South Korean applicants · Kingdom of the Netherlands
Orientation year (Zoekjaar) for South Korean citizens
Free 1-year permit to live and work in the Netherlands while you look for a job — open to recent graduates of Dutch universities or top-ranked global universities. No job offer needed to apply.
This page covers the Orientation year (Zoekjaar) specifically for South Korean applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to South Korea. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- Typically 2–4 weeks from complete application.
- Government fees
- Approximately €220 (2026 figure; confirm on IND website).
- Typical duration
- 1 year, non-renewable as Zoekjaar.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
Consular processing: a Kingdom of the Netherlands consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
Tourist entry vs. this route
South Korean nationals require a visa for any entry into Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Orientation year (Zoekjaar) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Visa overview
The Orientation Year (Zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden) is the Netherlands' graduate job-search visa. You get 12 months to live in the Netherlands, work for any employer without restriction, and find a qualifying role. It is open to three groups: graduates of accredited Dutch universities, graduates of a foreign university that appears on the Nuffic international top-200 ranking list (for the year you graduated), and certain post-doctoral researchers. You must apply within 3 years of finishing your degree. There is no job offer requirement — that is exactly the point. Once you find a qualifying employer during the year, you switch to the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) permit at a reduced salary threshold. Many people also use the Orientation Year as a bridge after finishing a Dutch master's degree, staying in the country while they interview rather than returning home and waiting for a work visa.
Additional sources
Primary source
Nuffic — Recognised foreign degree rankings ↗ · Nuffic (Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education)
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Degree from an accredited Dutch higher-education institution (HBO or university), OR a degree from a foreign institution that was in the QS, THE, or ARWU top-200 world rankings in the year you graduated — Nuffic maintains the definitive list.
- ✓Application submitted within 3 years of your graduation date — the clock runs from the date on your degree certificate, not the date you finished studying.
- ✓Sufficient funds to support yourself during the search period (check current IND threshold on application).
- ✓Health insurance valid in the Netherlands from the date of entry.
- ✓Valid passport with enough remaining validity to cover the permit period.
Common blockers
- !Your foreign institution is not on the Nuffic ranking list for the year you graduated — check the exact year, as institutions move in and out annually.
- !More than 3 years have passed since your graduation date.
- !Degree not yet officially awarded at time of application — the IND requires an issued diploma, not just a transcript or completion letter.
- !Insufficient funds or no valid health insurance on arrival.
Typical evidence
- ·Original degree certificate (diploma) showing the graduation date and institution name.
- ·Nuffic credential evaluation letter, if applying on the basis of a foreign degree.
- ·Passport (valid for the duration of the permit).
- ·Proof of funds (bank statement or equivalent).
- ·Health insurance policy valid in the Netherlands.
- ·Biometric passport photo.
Application pathway
Check whether your institution qualifies
Go to the Nuffic website and find the qualifying ranking list for the year you graduated. Your institution must appear in the QS, THE, or ARWU top-200 for that specific year — not the current year. Dutch institution graduates skip this step.
Get a Nuffic credential evaluation (foreign degree holders)
If your degree is from abroad, request a credential evaluation from Nuffic. This is a paid service (around €160) and takes 4–6 weeks; start early. Dutch degree holders applying from inside the Netherlands do not need this.
Apply online via IND
Create an IND account and submit the online application. No employer sponsor is needed. Attach your diploma, Nuffic evaluation, passport, funds proof, and insurance.
Pick up your permit or collect MVV
If you are outside the Netherlands, you will receive an MVV (entry visa) to travel on. If you are already in the Netherlands on a student permit, the new permit is issued in-country.
Arrive, register at municipality (BRP)
Register your home address at the local municipality (Basisregistratie Personen). You need this registration for a BSN number, which you need for a bank account and for tax purposes.
Work freely and interview actively
You can work for any Dutch employer without restriction during the Orientation Year — no work permit needed, any salary, any hours. Use the year actively: attend job fairs, use LinkedIn, reach out to tech companies in Amsterdam, Eindhoven (Brainport), and Rotterdam.
Convert to Highly Skilled Migrant once you have an offer
When a Recognised Sponsor employer hires you, they apply for your Kennismigrant permit. Because you are within 3 years of graduation, you qualify for the lower young-graduate salary threshold — significantly lower than the standard threshold for over-30 applicants.
