Studying in the Netherlands offers a successful international career plus a thrilling academic experience for students. Even after completing their studies, many graduates want to stay in the Netherlands because of being attracted by the country’s culture, facilities, and quality of life. However, how can one effortlessly and lawfully switch from a student visa to a work visa?
Let’s explore the procedure of switching your student’s residence permit via a Dutch work-based permit visa and other types of available visas how INLS Immigration Netherlands Services can assist you through every stage in the blog.
Going Through Your Current Status
Staying in the Netherlands as an international student is based on a study residence permit published by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). While you are enrolled at a registered educational institute, this permit will allow you to stay in the Netherlands. But this permit is valid until your studies are completed (plus a short grace period).
You can also work part-time or full-time during summer break while keeping your student visa, but for this, your employer must have a work permit for you.
The eligibility of the visa will also end when your studies end. Hence, before your student visa expires, switch to a work-based residence permit to stay and work legally in the country.
First, Explore the Options of a Visa
For graduates who want to work or stay after completing their studies, the Netherlands offers several immigration routes. Which path is suitable for you will be decided by your identity, degree level, and job offer.
Some of the options are as under:
1. The Orientation Year Visa
After graduation, it is the most reliable option. Up to one year stay and work freely in the Netherlands, this visa permit will allow the recently graduated from Dutch universities (and selected top international universities). During this period, you do not need any sponsor.
You should explore other long-term visa options like the Highly Skilled Migrant or EU Blue Card, career opportunities and internships during the period of your orientation year.
2. The Highly Skilled Migrant Visa
You can apply for an HSM visa after getting a job offering a salary and qualification criteria. This is the most reliable option for the graduates.
Your employer must be listed with the IND as a Recognized Sponsorship IND organization to be eligible. This program is open to recent graduates entering the Dutch labour market because its wage thresholds are lower than those of seasoned professionals.
3. The EU Blue Card
This visa provides opportunities to work across different EU member states after a certain period, after holding an educational degree and having an employment contract meeting the EU Blue Card requirements (mainly a minimum salary and recognized qualifications).
4. Treaty and the Business Visas
You should explore the options, such as the DAFT Visa and the Dutch Japanese Trade Treaty Visa, for starting your own business. Setting up companies and businesses in the Netherlands became easy for nationals of the specific countries because of these treaty-based residence permits
5. Additional Specialized Permits
Including the Chavez Visa and Verification Against EU Law Visa, INLS also provides support for the other routes, depending on your situation. These alternatives are important if you have dependents, familial ties to the EU, or legal privileges that let you live in the Netherlands without the usual job constraints.
Get a Job Offer
Your next step is getting a job directly after being eligible for the orientation year. Dutch organisations actively hire international graduates in sectors like technology, finance, logistics, and research.
While applying for a job, you must ensure that your organization is either:
- A company that is already Recognised Sponsorship IND
- To get recognition, work with a company such as INLS.
Your work visa application can be directly sponsored by the employers recognized by the IND, streamlining the process significantly.
Get Ready and Enrol Your Application
Under the suitable category, you can apply for a residency permit once you have a job offer. The important documents included are:
- Authentic passport.
- Transcript of diploma of your graduation diploma.
- An employment contract that meets the requirements of salary.
- Recognised sponsor [roof of your employer.
- Registration of Dutch address and health insurance.
By guiding through the paperwork, the requirement of IND verification and ensuring the smooth transition, INLS supports both applicants and employers.
Hence, timing is very precious, so be sure to apply before your student residence visa expires. While your application is being processed, you can legally live in the Netherlands until your current permit is valid.
Remaining Steps and the Decision
IND usually takes several weeks to decide and review after your application is submitted. By declaring your visa status, you will get a new residence card after approval.
This change will help you to:
- Under Dutch law, work full-time.
- With your international or local company, establish your career.
- To obtain Dutch citizenship or permanent residency, start accruing years of residency.
Your new company must also be recognized as a sponsor or eligible under EU Blue Card terms if you decide to change employers later.
Advantages of Working in the Netherlands
There are many professional and personal advantages of working in the Netherlands:
- Opportunities for the Career: The country has a rising need for foreign talent and has a strong economy.
- Balancing Work and Life: providing excellent conditions of work, Dutch culture values adaptability and equilibrium.
- Way to Obtaining Residency: You can apply for permanent residence or citizenship after five continuous years of legal residence.
- Diverse Society: High English proficiency and heartily welcomed international professionals.
You can enjoy all these advantages while establishing a standard life in the Netherlands with the right visa route.
Reasons to Choose INLS for Visa Assistance
If you are managing job hunting and deadlines for graduation, using Dutch immigration rules can be confusing. You can get help from INLS Immigration Netherlands Services.
Through the application process, INLS helps both individuals and companies by providing expert visa and relocation assistance. Their expert consultants can manage the contact with IND and can guide you on the most suitable visa type for your situation.
The service they offered:
- For graduates and professionals, it permits living and working.
- For employers’ registration with the IND Recognised Sponsorship.
- Visa applications that are based on deals (DAFT and Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty).
- Support for family, verification, and EU-based visas, such as the Verification Against EU Law Visa and the Chavez Visa.
- Support for relocation planning, housing registration, and BSN appointments.
With the guidance of INLS, your transition from student life to professional life will be sound, legal, easy and smooth.
Conclusion
In the Netherlands, switching from a student visa to a work permit is a thrilling accomplishment that leads you towards professional success, permanent residence facilities and cultural immersion.
Initially, the process seems to be confusing, but with early planning, proper support, and expert guidance from INLS, it becomes much simpler. Professional assistance can make all the difference, regardless of whether your road results in an EU Blue Card, Highly Skilled Migrant Visa, or specialist permissions like the Verification Against EU Law Visa or Chavez Visa.