how to apply successfully for the Netherlands working holiday visa

Holland working holiday visa

You might have heard about a country in the EU named Holland but when looking at the maps, there is no such a thing as one called the Netherlands. Which one is true?

The Netherlands is a country in Western Europe with territories in the Caribbean.

The name Holland is one of the provinces of the country and is used informally as a name for the whole country and territory.

The Dutch are the people and language they speak and the point is that they often call the country Holland. Both the words Holland and the Netherlands are used to refer to the country.

So if you search for a Netherlands working holiday visa, it is common to see Holland working holiday visa. They are the same with no difference.

Working holiday visa for Canadians in the Netherlands

Canadian citizens are the only eligible nation to apply for the Netherlands working holiday visa in the US continent.

Canadian citizens need to fulfill the eligibility principles so they can apply for the program:

• be a Canadian citizen
• Be 18-30 years old
• Reside in Canada when applying, and
• Have a valid Canadian passport

It is not required for Canadian citizens applying for a working holiday visa to have a job offer. If applying for the Young Workers Exchange program, you need a job offer.

The duration of the stay is one year and can not be extended.

For the Working Holiday Program, you can apply to the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) or the Dutch embassy in Canada.

In terms of the Young Workers Exchange Program, you as the applicant can apply to the Dutch embassy in Canada or your future employer can apply on your behalf to the IND.

Working holiday program the Netherlands

There are two Working holiday programs in the Netherlands called Working Holiday Programmed (WHP) and Working Holiday Scheme (WHS). They are different to some small extent. For instance, the Canadian citizens who want to apply for a working holiday visa do not need a job offer from a Dutch employer but if they apply for the Working Holiday Scheme they need a job offer.

There could be a few changes in the WHS and WHP for applicants from the eligible countries. You need to see the special requirements for the programs in the Dutch embassy in your home country.

Who is eligible to apply for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa?

Not everyone can apply for a Netherlands Working Holiday Visa. You have to fulfill the eligibility principles. The Dutch officials are quite strict with them. So go through the below text to see whether you can apply for it or not.

Nationality

Only a few countries can apply for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa. You can only apply if you are a national or citizen of the below list of countries:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Uruguay

Age

The officials have set age restrictions on the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa. If you are between 18 and 31, you can apply for it.

Family

The applicants for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa must be single. They may not apply or bring the family to the country.

Intention to leave

You must have the intention to leave the country. It is not possible to extend the working holiday visa or stay longer. So you must leave the Netherlands and show the intention to leave at the time of application.

Clean record

People with a criminal background may not apply for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa. You must have a clean record to apply for it. Also, the officials require to provide the certificate for it.

First usage

You may use the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa only once. You could not use it twice. So if you have used it before, do not waste your time and energy.

Enough funds

You need to have enough funds to support yourself in the Netherlands. It includes the cost of returning to your home country. Remember that there is a limitation on the time you can work in the Netherlands. So you need to have enough to cover your expenses.

Working holiday visa Amsterdam

The Netherlands working holiday visa is the same as a working holiday visa in Amsterdam. You can resident in the capital city and enjoy its many wonders.

In 2020, seven million tourists and visitors visited the city during the COVID-19 pandemic but the previous year it was 20 million visitors.

So many academic and research centers bring international students to the city and make it ideal to continue their education.

The 80.000 international students that reside in the country can enlarge your friend’s cycle and learn a lot of things from them.

If you are into cultural activities, more than 40 museums, numerous theaters, and entertainment venues provide a great opportunity to enjoy your time there.

Want to immigrate to the Netherlands as a doctor? Read our article.

Netherlands working holiday visa for Japanese

Japanese citizens are among the qualified countries that can apply for the Netherlands working holiday visa.

To use the working holiday program, you need a residence permit, and you have to apply for a pre-registration. The pre-registration is required to continue the application process in the Netherlands.

You do not have to visit the Dutch embassy just send an email to the  [email protected]  to apply for proof of registration. The following personal information is required to apply for registration:

1. Name: Hanzo, Hattori, (surname, First name)
2. Passport number:
3. Date of birth: year – MONTH – date (example: 1995-APR-01)

Note: Your passport must be valid for more than 1 year.

The program has 200 quotas every year, so you would better apply as early as possible when the officials announce the date you can begin your application.

The requirements for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa

Here is the list of required supporting documents for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa. However, the Dutch embassies might require further supporting documents. It is up to their decision.

Passport

The passport you provide must have been issued from one of the eligible countries. If you have dual citizenship, use the passport of the eligible country. Also, it couldn’t be older than ten years. Being valid for over three months after the date you will leave the Netherlands is a must. There must be, at minimum, two blank pages with the passport as well.

Photo

Two recent photos with a clear white background. They can not be older than three months.

Application form

You can get the application form for Netherlands long-stay visa from the Dutch embassy. You will not need the form if you apply online.

Health insurance

The health insurance you buy must be valid in the Netherlands and the entire Schengen Area. It has to cover all of your medical expenses for 30.000 EUR.

Proof of clean record

You can get a certificate from the Police in your home country. The officials might need a certificate from the countries you have stayed longer than six months.

Proof of having enough funds

State your financial capability to the officials. A bank statement or sponsorship letter could suffice.

Return ticket

Purchasing a return ticket is to show you can return to your home country after one year.

Note: As explained, the authorities could ask for further supporting documents.

