in the Netherlands, or a master’s, doctoral or post-master’s programme at a top-200 foreign institution. During the year you may work freely, including as a freelancer or entrepreneur. If you find a job, you can apply for a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant, and a reduced salary criterion of €3,122 per month applies in that case. The IND application fee is €254 (2026). All facts on this page come from the IND unless stated otherwise.
What the Orientation Year Permit Is
The zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden is a residence permit that lets highly educated migrants stay in the Netherlands to look for work or to start a company after graduating, obtaining a doctorate or conducting research (Government.nl, IND). It came into effect on 1 March 2016. The permit is valid for 1 year and is a type I, temporary regular residence permit (IND).
The goal is to use the year to find work that qualifies for a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant), start-up or self-employed person. For everything on the highly skilled migrant permit, see our highly skilled migrant visa Netherlands 2026 guide.
Who Qualifies
You must meet the IND’s general requirements and one of the situations below, where the study or research was completed in the 3 years before the date of your application (IND, checked 8 October 2026):
- You conducted scientific research in the Netherlands, with a residence permit for research under Directive (EU) 2016/801, or a highly skilled migrant permit based on scientific research.
- You obtained a master’s degree in an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme.
- You completed an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree programme at a Dutch higher education institution.
- You completed a post-master’s study programme in the Netherlands of at least one academic year (at least 10 months).
- You completed a study programme in the Netherlands in the context of the Cultural Policy (Special-Purpose Funding) Act or Dutch development cooperation policy.
- You completed a master’s, doctoral or post-master’s programme at a designated foreign educational institution.
You also cannot have held an orientation year permit for the same research, or after the same study or doctoral programme.
Designated foreign institutions (the top-200 rule)
A designated foreign institution is one in the top 200 of the rankings of at least 2 of the 3 publishers: Times Higher Education, QS and ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. The institution must be in the top 200 on the date of your graduation or doctorate. General rankings and rankings by subject can be combined, if they are by different publishers, and a subject ranking must be about your study or research subject (IND).
English language and diploma evaluation (foreign diplomas)
If you completed your programme at a designated foreign institution, you must also show one of these: an IELTS score of at least 6.0 (or a comparable accepted English test), a qualifying diploma or certificate referred to in the Civic Integration Act 2021 or the Civic Integration Decree, or evidence that your programme was taught in English or Dutch. All foreign diplomas must be evaluated by Nuffic. Diplomas from accredited programmes in Flanders that are registered in the Higher Education Register Flanders do not need an evaluation (IND).
Second orientation year
You can get another orientation year after completing a new study or doctoral programme, or new research, that came after your previous orientation year (IND).
What You Can Do During the Orientation Year
With this permit you may work freely in the Netherlands or do an internship, and your employer does not need a work permit (TWV). You may also work freely as an independent entrepreneur, self-employed person or freelancer. The back of the residence document says “Work freely permitted, TWV not required” (IND).
In some situations you may start working while your application is still being processed, for example if your application included a Dutch diploma, or a foreign diploma that Nuffic has assessed. You first need a Residence Endorsement sticker in your passport that states “Work freely permitted, TWV not required” (IND).
You still have to comply with the normal obligations for residence permits, including notifying the IND of changes in your situation (IND).
What the Orientation Year Does Not Give You
No extension. The permit is valid for 1 year and cannot be extended (IND).
No second orientation year for the same programme. You cannot get another orientation year permit for the same study or research (IND).
No guaranteed switch. The permit gives you time to find a job. Whether a job qualifies for a highly skilled migrant permit depends on the employer being a recognised sponsor and on the salary criterion. See the highly skilled migrant visa guide.
30% ruling. The 30% ruling has its own conditions, and your employer applies for it with the Belastingdienst. The orientation year permit does not give you the ruling. See the 30% ruling guide.
Family members. Check with the IND what applies to your partner or children before you travel, because they may need their own basis for residence.
The IND Application
Documents. The application form lists the documents you need, and you should collect them all before you apply. Official foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German (IND). Foreign diplomas must be evaluated by Nuffic. For the exact document list, use the IND application form that applies to your situation.
Applying from abroad (MVV). You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin or permanent residence, after making an appointment. The representation registers your application and takes your biometric data. You then send the application to the IND no earlier than 1 week and no later than 3 weeks after your appointment, and you pay within 3 weeks of the appointment. After a positive decision you make an appointment at the representation within 3 months to get the MVV sticker. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months more at that time, and the MVV is valid for 90 days (IND).
Applying from the Netherlands. You can apply online with DigiD if you live in the Netherlands, graduated, obtained your doctorate or conducted research in the Netherlands, have a valid residence permit for that purpose, are registered in the BRP and have a BSN. You pay with iDEAL at the time of application. If you cannot apply online, you can apply on paper (IND).
Fee and decision period. The application costs €254 (IND, 2026). The IND must decide within 90 days, and can extend that period, for example if the application is incomplete (IND). Residence permit card: you are told when it is ready at an IND desk and you make an appointment to collect it.
TB test. If you indicated on your application that you will take a TB test, make an appointment with the GGD within 3 months of getting the residence permit (IND).
Apply early: do not wait until your current permit expires. Check the IND website for the current procedure before you submit.
Banking During the Orientation Year
You will need a bank account soon after arrival. Dutch banks ask for your BSN, but not always before you open: ABN AMRO lets you open an account if you have an official Dutch home address and hand in the BSN within 120 days, and ING gives non-EEA passport holders 90 days. The BSN comes with your registration at the municipality, so the usual order is: arrive, register with the municipality, get your BSN, and open the account alongside.
