NetherlandsWorldwide

Working holiday exchange programs for the Netherlands

The Working Holiday Program (WHP) or Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) is a cultural exchange program between a number of countries and the Netherlands.

Are you between at least 18 and 30 years of age? You can come to the Netherlands for a maximum of 1 year to get to know the Dutch culture and society.

How to apply

The application procedure for a working holiday in the Netherlands depends on your nationality. Find out below how you can apply.

If the country of your nationality is not listed, it is not possible to come to the Netherlands for a working holiday.

Attention: Applications for the 2023-2024 Working Holiday Program are closed until further notice.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit and MVV at the Netherlands embassy in Buenos Aires. Please make an appointment online (information in Spanish).

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days after receiving your application.

If the decision is positive, you can bring your passport to the embassy in Buenos Aires on Monday or Wednesday at 12:30.

Once the MVV visa sticker has been printed, the embassy will inform you by email that you can collect your passport with your MVV visa sticker affixed. Or you can authorise someone else to collect your passport by replying to the embassy’s email.

  • You can also send your passport to the embassy and have it sent back to you with your MVV visa sticker affixed. You can arrange shipping at a DHL office at your own expense.
  • Please note that your MVV visa sticker must be affixed in your passport before you enter the Netherlands.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit at the IND. You can do this online, by post or at an IND desk in the Netherlands.

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days of receiving your application.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit at the IND. You can do this online, by post or at an IND desk in the Netherlands.

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days of receiving your application.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit and MVV at the Netherlands consulate-general in Hong Kong. Please make an appointment online.

Attention: A maximum of 100 applicants from Hong Kong citizens can participate in the Working Holiday Program (WHP) per year. From the start of each year (1 January), 20 WHP appointment slots per month will be released for registration. Once the quotum of 100 is reached, it will not be possible to make an appointment for a WHP application.

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days after receiving your application.

If the decision is positive, you need to visit the consulate-general to apply for an MVV visa sticker. Please note that your MVV visa sticker must be affixed in your passport before you enter the Netherlands.

Attention: Do you have a passport issued by the authorities in Hong Kong? Then you can only apply at the consulate-general in Hong Kong.

Attention: All slots for the 2024-2025 Working Holiday Program have been filled. New applicants will be added to a waiting list and assigned a slot when it becomes available.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for a pre-registration. You will need this proof of pre-registration to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands.

To apply for a pre-registration, please send an email to the Netherlands embassy in Tokyo: TOK-WHP@minbuza.nl. You do not need to visit the embassy.

Provide your personal information:

  1. name: SURNAME, first name (example: TANAKA, Riku)
  2. passport number: your passport must be valid
  3. date of birth: year-MONTH-date (example: 1995-APR-01)
Attention: Do not send any general inquiries to the Netherlands embassy in Tokyo. The email address TOK-WHP@minbuza.nl is only for receiving applications. For other inquiries you can contact the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

What is next

In the pre-registration letter you will be informed about the next steps to take. You cannot apply for a residence permit at the embassy in Tokyo. You need to apply at the IND after you have arrived in the Netherlands.

Please note: The pre-registration is valid for 90 days only. This means that you need to travel to the Netherlands and have an appointment with the IND within 90 days from the date of issuance of this pre-registration letter.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit at the IND. You can do this online, by post or at an IND desk in the Netherlands.

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days of receiving your application.

Attention: Pre-registration for the 2023-2024 Working Holiday Program has closed. The quota of 150 applicants has been reached.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for a pre-registration. You will need this proof of pre-registration to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands.

To apply for a pre-registration, please send an email to the Netherlands embassy in Seoul: SEO-WHP@minbuza.nl. You do not need to visit the embassy.

Provide your personal information:

  1. name: SURNAME, first name (example: HONG, Gildong)
  2. passport number: your passport must be valid
  3. date of birth: year-MONTH-date (example: 1995-APR-01)
Attention: Do not send any general inquiries to the Netherlands embassy in Seoul. The email address SEO-WHP@minbuza.nl is only for receiving applications. For other inquiries you can contact the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

What is next

In the pre-registration letter you will be informed about the next steps to take. You cannot apply for a residence permit at the embassy in Seoul. You need to apply at the IND after you have arrived in the Netherlands.

Please note: The pre-registration is valid for 90 days only. This means that you need to travel to the Netherlands and have an appointment with the IND within 90 days from the date of issuance of this pre-registration letter.

Yearly registration process

Every year on 1 April, appointment slots will be released for registration. The registration process is divided into 3 sections:

  • The first section will run from 1 April to 31 October.
  • The second section will run from 1 November to the end of February.
  • The third section will release any remaining vacancies on 1 March.

Appointment slots will be released at 14:30 on the first day of each section. In the event of a holiday, the registration process will be postponed and resumed on the first working day of the first month of each section.

This process will repeat until the maximum quota of 100 applicants is reached.

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit and MVV at the Netherlands Office Taipei. Please make an appointment online.

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days after receiving your application.

If the decision is positive, you need to visit the Netherlands Office to apply for an MVV visa sticker. Please note that your MVV visa sticker must be affixed in your passport before you enter the Netherlands.

After your arrival in the Netherlands, you need to register with a Dutch municipality to get a citizen service number (BSN). For this registration, you need a legalized Household Registration Transcript or birth certificate.

Read more about legalising documents from Taiwan

How to apply

Check the conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Please note that only Uruguayan citizens can apply. If you meet all the conditions, you can apply for the residence permit and MVV at the Netherlands embassy in Buenos Aires. Please make an appointment online (information in Spanish).

What is next

The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. In most cases, the IND makes a decision within 90 days after receiving your application.

If the decision is positive, you can bring your passport to the embassy in Buenos Aires on Monday or Wednesday at 12:30.

Once the MVV visa sticker has been printed, the embassy will inform you by email that you can collect your passport with your MVV visa sticker affixed. Or you can authorise someone else to collect your passport by replying to the embassy’s email.

  • You can also send your passport to the embassy and have it sent back to you with your MVV visa sticker affixed. You can arrange shipping at a DHL office at your own expense.
  • Please note that your MVV visa sticker must be affixed in your passport before you enter the Netherlands.

Employment

The main goal of your stay in the Netherlands is cultural exchange and not paid employment. With your residence permit for WHP/WHS, you are therefore only allowed to carry out work of an incidental nature in order to support your holiday financially.

More information

For more specific information on employment rights or the Working Holiday Program, please check the website of the IND.