No, this is not necessary. You can work freely in the Netherlands during the orientation year. Your employer can wait until the end of your orientation year before he applies for a new residence permit. Do make sure that your employer applies before your residence permit for an orientation year ends. In this way, there will be no gap between your residence permits orientation year and highly skilled migrant. There will then also be no gap in your legal stay.
Frequently asked questions
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Frequently asked questions
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I have found a job as a highly skilled migrant during the orientation year. Does my employer have to apply for a new residence permit for me immediately?
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Can my spouse, partner or minor child stay with me during the orientation year?
open minusYes, it is possible. You do have to meet all the requirements for the residence permits for Family and partner.
Requirement sufficient income
Do your family members already have a Dutch residence permit? In this case, you do not need to prove that you have sufficient income.
Do your family members not have a Dutch residence permit yet? In this case, you need to prove that you do have sufficient income. In the next 2 situations, you will meet the income requirements:
- You have a job that gives you and independent, sufficient and sustainable income.
- You have an amount in your bank account equal to 12 times the social assistance benefit (in Dutch: bijstandsnorm) including holiday allowance.
In both situations you and your family members are not allowed to apply for public funds.
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Do I have to show that I have sufficient income when I apply for the orientation year?
open minusNo, you do no need to provide proof of income when you apply for a residence permit orientation year. You will have to sustain yourself during the orientation year, but you do not have to show how. You will be allowed to work during your orientation year.
During the orientation year, you are not allowed to use public funds.
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Can I apply for a residence permit for orientation year with a foreign bachelor's degree?
open minusNo, you cannot. When you have studied abroad, you should at least have obtained a master's degree.
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In the last 3 years I have worked as a scientific researcher with a residence permit for highly skilled migrant. Can I apply for a residence permit for orientation year?
open minusYou can only apply for the orientation year if you have done scientific research at an educational institution or at a research institution funded or subsidized by the Dutch government.
Your letter of appointment or employment contract must state the job title and job code as drawn up in the University Job Classification System (Universitair Functieordeningssysteem (UFO) in Dutch). Your job code should start with 01.
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What are the advantages of the orientation year?
open minusWith the orientation year you will have time to find a job as a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands. During the orientation year you can work freely in the Netherlands. This means that your employer does not need a work permit for you. And your employer only has to pay at least the legal minimum wage (including holiday allowance). You can also use the orientation year to start your own business.
Did you find a job as a highly skilled migrant? In that case a reduced salary criterion applies to you. This makes it easier and less expensive for an employer to hire you. You keep the reduced salary criterion, also when you change employers. Read the requirements for a residence permit for highly skilled migrant.