Can I stay in the Netherlands after graduating?

A very frequently asked question by students is if they can stay in the Netherlands after they graduate. The Dutch government is keen on keeping talent in the country and wants to give them enough time to find a job or set up their own company in the Netherlands after they have graduated. Therefore, there is a so-called orientation year permit for graduates so that they can stay in the Netherlands for a year after completing their studies.

Orientation year permit for highly educated persons

The orientation year permit for highly educated persons is intended for:

• foreign students studying in the Netherlands;
• foreign students who graduated from a top university outside the Netherlands;
• foreign scientific researchers who have carried out research in the Netherlands.

The residence permit can be submitted within 3 years after completing your studies or after obtaining the PhD. It states that the holder of the permit is allowed to work in the Netherlands free from any restrictions, without need of a work permit. Graduates can first return to their country of origin after having completed their studies, and to then come back again to the Netherlands.

Read more about the orientation year permit here.