Not sure Kingdom of the Netherlands is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer work unsponsored routes that South Korean nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
South Korean applicants — work unsponsored routes
- Federal Republic of Germany
South Korean applicants — work unsponsored routes
- United Arab Emirates
South Korean applicants — work unsponsored routes
- Canada
South Korean applicants — work unsponsored routes
Frequently asked questions
Are South Korean citizens eligible for the Orientation year (Zoekjaar)?+
Eligibility for the Orientation year (Zoekjaar) is set by Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) and is not nationality-restricted beyond the general criteria, though South Korean applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Schengen Area. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do South Korean applicants typically file the Orientation year (Zoekjaar)?+
a Kingdom of the Netherlands consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do South Korean applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of the Netherlands as well?+
South Korean nationals require a visa for any entry into Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Orientation year (Zoekjaar) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
What happens if I don't find a job during the Orientation Year?+
The permit is not renewable as Zoekjaar. You would normally need to leave the Netherlands. The most common alternative is applying for a different permit category if your situation has changed — for example, if you are starting your own business (self-employment route) or studying again. In practice, most people who are actively interviewing find a role well before the 12 months are up.
Does the Orientation Year reduce the Kennismigrant salary threshold?+
Yes — this is the single most valuable thing about the Orientation Year. When you convert from Zoekjaar to Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) within 3 years of graduating, you qualify for the lower young-graduate salary threshold, which is considerably lower than the standard threshold. This opens the door to many more employers and roles.
Which universities qualify — exactly which ranking lists count?+
The IND uses three global ranking lists: QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, and ARWU (Shanghai Ranking). Your institution must appear in the top 200 of at least one of those lists in the academic year you graduated — not the current year. Nuffic publishes the definitive list for each year. If your university appears in one list but not another, you qualify. Check the Nuffic website linked above for the exact list.
Can I apply for the Orientation Year from inside the Netherlands?+
Yes, and this is the most common route. If you just finished studying at a Dutch university, you apply through the IND while still in the country and your student residence permit simply transitions to the Orientation Year permit. If you graduated from a foreign top-200 university, you typically apply from abroad and receive an MVV (entry visa) before travelling.
Does the Orientation Year permit allow unrestricted work?+
Yes. You can work for any Dutch employer during the Orientation Year — at any salary, any hours, any job, without the employer needing to be a Recognised Sponsor or to apply for any work permit. This is what makes it so useful: you can take short-term contracts, freelance projects, or trial employments while interviewing for a permanent role.
Can I find a job before the Orientation Year ends and switch early?+
Yes — in fact this is the goal. As soon as you have a qualifying offer from a Recognised Sponsor employer, your employer applies for your Highly Skilled Migrant permit. You don't need to wait for the 12 months to finish. The Orientation Year is a safety net that gives you up to 12 months, not a minimum stay requirement.
Can I bring my family during the Orientation Year?+
Partners and dependent children can apply for a family reunification residence permit alongside your Orientation Year permit, provided you can show sufficient income and housing. Note that the Orientation Year itself has no salary requirement, so many applicants show funds through savings. Family members typically do not get unrestricted work rights on a family-join basis during the Orientation Year — this changes once you convert to Kennismigrant.
Does the Orientation Year help me get Dutch citizenship eventually?+
Not directly — the Orientation Year itself does not lead to settlement, and it does not count toward the 5-year continuous residence required for permanent residence. However, the typical pipeline (Orientation Year → Kennismigrant → permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence → naturalisation after 5 years of permanent or qualifying residence) is a well-established route to Dutch citizenship. The key is converting to Kennismigrant and staying continuously.
My university was top-200 when I studied but dropped out of the ranking when I graduated — do I still qualify?+
The IND looks at the ranking for the year in which you received your degree (the graduation year printed on your diploma), not when you started or when you apply. If your institution was in the top-200 in your graduation year, you qualify, even if it has since dropped. Nuffic's archived lists for each year are the reference. If you are unsure, contact Nuffic directly before applying.
I have a master's degree — does the bachelor's degree level also qualify?+
The Orientation Year requires a degree at HBO (bachelor's equivalent) or university level or above. A bachelor's degree from a qualifying Dutch institution counts. A bachelor's from a foreign institution counts only if that institution was top-200 in the year of graduation. A master's or PhD always counts if the institution is on the qualifying list. The IND does not require the master's specifically, but most international applicants hold a master's because bachelor's-only graduates from foreign institutions are more likely to have older graduation dates that push past the 3-year window.
Is there a language requirement for the Orientation Year?+
No — there is no Dutch or English language test required for the Orientation Year permit itself. In practice, most Dutch employers require conversational English at minimum and many tech/finance roles are fully English-language. Dutch language is an advantage for roles outside the international tech corridor. Many applicants use the Orientation Year period to study Dutch through Duolingo or community courses while job-hunting.
What is the Nuffic credential evaluation, and is it mandatory?+
Nuffic is the Dutch organisation that evaluates foreign qualifications. If your degree is from a foreign institution (not a Dutch university), the IND typically requires a Nuffic credential evaluation with your application — it confirms your institution was on the ranking list and that your degree is at the right level. The evaluation costs around €160–€200 and takes 4–6 weeks. If you graduated from a Dutch institution, no Nuffic evaluation is needed.