Study in the Netherlands and work in the Orientation year.

This is a good pathway for you to study, work and move into the Netherlands.

If you have studied in the Netherlands or completed a research project here, The Dutch government would like you to stay and be part of our knowledge-based economy. To facilitate this, and to attract international graduates from the world’s best universities, it initiated the ‘Orientation year highly educated persons’ residence permit. Other names include ‘Search Year’, ‘Zoekjaar’, ‘Orientation Year’, which you may use to find additional information. This permit is valid for one year and allows you to find a job in the Netherlands or to start your own business. This residence permit gives you free access to the Dutch labour market and the possibility to continue your stay in the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant using a lower salary criterium. To qualify for the orientation year permit, you must have graduated from a Dutch Institution of higher learning in the past 3 years, or your educational institution must be, at the time of your graduation, published on at least two of three available ranking lists as published by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education. Once you have checked that your institution is, you must also get your diploma evaluated by Nuffic.