Job seeker visa Netherlands
Orientation year for graduates (zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden)
Run by Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
Only for recent graduates of a Dutch university, an Erasmus Mundus master's, or a master's or doctorate from a foreign university listed in the first 200 places of at least 2 of 3 global rankings (Times Higher Education, QS, ShanghaiRanking). Most African university degrees do not qualify unless the university meets that ranking rule.
- Job offer
- Not required. You may work freely in the Netherlands during the year.
- Language
- For foreign graduates, English such as IELTS 6.0, or a programme taught in English or Dutch.
- Education
- Within 3 years before applying: an accredited Dutch bachelor's or master's, research in the Netherlands, an Erasmus Mundus master's, or a master's, doctoral or post-master's programme at a designated foreign university.
- Work experience
- Not required.
- Government fee
- EUR 254
- Processing time
- The IND must decide within 90 days.
- Money you must show
- Not stated on the official page
- When and to whom you pay
- When you apply to the IND.
Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says
Read on ind.nl on 2026-10-18: "in the top 200 of the general rankings or the rankings by subject of at least 2 of the 3 publishers"; "valid for 1 year"; "You may work freely in the Netherlands"; "The application costs € 254,00". Another official page.