Searching for a job: visa for highly educated persons

Twelve months to find a job

The admission scheme for highly educated persons aims to give well educated migrants the opportunity to come over to the Netherlands before finding a job. They receive a residence permit that is valid for exactly twelve months. During this year they can look for a job as a highly skilled migrant. Note that if you want to make use of this scheme, you have to be able to support yourself financially during that search year, since you will not be free on the Dutch labour market.

After this year the permit cannot be extended, but  has to be converted to a permit with a different purpose of stay, for example ‘highly skilled migrant’. One of the advantages of the scheme is that the minimum income level is lower than in the highly skilled migrant scheme. Usually, a highly skilled migrant has to earn at least € 50,000 gross per annum to qualify for the indication of a highly skilled migrant. With the admission scheme for highly educated persons, you can already be indicated as a highly skilled migrant at an income of € 26,605 gross per annum, depending on your age.

Admission criteria and application procedure

Not everyone can apply for the admission scheme for highly educated persons. If you want to use this scheme you have to meet specific criteria. The scheme is meant for foreign nationals who have obtained a master’s degree from a highly ranked university or a PhD degree. On the Euraxess website you can learn more about the admission criteria and the application procedure.