Ministerie van Justitie, Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

On 19 December 2007, a new policy came into force for foreign graduates. Foreign students from outside the EU/EEA who have successfully completed a HBO/WO [Higher Academic or Vocational Education] course in the Netherlands now have the opportunity to remain in the Netherlands for a year to look for a permanent position as a highly skilled migrant (this is known as a ‘zoekjaar’, which roughly translates as a ‘job-seeking year’). They must, however, be able to support themselves financially during this job-seeking period (for example by using their own money or getting a temporary (unskilled) job) and will not be eligible to receive benefits in the Netherlands during this time. Graduates who find permanent employment as a highly skilled migrant within a year will be eligible for a residence permit, provided that all the conditions of the skilled migrant policy are met. The minimum starting salary required for this category of permit has been lowered to € 25,800 gross per year.

Similarly, if a graduate finds a job which meets the salary criterion of € 25,800 immediately after graduating, without having made use of the ‘job-seeking year’, an application to amend the reason of stay of his or her residence permit to ‘highly skilled migrant’ can be submitted. In this case a certified copy of the degree certificate must be sent together with the application.