Residence permit Working Holiday
Who can apply for the residence permit?
You can only apply for the residence permit if you have the nationality or a passport of 1 of the following countries or territories:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Taiwan
- Uruguay
- South Korea
Do you have another nationality? Then you cannot apply for a residence permit Working Holiday.
Maximum number of participants
Every year, a maximum of 100 young people per country from Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan can come to the Netherlands for a Working Holiday residence permit. And per country a maximum of 200 young people from Japan and South Korea.
Requirements
These requirements apply to you:
- You have the nationality of a country with which you can apply for a Working Holiday residence permit. Check who can apply for the residence permit.
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- You are at least 18 and no older than 30 years old at the time of the application.
- You previously did not have a residence permit in the Netherlands for an exchange residence purpose.
- 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 first 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 to know Dutch society and culture. You may complete a short study or course during the exchange.
- You meet the requirements set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or the Note Verbale of your country. For example, you must live in the country of your nationality when you submit the application.
Japan and South Korea: extra requirement
Do you have the nationality of Japan or South Korea? Then you need to register. Read how to apply for a pre-registration in step 3 at Process and costs.
Process and costs
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe written application form lists which documents you need. This form is only available in English. Collect all documents before you submit the application.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
Japan and South Korea: extra documents
Do you have the nationality of Japan or South Korea? Then you also need a valid proof of pre-registration. This is an email from the IND. Read how to apply for the pre-registration in step 3.
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3. Apply open minusThe application process depends on your nationality. Choose the country of your nationality and find out how to apply.
Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan
Do you have the nationality or a passport of Argentina, Urugay or Taiwan? Then you have the nationality of a country for which a provisional residence permit (MVV) is required. This means you need an MVV.
Making an appointment at a Dutch representation
You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time at a Dutch representation abroad. To do this, you must first make an appointment with the Dutch representation. Check Netherlandsworldwide.nl for information about making an appointment.
During the appointment, you will receive a confirmation of receipt and your V-number. You will also provide your biometric data. You give your fingerprints and your signature. These data are needed for the residence permit.
Sending the application to the IND
Have you filled in the application form completely? And have you collected all required documents? 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 states the where to send your application.
Japan and South Korea
Do you have the nationality of Japan or South Korea? Then you do not need an MVV. However, you do need a pre-registration. Each year, a maximum of 200 Japanese and 200 South Koreans can obtain a pre-registration.
At this moment, the maximum number of pre-registrations for Japan has been reached. We expect pre-registration to be possible again in August.
Applying for pre-registration
You must apply for the pre-registration yourself. To do this, send an email to the IND. Include the following information in your email:
- Your name.
- Your date of birth.
- A copy of your passport.
Only with this data can we assess your pre-registration. After you have sent the email, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. Within 2 weeks, you will receive an email stating whether the pre-registration was successful.
Validity of the pre-registration
The pre-registration is valid for 90 days. If you are unable to apply for your residence permit those 90 days, and your pre-registration is no longer valid, you must apply for a new pre-registration.This is only possible of you pre-registration is no longer valid.
Applying for the residence permit
Has your pre-registration been successful? Then you can apply for the residence permit in the following 2 ways:
- With a written application form. You send the form by post.
- At an IND desk if you are in the Netherlands. Call the IND to make an appointment.
Australia, New Zealand and Canada
Do you have the nationality of Australia, New Zealand, or Canada? Then you do not need an MVV. You also do not need a pre-registration. You can apply for the residence permit directly.
You can apply for the residence permit in the following 3 ways:
- With an online application form. Are you still abroad? Then submit your application no earlier than 90 days before you travel to the Netherlands.
- With a written application form. You send the form by post.
- At an IND desk if you are in the Netherlands. Call the IND to make an appointment.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 81,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our website Fees: application costs.
Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan
The application form explains how you pay the costs. Pay the costs within 3 weeks from the date the Dutch representation has written on your application form.
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan and South Korea
You will receive a letter explaining how to pay the costs.
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2. Wait for decision on application open minusThe 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.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe 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.
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3. Decision on application open minusYou 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.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou 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.
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7. Making an appointment for an MVV visa sticker and collecting the residence permit open minusArgentina,Uruguay, Hong Kong en Taiwan
Have you received a positive decision? You can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Making an appointment for an MVV sticker
You will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. You have to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Uruguay and South Korea
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 your residence document.
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
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.