Apply for a residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme

The information on this page applies in these situations:

• You have the nationality of a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland. Find out which countries are in the EU and EEA. You come to the Netherlands to work as a trainee or apprentice via a EU programme.
• You are an employer in the Netherlands. You are going to hire a trainee or apprentice with the nationality from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

EU programme Erasmus+

The European Union (EU) has an Erasmus+ action programme to give people in the EU opportunities for study and work experience abroad. Find out more about the action programme Erasmus+.

You have the nationality of a country from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

You do not need a residence permit to work as a trainee or apprentice in the Netherlands. Find out more about living in the Netherlands as a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Internship or vocation work placement not under an EU programme

If you intend to do a company work placement or vocational work placement but not under Erasmus+, there are other conditions that will apply to you. Check out the conditions for work experience as a trainee or apprentice not under an EU programme.

Employer: sponsor or recognised sponsor

If you are hiring a foreign worker, then you are the sponsor of that worker. As an employer, you can be a recognised sponsor. Recognised sponsors can easily and quickly apply for residence permits for employees and for their family members. Recognition as a sponsor is not compulsory when hiring workers to work on a EU programme: becoming a recognised sponsor is completely voluntary. Find out more about applying to the IND to become a recognised sponsor. 

To travel to the Netherlands, the worker needs a visa. This visa is called a provisional residence permit, or mvv (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf). In some situations, an mvv is not required. Find out more about the mvv and when you do not need one.

There are some general requirements which apply to everyone who applies for a residence permit.

The following additional requirements apply to a residence permit to work as a trainee or apprentice under an EU programme:

• The worker intends to work temporarily in the Netherlands under an EU programme – for example, via the Erasmus+ programme.
• The worker will earn sufficient income, such as a trainee allowance if the worker is on a vocational work placement. However, you may also count other income, such as a grant. Find out the income requirement.

Turkish nationals and their family members

Find out which other conditions may apply to Turkish citizens and their family members.

You will need to produce certain documents to show that you meet the requirements for the work placement (vocational or company) residence permit. To apply for a residence permit for the purpose of a work placement under an EU programme, you need the following documents:

• Copy of the page containing the worker's personal details and the period of validity of their passport.
• Document from the educational establishment to confirm that the worker is on a vocational work placement, which has been arranged via an EU programme.
• When the trainee already has graduated vocation education or university: a diploma that shows that the trainee graduated less than 2 years ago.
• Document to confirm that the worker is in receipt of a grant and the amount of that grant.
• An internship agreement and internship program. Or a practitioner agreement and a declaration of return.
• These appendices from the application form:
  • The appendix 'Antecedents Certificate'. This appendix is part of the application form. The worker must complete in full and sign the appendix.
  • The completed and signed appendix 'sponsor declaration (employment)'. This appendix is part of the application form. The employer must complete this form.
  • The completed and signed appendix '(Gegevens (over noodzaak) lerend werken in het kader van arbeid (praktikant) (Details (on nessecity) of gaining work experience (apprentice)). This appendix is part of the application form. The employer must complete this form.

Legalisation and translation of official foreign documents

Official foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German. Find out more about legalising and translating foreign documents.

The employer (sponsor) or worker (foreign national) applies for the provisional residence permit (mvv) and the residence permit at the same time. This can only be done in writing. There are different application forms.

Written application form for recognised sponsors

• Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment' (recognised sponsor) 7510 (PDF, 567.1 KB)

Written application form for sponsors (not recognised)

• Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment - regular' (sponsor) 7516 (PDF, 849.01 KB)

Written application form for foreign nationals

If you need an mvv and you wish to apply for the mvv yourself? Please contact the Dutch representation in order to schedule an appointment to submit your application. For this, please use this application form:

• Application for admission and residence for working purposes (foreign national) 9532 (PDF, 336.11 KB)

If you do not need an mvv, you apply at the IND in the Netherlands. For this, please use this application form:

How to submit your written application

1. Download and print the form.
2. Complete the form. Also complete the appendix or appendices that apply to your situation.
3. Put the application form, appendices and supporting documents in one envelope. Never send original documents to the IND. Make clear copies that are easy to read.
4. Send your application to the IND. The address is on the application form.

The IND will send a letter to the employer to pay the costs of the application (charges). If the worker has made the application, he/she will receive a letter from the Dutch Embassy or Dutch representation.

The application for a work placement as part of an EU programme costs € 345,00.

• See the full overview of costs for residence permits

The IND has 90 days to decide on your application for a residence permit to gain work experience. This period is called the decision period. It is specified by law. The employer will receive a letter stating the date by which the IND will decide on the application.

• Find out what happens before the IND decides on your application
• Find out more about decision periods for your application to the IND

For recognised sponsors: decision within 2 weeks

The IND tries to process an application from a recognised sponsor within 2 weeks. However, the application must be complete.

Track your application online

• The employee can track the application's progress in My IND
• The employer can track the application's progress in the Business Portal

Employers can apply for review of the decision within 4 weeks. The decision letter explains how to do this. Find out more about applying for review or appealing a decision from the IND.

Has the decision period passed and you have still not received a decision on your application or review? Then the IND is late in deciding. Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision. 

The residence permit is valid for the period of work experience in the Netherlands. The permit is valid for a maximum of 1 year. You will not be able to renew your residence permit after that year.

With this residence permit, the worker is only allowed to work under the EU programme. You do not need a work permit (TWV). The worker is not allowed to do other work in the Netherlands. The back of the residence permit states: 'TWV niet vereist voor specifieke arbeid, andere arbeid niet toegestaan' (TWV not required for specific employment; other employment not permitted).

The worker and the employer must comply with several legal obligations.

• Find out more about the legal obligations of the worker (foreign national)
• Find out more about the legal obligations of the employer (sponsor)

• Work experience as a trainee or apprentice​
• Frequently asked questions

Rules and regulations

• Article 3.39 Aliens Decree (Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000)
• B4/2 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)

Responsible organisation

Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

Questions?​

Contact us