Looking for Work in the Netherlands

Staying after your studies

David Kramer, TU Delft Career Centre Project Assistant 7-11-2013

Delft University of Technology

Challenge the future

1.
A Time of Changes

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

Before and After Graduation

Preparing for the next steps
Should you stay or should you go? Ex-matriculating from the university. Cancelling your student health insurance Moving house
Ending your DUWO/other housing contract. Looking for a new apartment-how long do you have to look?

Arranging your visa.

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

Before and After Graduation

The most important question

Spreek je al Nederlands?

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

After Graduation

Waarom wl of niet?

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

De Nederlandse Taal
Spreek je al voldoende?
After two years, do you speak Dutch? Outside of the University, Dutch is the lingua franca. You can get by only speaking English, but speaking Dutch is highly appreciated (you do live in the Netherlands after all). Learning Dutch shows commitment and a willingness to take part in the Dutch samenleving. Websites like www.dutchgrammar.com can help you learn on your own. Many gemeenten offer integration language courses for foreigners, sometimes even for free or at a reduced rate! Lastly: speaking Dutch makes you far more attractive to potential employers and will make a big difference in your hiring!

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

2.
Initiating the Process

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

Initiating the Process

Looking for Work in the Netherlands
Its not impossible to find work in this country. Jobs are still available to graduates with technical degrees. It will be harder to find work; be more proactive! TU Delft Career Centre is available always to answer questions. We cant help with problems with the IND, however. Start organising your visas as soon as you know your graduation date!

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

3.
Getting your visas

Staying in the Netherlands after your studies

Getting your Visas

A not so difficult process
When you know your graduation date, make an appointment with the IND to change your visa to zoekjaar (search-year to find work). Upon graduation your student visa will be cancelled. Once you start a visa application process, your current visa will be temporarily extended until you receive your new permit. It takes upwards of three months to get your new visa. You may not work while your visa is being processed!

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Zoekjaar Visa
What does it mean?
The search-year visa affords graduates of Dutch higher education institutes to seek work solely in the Netherlands. It is designed to afford non-EU students the time to look for work after graduation. At the end of the search-year you must have found work and change your permit, or you will be asked to leave the Netherlands.

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Getting your Visas

What you need to get it
The zoekjaar visa costs 331 and is valid for a year. In order to apply you must fulfill the following requirements:
You have not previously applied for a search-year after graduation residence permit. You studied in the Netherlands with a residence permit to study. You have a diploma from an HBO or a university. You have received your diploma for your studied course at a Dutch school or university. Your diploma isnt older than a year. You have valid travel documents (such as a passport). You are not a danger to the public order.

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Getting your Visas

What it gets you
The zoekjaar visa allows unlimited working rights for 12 months from your graduation date. You will not need a work permit (tewerkstellingvergunning) in this period. Gives you the time to find sustainable employment. Once you find gainful employment, you will have to change your visa again.

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Getting your Visas

What you need to get it
In order to apply for the zoekjaar visa, youll need:
A copy of your diploma or a statement of intent to graduate. A recent passport photo (technically not older than 6 months) A completed copy of the application to change your residence permit (formulier tot wijziging verblijfsdoel).

Call the IND to make an appointment. The nearest office is Rijswijk but they can be busy. It may take a few weeks to get an appointment. Again, apply as soon as possible!!

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4.
After the search-year

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After the Search-Year

What may happen
After the search year, a few things may have happened:
You found a highly-paid job and want to become a kennismigrant (highly-skilled migrant worker). You found employment that admits you as a labour migrant. You live with an EU citizen. Youre unemployed and you dont live with an EU citizen.

Each situation requires a different plan of action.

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After the Search-Year

You want to be a kennismigrant
You must have a job that pays grossly more than 25.800 p.y. You mustnt form a danger to public order and have a passport. Your employer must be qualified to employ kennismigranten. You will not need an additional work-permit. Your employer will initiate the application process and maybe pay your fee (again 331) depending on your personal situation.

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After the Search-Year

You want to be a labour-migrant
You didnt find qualifying highly-skilled migrant work related to your study. In this case you may become a labour migrant. Your job must conform to Dutch labour rules. Your employer must prove you arent taking work from a Dutch or EU citizen. Your work-permit may cost upwards of 830, which your employer may not wish to pay. You will have to change your residence permit again for a fee of 331). Not the most ideal way to stay in the country.

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After the Search-Year

You live with an EU citizen
If you live longer than six months with an EU citizen before your search-year expires, you can change your permit regardless of employment, though your partner may have to prove his/her financial means. Change your residence permit to gezinsvorming (family creation). Legally you are treated like an EU citizen and a permit will be issued for a maximum of five years. Processing can take up to a half year. Your current permit will be extended until your new permit is decided. You must prove a that you have a sustainable and exclusive relationship. The fee is only 41.

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After the Search-Year

Youre unemployed
Unfortunately if you remain unemployed and do not live with an EU citizen, you will not be able to extend or change your residence permit. You will be asked to leave the Netherlands. Of course you may look for work in other EU and foreign countries. What happens in the Netherlands has no effect on these other countries. Other fees may apply and are payable to those respective authorities. Studying in the Netherlands does not afford the same privaleges in other countries.

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Taking care of business

How to start a sustainable life here
Once you are no longer a student and you work, youll need health insurance. All residents of the Netherlands are required to take out some form of insurance. If you work, you must pay into the public option.

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Health insurance
Where to find more information
There are many private and public providers. Some are better than others and the costs do vary. The higher your liability the less you pay. www.postbus51.nl has extensive information about the different plans and the option to compare and contrast.

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Any questions?

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Need more information? Contact the TU Delft Career Centre and speak one-on-one with a Careers Counsellor!

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