All about Post Study Work Permit in Netherlands for Indian Students

Netherlands Post Study Work Visa: A chance to gain work experience after completing a degree is what every student aspires for. Netherlands fulfils this desire by offering post study work visa. Simply put, students completing their Bachelor’s or/and Master’s degrees from an accredited Dutch University are eligible to apply for a Residence Permit for ‘Orientation Year’ (Netherlands Post Study Work Visa) which is valid for one year. Not only that, as per new regulations in effect from March 1, 2016, students must apply for post study work visa in Netherlands within three years from the completion of their degree programme. It suggests that if you have completed your Bachelor/Master's or research work in 2016, you have until 2019 to apply for the permit and work in the Netherlands. Even graduates of the Top 200 Ranked Universities of the World (as per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the QS World University Rankings, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities) can apply for this permit to find meaningful employment in the Netherlands. This article explains the eligibility criteria and other information regarding Post Study Work Permits in the Netherlands.

Significance of the Netherlands Post Study Work Visa

The Government of the Netherlands considers it crucial to give highly educated migrants sufficient time to find a job or set up their own company in the Netherlands after they are done with their graduation. For this, one must apply for a residence permit for the orientation year as a highly educated migrant seeking employment.

Students who have completed their studies in the Netherlands shall be given a chance to apply for a residence permit for an orientation year (post study work visa Netherlands) within three years of graduating. This will allow graduates to return home after graduation and come back to the Netherlands. However, students can also apply for an orientation year directly. With the help of the orientation year residence permit, graduates and researchers are free to work in the Netherlands without any restrictions.

How to get a post-study work visa and work in the Netherlands after studying?

By applying for study in the Netherlands, you are putting your career first. Dutch Universities are popular in the world for their quality education and excellent links to the large multinational companies based there. As Netherlands has strong ties to successful businesses, it is not surprising that many international students stay in the Netherlands after they complete their studies. After earning the degree from top universities in the Netherlands, students get plenty of options that allow them to continue living and working here. Students can start their journey to studying, living, and working in the Netherlands with a foundation programme designed especially for international students at Holland International Study Centre.

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 the Netherlands if you have completed:

• a Master’s degree in the past three years, and it is related to Erasmus Mundus Masters Course, or
• Bachelor/ Master’s programmes from a Dutch higher education institution, or
• a post-Master’s course of a minimum 10-month duration (at least 1 academic year) in the Netherlands, or
• a Ph.D. from a Dutch University, or
• a scientific research and fall under the highly skilled migrant category (under the directive (EU) 2016/801)
• a study in the Netherlands in the context of the Cultural Policy (Special-Purpose Funding) Act, or
• a study programme in the Netherlands, and the programme is related to the development cooperation policy of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or
• a Master’s degree or postgraduate training from a foreign top 200 university (as per the Times Rankings, the QS Rankings, and the Shanghai Rankings)

Also, it is ensured that the candidate has relevant English language proficiency and is well-versed in the subject (highly skilled professionals). This condition must be met with either of these:

• At least 6.0 on the IELTS, or
• At least 6.0 on the TOEFL, TOEIC and Cambridge English grades and scale.
• Master’s/ Doctoral/ Post-Master’s was in Dutch or English.

Moreover, it is mandatory to get all the foreign diplomas evaluated by Nuffic (except those from accredited higher education programmes in Flanders, Belgium).

Rules about Residence Permits for Orientation Year in the Netherlands

There are certain rules related to validity, minimum income criteria, and application fee, which a candidate needs to fulfil in order to obtain a permit for the Orientation year (Netherland post study work visa).

Validity

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

Orientation Year for a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa

Highly skilled migrants in the Netherlands can find a job or start their own company after completing their studies. This is why the Orientation year for highly educated persons visa is called into life. You can apply for this residence permit within three years after completing your study or obtaining your Ph.D. in the Netherlands or abroad. The orientation visa also allows graduates to work in the Netherlands. Highly educated persons can apply for a Netherlands visa valid for one year, the so-called 'Orientation year highly educated persons' residence permit.

As a holder of this residence permit, graduates are allowed to work in the Netherlands without any restrictions. The monthly salary (without holiday allowance) must amount to €1,934.40 and the monthly salary (with holiday allowance) must amount to €2,089.16.

Application and Fee for Residence Permit for Orientation Year

International students looking to work in The Netherlands after their graduation, doctorate, or research require a residence permit. The application forms can be submitted online after meeting all the requirements given below:

• You are living in The Netherlands
• You have graduated, obtained your doctorate, or conducted research in The Netherlands
• You have a valid residence permit for that purpose
• You have a Citizen Service Number (burgerservicenummer or BSN).
• You must be registered in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen or BRP).
• You will require DigiD with SMS verification and internet banking (iDEAL).

Application fee: The application fee for the residence permit is €210.00.

How to apply for a Residence Permit for Orientation Year?

One can apply for the Residence Permit for Orientation Year, three months before the expiration of your present residence permit. Check the steps given below to apply for the extension:

• Make sure all the requirements have been met, before you apply
• Collect all the documents that are required to apply
• Apply online or by writing via post
• Pay the application fee
• Wait for the decision from IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service), which takes the decision within 90 days (known as the decision period).
• Make an appointment to collect the residence permit. Once the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter.

What all work can be done with post study work permit in the Netherlands?

• You are free to work in the Netherlands and your employer does not require a work permit.
• You can work as an independent entrepreneur.
• You can work as a self-employed worker.

How to Get PR in Netherlands?

After a five-year stay in The Netherlands, one will be eligible to get a residence permit. To get a PR in the Netherlands after study, one needs to meet the following conditions:

• A valid Dutch residence permit for five years or more directly before the application
• Have always met, and are still fulfilling the conditions of your residence permit
• A residence permit for a non-temporary purpose
• An uninterrupted five-year stay in The Netherlands before the submission of the application
• An independent sustainable and sufficient income
• A civic integration Diploma