Working holiday residence permit

Last update: 5 September 2024

A working holiday is a cultural exchange programme or scheme (WHP or WHS) for young people aged 18 to 30 from certain countries. The main purpose is to get to know Dutch society and culture. Find out what the requirements are and how to apply for the residence permit.

Requirements

These requirements apply to you.

You have the nationality of one of the countries taking part in the WHP or WHS programme in the Netherlands. Or a passport issued by the government of Taiwan. For the Working Holiday Programme (WHP) and the Working Holiday Scheme (WHS), the Netherlands has an agreement with these countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Uruguay
You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
For Japan and South Korea: you have a valid pre-registration certificate to take part in the WHP. You can apply for this pre-registration certificate at the Dutch Embassy in Tokyo or Seoul.
You are at least 18 and no more than 30 years old at the time of the application.
You previously did not have a residence permit in the Netherlands for the purpose of an exchange.
You have a return ticket. Or you can show that you have enough money to buy a ticket for the return journey.
You have enough money to pay for the initial period in the Netherlands. You must estimate how much money you need. You may not receive social benefits from Dutch public funds.
You have insurance that covers the cost of healthcare in the Netherlands.
You are coming to the Netherlands for cultural exchange. The main purpose is to get acquainted with Dutch society and culture. You may complete a short study or course during the exchange.
You meet the requirements for the WHP/WHS set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or the Note Verbale of your country. You must, for example, live in the country of your nationality when you submit the application.
Every year, no more than 100 young people from Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Uruguay may come to the Netherlands on the WHP/WHS.
Every year, no more than 100 young people from South Korea may come to the Netherlands on the WHP. A maximum of 200 young people applies to Japan.

Process and costs

Show details Hide details

1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. This form is only available in English. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
2. Collect documents open minus
For your application for the residence permit in the Netherlands, you need the following documents:
- a copy of the page in your passport showing your personal details.
- a return ticket/reservation or a bank declaration showing that you have enough money for a ticket back to your country of origin. The bank declaration or reservation must be in Dutch, English, French or German and your name must be on it.
- if you come from Japan or South Korea: a valid pre-registration certificate for participation in the WHP from the Dutch embassy in Tokyo or Seoul is needed. Your personal details and the serial number must be on the pre-registration certificate.
3. Apply open minus

Make an appointment at the Dutch representation for the application for the MVV and the residence permit. For more information on making an appointment see Nederlandwereldwijd.nl.

During the appointment at the Dutch representation

Take the completed application form, your passport photo and your valid passport with you to the appointment. Sometimes you need to take extra documents with you. This is explained in the application form. A staff member of the Dutch representation will register your application and place the application date on the application form. The staff member will also fill in the details of the Dutch representation. Afterwards, you will get the form back. You will receive a confirmation of receipt with your personal V number.

The Dutch representation will also take your biometric data: you will have your fingerprints taken and provide your signature. These data are needed for your residence permit.

Send application to IND

Have you completed the application form in full? And have you collected all documents required? Then send your application with the documents to the IND in the Netherlands. Do this within 3 weeks of the date that the Dutch representation filled in on the application form. The form explains where you need to send the application.
3. Apply open minus
For Japan and South Korea

Apply first at the Dutch representation in Japan or South Korea for a pre-registration certificate for participation in the WHP. Send an email with your name, date of birth and copy of your passport to the Dutch representation. For more information on the pre-registration see Nederlandwereldwijd.nl.

The pre-registration certificate is valid for 90 days. Have you not been able to apply for your residence permit in the Netherlands within 90 days? Then you must apply for a new pre-registration certificate at the Dutch representation.

You will receive your pre-registration certificate by email. Take the email with you to the Netherlands. You can apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands only with this pre-registration certificate.

You can submit the application for the residence permit in 2 ways:
- At an IND desk when you are in the Netherlands. Call the IND to make an appointment.
- In writing by post.
For Australia, Canada and New Zealand

You can submit the application in 3 ways:
- Online. Are you still abroad? Do not submit the application earlier than 90 days before you travel to the Netherlands.
- At an IND desk if you are in the Netherlands during the permit-exempt period. Call the IND to make an appointment.
- In writing by post.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 76,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our website Fees: application costs.
The application form explains how you can pay for the application. Pay the costs within 3 weeks of the date that the Dutch representation filled in on your application form.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 76,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our website Fees: application costs.
You will receive a letter explaining how you can pay.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive a message with the decision. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive an MVV and residence permit. You can object against this decision.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
7. Collect MVV and travel to the Netherlands open minus

You can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV. You collect the MVV from the Dutch representation where you submitted the application.

The MVV is valid for 90 days.

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate to collect the MVV.

Valid passport required

When the Dutch embassy or consulate places the MVV in your passport, your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months.
7. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
8. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.

Application forms

Written application forms

You are a national of Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan or Uruguay. You take this form with you to your appointment for the mvv application at the Dutch representation.

Application for admission and residence for a Working Holiday (Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Uruguay nationals) 9561 (PDF, 217.5 KB)

Online application form Working Holiday

You can only submit this application online if you have a Australian, Canadian or New Zealand nationality and u are applying for your first residence permit.

Apply online

Written application forms

Are you from Japan or South Korea and did u apply to the Dutch representation for a pre-registration certificate before you travelled to the Netherlands? Or do u live in the Netherlands with a residence permit and do you wish to change to Working Holiday? Please, use the written application form:

Application for the purpose of residence 'exchange' within the context of the Working Holiday Program or Working Holiday Scheme 7520 (PDF, 418.55 KB)

The residence permit

Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:

Working with the residence permit

It says on the back of your residence permit: ‘Work permit not required for occasional work while on WHP/WHS, other work not permitted’ (in Dutch: TWV niet vereist voor incidentele arbeid in het kader van WHP/WHS, andere arbeid niet toegestaan).

Occasional work means that you are allowed to work only to financially support your stay in the Netherlands. Then your employer does not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you. You may, for example work fulltime, but not the whole year for the same employer. Nor may you work as a self-employed person. This is because the main purpose of your stay is cultural exchange.

Legal obligations

You have an obligation to provide information. This means that you must notify the IND of changes in your situation.

Read more about your obligation to provide information.

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not, you may get an administrative fine.

Validity of the residence permit

The residence permit for a working holiday is valid for a maximum of 1 year.

Type of residence permit

The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.

Other applications

You cannot extend the working holiday residence permit. Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have your residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change of details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Working holiday residence permit

Requirements

Process and costs

Send application to IND

For Japan and South Korea

For Australia, Canada and New Zealand

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Valid passport required

Application forms

Written application forms

Online application form Working Holiday

Written application forms

The residence permit

Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:

Working with the residence permit

Legal obligations

Validity of the residence permit

Type of residence permit

Other applications

See also