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Residence permit for work experience under EU programme

Last update: 16 October 2023

You want to apply for a residence permit to gain work experience under a European Union (EU) programme. Find out what the requirements are and how you or your employer can apply for the permit.

What is a residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme?

The residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme is for employees who come from outside the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and have another nationality. With this residence permit, you can live in the Netherlands and do a traineeship or gain work experience.

Do you have EU, EEA or Swiss nationality? Then you do not need a residence permit to live in the Netherlands and do a traineeship or gain work experience. Find out more about living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

Erasmus+ EU programme

The EU has several action programmes, including Erasmus+. This programme offers opportunities for people within the EU to study and gain work experience abroad. Find out more about the Erasmus+ action programme.

Gaining work experience without an EU programme

Are you going to do an internship or gain work experience in the Netherlands that does not come under an EU programme? Then different requirements apply to you.

Requirements

These requirements apply to a residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme.

You meet the requirements that apply to everyone.
You will be gaining work experience in the Netherlands under an EU action programme, for example under the Erasmus+ programme.
You meet the income requirements.

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

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. Collect all documents before you apply.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

The IND recommends that your employer submits the application in the Netherlands. Your employer will apply to the IND for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time. Your employer will submit the application in writing by post.

You may also apply yourself at the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.
3. Apply open minus

Your employer will apply to the IND for the residence permit. This is also possible if you are not yet in the Netherlands.

You may also apply to the IND yourself.

You or your employer must submit the application in writing by post.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 350,00. See the page Fees: application costs for an explanation.

The IND will send a letter which says how the employer can pay the fee. Has the employer been recognised as a sponsor? Then the employer pays automatically by direct debit.

Did you apply yourself? In the application form it says how you can pay for the application. Pay for the application within 3 weeks after the date the Dutch embassy or consulate filled in on your application form.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 350,00. See the page Fees: application costs for an explanation.

The IND will send a letter which says how you or your employer can pay the fee. Has the employer been recognised as a sponsor? Then the employer pays automatically by direct debit.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within a 60-day decision period.

We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. You will then receive a letter.

Follow the application in My IND.

What if the IND decides late

Has the decision period passed? And do you still not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within a 60-day decision period.

We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. You will then receive a letter.

Follow the application in My IND.

What if the IND decides late

Has the decision period passed? And do you still not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.
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 at the Dutch representation that is filled in on the application form.

The MVV is valid for 90 days.

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Make an appointment at the Dutch representation to collect the MVV.

Valid passport required

When the Dutch representation places the MVV in your passport, your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months.

Biometrics

You must have your biometrics taken when you collect the MVV. You must take 1 new passport photo with you. You will also provide your signature and have your fingerprints taken.
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.
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.

Application forms

Download the correct form. Fill in the form and send it by post.

Written application forms

I am an employer and recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment' (recognised sponsor) 7510 (PDF, 574.99 KB)

I am an employer and non-recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment regular' (sponsor) 7516 (PDF, 890.9 KB)

I am the employee and will apply abroad myself:

Application for admission and residence for working purposes (foreign national) 9532 (PDF, 357.32 KB)

Written application forms

I am an employer and recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment' (recognised sponsor) 7510 (PDF, 574.99 KB)

I am an employer and non-recognised sponsor:

Application for the purpose of residence of 'paid employment regular' (sponsor) 7516 (PDF, 890.9 KB)

I am the employee and will apply myself in the Netherlands:

Application for the purpose of residence 'working as an employee regular' (foreign national) 7522 (PDF, 775.54 KB)

I am an employer and sponsor, my employee has EU long-term resident status:

Application for a residence permit for a 'long term third country national from outside the EU' (sponsor) 7519 (PDF, 690.03 KB)

I am a long-term EU-resident third country national and am applying myself:

Application for a residence permit for a 'long term third country national from outside the EU' (foreign national) 7528 (PDF, 821.22 KB)

The residence permit

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

TB test

Did your employer indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:

Appendix TB test referral form 7604 (PDF, 200.05 KB)

Working with the residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme

With this residence permit, you may only work based on the EU programme. You do not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). The back of the residence document says in Dutch ‘TWV niet vereist voor specifieke arbeid, andere arbeid niet toegestaan’. (Work permit not required for specific work. Other work not permitted.)

Legal obligations

As a recognised or non-recognised sponsor, your employer has the obligation to provide information and keep records. To you, only the obligation to provide information applies.

Find out more about the legal obligations of the sponsor or recognised sponsor and the foreign national’s obligation to provide information.

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. And if you do not do so? Then, you may get an administrative fine.

Validity of residence permit

The residence permit is valid for the period of the traineeship or work experience programme in the Netherlands. Your residence permit is valid for 1 years at most. After this year you cannot extend the permit.

Replacement residence permit

Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence document replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Residence permit for work experience under EU programme

What is a residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme?

Erasmus+ EU programme

Gaining work experience without an EU programme

Requirements

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

What if the IND decides late

What if the IND decides late

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Valid passport required

Biometrics

Application forms

Download the correct form. Fill in the form and send it by post.

Written application forms

Written application forms

The residence permit

TB test

Working with the residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme

Legal obligations

Validity of residence permit

Replacement residence permit

See also

Rules and regulations

Responsible organisation

Questions?

Residence permit for work experience under EU programme

What is a residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme?

Erasmus+ EU programme

Gaining work experience without an EU programme

Employer: sponsor or recognised sponsor

Requirements

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

What if the IND decides late

What if the IND decides late

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Valid passport required

Biometrics

Application forms

Download the correct form. Fill in the form and send it by post.

Written application forms

Written application forms

The residence permit

TB test

Working with the residence permit to gain work experience under an EU programme

Legal obligations

Validity of residence permit

Replacement residence permit

See also

Rules and regulations

Responsible organisation

Questions?​

Questions?