Netherlands orientation year (job seeker permit)

Under the Association Agreement Turkish citizens pay the reduced fee of EUR 85, and the IND lists the orientation year among the routes open to them, including after a found job.

The Association Agreement also gives a separate orientation year after a marriage or registered partnership with a Turkish employee ends: it requires at least three years of marriage and at least one year of living in the Netherlands on a family permit just before it ended, and it allows paid work or self-employment. A job found during that year can lead to an independent permit if the income requirements are met.

Graduates of accredited Dutch bachelor's, master's or PhD programmes, researchers who held a Dutch research permit, Erasmus Mundus joint master graduates and graduates of top-200 foreign institutions, in each case within three years of completing studies. Foreign degrees must be evaluated by Nuffic and you must meet the language or other listed criteria.

A foreign master’s, doctoral or post-master’s institution must be in the top 200 of a general or subject ranking of at least two of Times Higher Education, QS and ShanghaiRanking on your graduation date, and the subject ranking must match your field. Graduates of foreign institutions also need IELTS 6.0 or an equivalent, unless the programme was taught in English or Dutch. Dutch post-master’s programmes must last at least 10 months. You cannot receive two orientation years for the same programme or research.

From abroad you apply for the MVV and the residence permit together at the Dutch embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, then send the application to the IND no earlier than one week and no later than three weeks after the appointment. The fee is EUR 254 (EUR 85 for Turkish citizens) and the IND decides within 90 days. The permit lasts one year, cannot be extended, and can be followed by a highly skilled migrant, start-up or self-employed permit.

After a positive IND decision you book an appointment within three months at the Dutch embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence to have the MVV sticker placed; the MVV is valid for 90 days. After arrival you register with the municipality (BRP) to receive a citizen service number (BSN) and collect your residence document at an IND desk.

You may work in any job or do an internship without a work permit. The permit lasts one year and cannot be extended; once you find a qualifying job, you switch to a highly skilled migrant permit, often at the reduced salary criterion of EUR 3,122 gross a month in 2026.