Netherlands Working Holiday Visa application process

The application process for the Netherlands Working Holiday Visa is a bit different for each country.

Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Uruguay

Before you apply for Netherlands Working Holiday Visa, see if the embassy processes applications or not. There are restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Dutch embassy

First, you visit the Dutch embassy in your country:

• Buenos Aires
• Hong Kong
• Taipei
• Buenos Aires

You need an application form, passport, and photo to apply with the Dutch embassy.

The officials at the embassy will give you an information sheet.

2. Requirements

The sheet will tell you how to pay the fee for visa processing and send a few requirements to the IND:

• Scan the form of your passport
• Proof of having enough funds
  • Bank statements, or
  • The return ticket
• A signed antecedent certificate. The certificate wants you to clarify a few items for the IND:
  • The location you will get the residence permit is the Netherlands.
  • The date you will enter the Netherlands. It can not be longer than six months after the date of application.

3. Processing

Now the IND works on your application to see if you are eligible or not. If they find you fit, they will notify you and the Dutch embassy in your home country.

In this step, you have to submit your passport to the embassy so they stick the visa on it.

When you receive the visa on your passport, you have 60 days to enter the Netherlands. If not, the officials will revoke your Working holiday visa.

4. Residence permit

When you enter the Netherlands, you have to visit the IND to receive your residence permit. The permit is the authorization to stay in the country for longer than 90 days.

Japan and South Korea

There are two steps to follow when you apply from Japan and South Korea. The first step is from your home country, and the second is from the Netherlands.

The initial enrollment in the program

First, you need to register for the working holiday program. Send the below information to the Dutch embassy in your country by mail:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Passport number

If the Dutch embassy approves registration to the program, they will send you an email. You need to print the form and bring it to the Netherlands. The form contains a number. You will need this number to continue the process from within the Netherlands.

Moving to the Netherlands

When you receive the embassy’s confirmation email, you have 90 days to move to the Netherlands. If you don’t move to the Netherlands in 90 days, the officials will revoke your visa.

After getting to the Netherlands, prepare the below list of documents and send them to the IND:

• Completed, printed, and sign the application form.
• The registration number granted by the Dutch embassy in your home country.
• A signed antecedent certificate.
• A copy of your passport.
• Bank statements or a return ticket to prove to have enough funds. It must be in your name and in one of the below languages:
  • English
  • French
  • German

Remember that the IND only accepts documents in printed A4 format. Do not send a CD or memory stick. The officials won’t accept them.

When the IND receives your application, they will send you a letter. It is the confirmation that they have received your application. The letter will tell you how to pay the fee for the Netherlands working holiday visa. In case the Dutch officials require further documents, the letter informs you.

After you receive the IND confirmation, you have two weeks to make an online appointment with the IND. Visit the IND on the given date to receive your Residence Permit.

Australia, Canada, and New Zealand

The people from the above countries have two options to apply for the Netherlands working holiday visa:

1. Online from their home country.
2. From inside the Netherlands.

1. Online from their home country

You need to make your application online to the IND. The procedure requires you to submit the requirements online. So you need the scanned form of them. Remember that if you submit the wrong or not enough documents, the process will take longer.

Another point is that the earliest time you can apply is three months from the date of application.

2. From inside the Netherlands.

Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand don’t need a Netherlands short-stay visa. They have permission to enter the country with their passport or travel document.

So you can enter the country without any visa and apply for a Netherlands working holiday visa from there. There you have to apply for a Residence Permit to stay longer than 90 days. To do so, you need the following items:

• Completed, printed, and signed the application form.
• The completed and signed form of antecedents certificate.
• A copy of your passport.
• Bank statements or a return ticket to prove to have enough funds. It must be in your name and in one of the below languages:
  • English
  • French
  • German

Remember that the officials only need a copy form of the documents. The copies must be on A4 paper and one-sided.

After you submit the requirements to the IND, they will send you a letter. It is the confirmation letter of receiving the requirements. It also contains the V-number. You need it to receive the Residence permit. If the IND requires further documents, they inform you through the letter.

Schedule an appointment with the IND within two weeks of receiving the confirmation letter. Visit them on the exact date to receive the residence permit.

Registering with the Municipality

When you get to the Netherlands and receive your residence permit, you need to register with the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP). To do so, you need a translated form of your Birth Certificate.

Netherlands working holiday visa fee/cost

The Netherlands working holiday visa would cost you 85 EUR. Yet, you might have to pay more for further services by the Dutch embassy. The prices are always subject to change.

Can you work under a Netherlands working holiday visa?

Yes, the law permits you to work under the Netherlands working holiday visa. Yet, you may not take full employment. There is a limit over the hours you can work. So you need to have an appropriate amount to support your expenses in the Netherlands. Also, the law does not permit you to work as a self-employed.

How long is the Netherlands working holiday visa valid for?

The top validity of the Netherlands working holiday visa is one year. Bear in mind that you may not extend the working holiday visa.

Let’s sum up…

You have one opportunity to visit the Netherlands even if you don’t have a lot of money. The Netherlands working holiday visa permits you to work and have fun in the country. Yet, you need to be eligible for it.

This article explained who is eligible for The Netherlands working holiday visa, the requirements, the application process, FAQs, and more.

You can go through the left sidebar to know more about other types of Netherlands work visas like au-pair visas.

If you need to know more about other countries’ visas, go to the Visa Library’s home page.