• You must apply yourself for the orientation year residence permit. For details, see the IND website. 
• You'll need to complete the IND application form ('Application for the purpose of residence of 'looking for work and carrying out work whether or not as an employee').

Applying while in the Netherlands

You will need to hand in a copy of your Bachelor's or Master's degree certificate. You can have a certified copy made at the information desk of the Central Student Service Desk. Make sure to bring the original degree certificate.

If you haven't yet received your degree certificate when you visit the IND, you'll need to submit an IND Appendix: Statement on completion of study. This is a declaration that you've graduated. The form has to be filled out by you and by the UvA's student administration. 

Applying from abroad

If you’re living abroad and your previous residence permit has expired, you'll need to start the procedure for Entry and Residence. In this procedure, you apply for a provisional residence permit (i.e. your entry visa) and a residence permit simultaneously. For more information, contact the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

Good to know

• When you start working, you'll need to take out basic Dutch healthcare insurance. Read more about work and health insurance for international students.
• Students with an Orange Knowledge Programme Scholarship are not eligible for an orientation year residence permit. (Orange Knowledge Programme was formerly known as Netherlands Fellowship Programmes).
• If your current residence permit expires before you graduate, please contact the Central Student Service Desk.

Already have an orientation year residence permit and starting a new study programme

If you already have an orientation year residence permit and want to start a new study programme, you can start your programme with your valid orientation year permit. However, please keep in mind that you will not be allowed to apply for a second orientation year permit if you follow a master within the orientation year that you applied for after your bachelor. You will be allowed that second orientation year permit only after graduating from a master that you will have followed after your first orientation year, not during.

If your orientation year permit expires during your programme, you can contact the UvA Immigration team to change the purpose of your permit to that of 'study'. For more information about how to change the purpose of your permit, please visit our page change the purpose of your permit to ‘study’.