Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) Permit for India citizens
Last verified: August 31, 2026
Overview
One-year permit for recent graduates (within 3 years) of Dutch universities or top-ranked global universities to live in the Netherlands and find work, with free access to the labour market. No income or savings requirement. Landing an HSM job afterwards qualifies for the reduced €3,122/month salary threshold.
Requirements
| Minimum annual income | No requirement |
| Minimum savings | No requirement |
| Job offer required | No |
| Degree required | Yes |
| Family can join | No |
| Path to permanent residency | Yes |
Processing time & costs
Typical processing takes 2–8 weeks after applying. The government fee is approximately $290. Difficulty: 2/5.
Documents you'll need
- Confirm your degree qualifies
- Diploma evaluation for foreign degrees
- Legalise your documents
- Apply to the IND (TEV via the embassy)
- Collect the MVV & travel
- Register at your municipality (BRP) & get your BSN
- Collect your permit & start the job hunt
The full ordered checklist — with timing, dependencies, apostille and translation flags, and personalized due dates — is part of the paid plan.
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Check my eligibilityAlways confirm requirements with the official government source. This guide is general information, not legal advice.