How long can I work in the Netherlands after graduating with a master's degree?

The Netherlands does not offer a multi year post study work visa the way some countries do; instead, graduates get a single 1 year orientation year permit built specifically to help you find a qualifying job or start a business, after which you either switch to another permit or your stay in that category ends.

What You Can Do During the Orientation Year

During this 1 year period, your employer does not need a separate work permit, known as a TWV, to hire you, so you can work freely across almost any job. You can also freelance or start your own business under this same permit. Importantly, the orientation year permit itself cannot be extended once granted, which makes using the year efficiently genuinely important.

What Happens After the Orientation Year Ends

If you secure a qualifying job before your orientation year runs out, you can switch to another residence permit, most commonly the Highly Skilled Migrant, or kennismigrant, permit, and continue living and working in the Netherlands beyond that first year. This switch depends on meeting the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service's salary and employer requirements for that specific permit category.

Timing Matters More Than It Looks

You generally have up to 3 years after graduating to apply for the orientation year permit, so it does not have to start the day you finish your degree. This gives some flexibility if you want to travel home first or need extra time before starting your job search, though starting the clock earlier still gives you more runway to find and convert into a qualifying role.

This Information Is Also Available On

Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Netherlands, residence permit for orientation year, and Government of the Netherlands official migration guidance.

My Advice

In my experience, students treat the orientation year as automatically renewable, and it is not, so build a genuine job search plan before you graduate rather than after. Line up your CV, network with Dutch employers in your field, and target the Highly Skilled Migrant switch as your goal from month one of the orientation year rather than waiting until the final few months to start looking seriously.