Intern or apprentice in the Netherlands

The following requirements apply to you.

• You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone. 
• You meet the income requirements.
• Your employer is registered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel or KvK). This applies only if your employer must register under the Commercial Register Act 2007 (Hrw 2007).
• Your employer is a company, organisation or official Dutch branch of a foreign company, established in the Netherlands.

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• Extra requirements for interns at secondary vocational education (MBO) level

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  • You are enrolled in a study programme at an educational institution outside the Netherlands. You have almost completed your study programme and your internship is a compulsory component of the programme.
  • You have an internship agreement with learning objectives.
  • You have an internship programme.
  • Your employer declares to be your sponsor.
  • You have completed a sufficiently subject-oriented basic training programme.
  • The number of trainees is no more than 10% of the employer’s permanent workforce. This only applies if your employer has more than 2 trainees.
  • The internship lasts up to 6 months. 

• Extra requirements for interns at university (WO)/university of applied sciences (HBO) level

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  • You are enrolled in a study programme at an educational institution outside the Netherlands. Or you obtained a higher vocational or university diploma no more than 2 years ago. This diploma was issued by a foreign or Dutch educational institution.
  • You have an internship agreement with learning objectives.
  • You have an internship programme.
  • Your employer declares to be your sponsor.
  • The internship lasts up to 1 year.

• Extra requirements for an apprentice on work placement

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  • You are going to work at a Dutch company to gain experience for your job in your country of origin.
  • You are employed by an employer outside the Netherlands. 
  • The foreign employer and the Dutch company have an agreement on the details of the learning pathway.
  • The  work experience is important for the foreign employer’s business.
  • You have completed a sufficiently subject-oriented basic training programme.
  • The number of students on work placement is no more than 10% of the employer’s permanent workforce. This only applies if your employer has more than 2 students on work placement.
  • You are not taking up a regular position. 
  • You have a work placement agreement with the employer in the Netherlands.
  • You have a curriculum.
  • The curriculum lasts for 24 weeks at most.
  • You have a return statement. In this statement, the foreign employer states that the apprentice on work placement will be re-employed, immediately after they return.
  • Your employer declares to be your sponsor. 

• Extra requirements Young Workers Exchange Program (YWEP)

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  • You have the Canadian nationality.
  • You are over 18 but under 31 years old.
  • You are a student. Or you graduated less than 12 months ago. 
  • You have registered for a study programme. Or you obtained a degree at a university or university of applied sciences level no more than 12 months ago.
  • You have an internship agreement with learning objectives.
  • The duration of the internship is 1 year at most. 

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• 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 foreign documents 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 foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

• 3. Apply open minus

  The IND advises you to have your employer apply in the Netherlands. Your employer must apply to the IND for the MVV and the single permit at the same time. Your employer must submit the application in writing by post.

  You may also apply yourself to the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad. 

• 3. Apply open minus

  Your employer must apply to the IND for the single permit. This is possible even if you are not yet in the Netherlands. Your employer must submit the application in writing by post.

  You may also apply to the IND yourself. 

• 4. Pay for application open minus

  
  The application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.

  The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.

• 4. Pay for application open minus

  The application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.

  The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
   

• 5. Wait for decision on application open minus

  The IND must take a decision within 60 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.

  If the application is complete, a target decision period of 7 weeks applies to the decision.

  Advice from UWV

  The IND asks the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV) for advice on the employment market aspects. The IND needs this advice in order to take a decision. The UWV assesses whether the work meets the requirements of the Labour Act for Aliens (in Dutch: Wet arbeid vreemdelingen or Wav). Does the UWV need more information? Then the UWV will contact your employer directly. The UWV has a legal time limit of 5 weeks for the advisory process.

  Follow the application in My IND.

• 5. Wait for decision on application open minus

  The IND must take a decision within 60 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.

  If the application is complete, a target decision period of 7 weeks applies to the decision.

  Advice from UWV

  The IND asks the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV) for advice on the employment market aspects. The IND needs this advice in order to take a decision. The UWV assesses whether the work meets the requirements of the Labour Act for Aliens (in Dutch: Wet arbeid vreemdelingen or Wav). Does the UWV need more information? Then the UWV will contact your employer directly. The UWV has a legal time limit of 5 weeks for the advisory process.

  Follow the application in My IND.

• 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 an MVV and a Single Permit.
  • Negative decision: you will not get an MVV and a Single 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 Single Permit.
  • Negative decision: you will not get a Single Permit. You can object against this decision. 
• 7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minus

  Your can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.

  Make appointment within 3 months of decision

  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.

  Biometrics

  You must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. You will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. You also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.

  Valid passport required

  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.

• 7. Collect GVVA  open minus

  When the single 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.

  The single permit consists of a residence document and an additional document. Your employer will receive a copy of the additional document.
   

• 8. Collect GVVA open minus

  When the single 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. 

  The single permit consists of a residence document and an additional document. Your employer will receive a copy of the additional document.

TB test

Did you 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 single permit (GVVA). Take  with you to the appointment:

Appendix TB test referral form 7604(PDF, 230.36 KB)

Working with the single permit

The single permit consists of a residence permit and an additional document.

 The residence permit says ‘Free to work in accordance with the additional document’ (in Dutch: Arbeid toegestaan conform aanvullend document). The additional document says for which employer you are allowed to work. It also sets out the conditions under which you are allowed to work. You may live and work for your employer in the Netherlands with the residence document and the additional document. Your employer will receive a copy of the additional document.

Legal obligations

As a sponsor, your employer has an obligation to provide information and an obligation to keep and retain records. Is your employer a recognised sponsor? Then your employer also has a duty of care. You only have an obligation to provide information. 

Read more about the legal obligations of the (recognised) sponsor  and the obligation of the foreign national to provide information. 

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

 Validity of the single permit

The period of validity of the single permit depends on the duration of your traineeship apprenticeship agreement. The single permit is valid for 1 year at most. 

Type of residence permit

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

Other applications

Replacement of the residence permit

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

Extend residence permit

Is your residence permit valid for less than 1 year? Only in that situation you can  sometimes extend the residence permit. But only if your traineeship or apprenticeship experience agreement has not yet ended. 

• EU action programme (traineeship) 
• Living in the Netherlands
• Travel with a residence permit and return visa