Bunq is one option for a first account: you open it in the app. bunq’s personal plans are bunq Free at €0.00, Core at €3.99, Pro at €9.99 and Elite at €18.99 per month (bunq.com, checked 8 October 2026). If you take freelance income, bunq also has business plans (Free for sole proprietors, Core €7.99, Pro €13.99, Elite €23.99 per month; bunq.com/en/business-account).
For a broader comparison of Dutch bank accounts and digital banks, see best banking for expats Netherlands and the Bunq vs Revolut for expats comparison.
BSN Registration
You need a BSN (burgerservicenummer) for most things in the Netherlands, including opening a bank account, working and registering with a GP. Register with your municipality as soon as you have a Dutch address, and check your municipality’s website for how to book an appointment and which documents it asks for (government.nl). For the process, see the BSN application guide for expats.
Tax During the Orientation Year
If you earn income during the orientation year, you pay Dutch income tax. As an employee, your employer withholds payroll tax (loonheffing). You file a tax return for the relevant year, starting on 1 March of the following year, with a standard deadline of 1 May (Belastingdienst). If you work as a freelancer, you register with the KVK and handle VAT and income tax yourself. See ZZP registration Netherlands step by step, the KvK registration guide and tax filing freelance expat Netherlands.
The Transition to Highly Skilled Migrant
When you find a job that qualifies, you can apply for a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant. A reduced salary criterion of €3,122 per month applies if you apply for the highly skilled migrant permit during the orientation year permit, if you no longer hold the orientation year permit but did, or if you apply within 3 years of your graduation date or doctoral defence (IND, required amounts 2026). The standard criteria are €4,357 per month for under 30 and €5,942 for 30 and over. The IND adjusts the amounts annually, so confirm the current figure on ind.nl.
The employer must be a recognised sponsor and submits the application. For the process, recognised sponsors and family rights, see the highly skilled migrant visa Netherlands 2026 guide. The IND’s target decision period for highly skilled migrant applications is 2 weeks.
You do not have to wait until the orientation year ends to switch. Apply for the new permit while the orientation year permit is still valid. Check the IND for what happens to your status while the application is pending.
Job Search Tips During the Year
Treat the first weeks as setup (BSN, bank account, housing) and plan your search around the 1-year limit, since the permit cannot be extended.
- Check the list of recognised sponsors on the IND website, because only recognised sponsors can apply for a highly skilled migrant permit for you.
- Use job boards and professional networks. See best job boards Netherlands expats, how to find a job in the Netherlands as an expat and the Dutch CV and resume guide.
- Learning some Dutch helps in daily life. See best language app to learn Dutch quickly and best Dutch language schools online.
What Happens if You Do Not Find Qualifying Employment
When the permit ends, you need another basis for residence or you must leave the Netherlands. Options the IND mentions after a job is found are a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant, start-up or self-employed person (IND). You cannot extend the orientation year permit, and you cannot get another one for the same study or research. Sectors differ in how many roles meet the reduced criterion of €3,122 per month, so check likely salaries early and confirm all permit conditions with the IND.
Final Thoughts
The orientation year gives recent graduates one year to look for work in the Netherlands, with free access to the labour market and a reduced salary criterion if they then apply as highly skilled migrants. Check the IND page for your situation before you apply, keep your documents in order, and plan your job search around the 1-year limit.
Open Bunq once you have your BSN if that account fits your needs, and get your finances organised before the job search becomes urgent.
For your first-year setup beyond the visa itself, start with the first year Netherlands expat pillar guide and the BSN application guide. For the permit that follows, the highly skilled migrant visa Netherlands 2026 guide has the full picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Dutch orientation year visa?
You qualify if, in the 3 years before your application, you completed an accredited bachelor's or master's programme at a Dutch higher education institution, a post-master's programme of at least one academic year in the Netherlands, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, or a master's, doctoral or post-master's programme at a designated foreign institution, or you conducted scientific research in the Netherlands. A designated foreign institution is one that is in the top 200 of at least 2 of the 3 rankings (Times Higher Education, QS, ShanghaiRanking) on the date of your graduation. Foreign diplomas must be evaluated by Nuffic. You also cannot have held an orientation year permit for the same study or research before (IND, checked 8 October 2026).
What does the orientation year visa actually allow me to do?
You may work freely and do an internship, and your employer does not need a work permit. You may also work as an independent entrepreneur, self-employed person or freelancer. The back of the residence document says 'Work freely permitted, TWV not required' (IND, checked 8 October 2026).
Does the 30% ruling apply during the orientation year?
The 30% ruling has its own conditions, which the Belastingdienst sets and your employer applies for. The orientation year permit itself does not give you the ruling. Check the conditions on the Belastingdienst website and ask your employer, because the ruling must be applied for by the employer.
What is the IND fee for the orientation year visa in 2026?
The application costs EUR 254 (IND, checked 8 October 2026). If you apply online from within the Netherlands, you pay immediately with iDEAL. Check the IND page on fees for all fees and exceptions.
Can I apply for the orientation year from outside the Netherlands?
Yes. If you need an MVV, you apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin or permanent residence. After a positive decision you make an appointment at that representation within 3 months to get the MVV sticker, and the MVV is valid for 90 days. If you live in the Netherlands, have a valid residence permit for your study or research, are registered in the BRP and have a BSN, you can apply online with DigiD (IND).
What happens when the orientation year ends without a job?
The permit is valid for 1 year and cannot be extended (IND). If you find a job during the year, you can apply for a residence permit that allows you to work, such as highly skilled migrant, start-up or self-employed person. If you do not, you need another basis for residence or you must leave the Netherlands.