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.
Is the country of your nationality is not listed? In that case it is not possible to come to the Netherlands for a working holiday.
How to apply
Check the conditions at the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply at the Netherlands embassy in Buenos Aires. Please make an appointment via the online appointment system (information in Spanish).
What to bring
Make sure you bring the following documents to your appointment:
- a completed and signed application form
- a valid passport and a copy of the holder page of your passport. Please note: If you want to avoid renewing your passport during your stay in the Netherlands, please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least 18 months at the day of your application.
- 2 passport photographs, which must meet the Dutch requirements for passport photos
What is next
After submitting your application at the embassy in Buenos Aires:
- You will get an email from the central processing office with an information sheet and a reference number (V number).
- You will be requested to pay the fees and to mail all the relevant documents to the IND in the Netherlands. Its email address will be provided in the information sheet.
- The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. After that the IND will inform you by email about their decision.
- If the decision is positive, you can bring your passport to the embassy on Monday or Wednesday at 12:30. After your visa is affixed, the embassy will inform you by email that you can collect your passport. 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 visa affixed. Arrange shipping at a DHL office at your own expense.
- Please note that your visa must be affixed in your passport before you can enter the Netherlands.
How to apply
Check the conditions at the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply 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. The IND must make a decision within 90 days of receiving your application.
How to apply
Check the conditions at the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply 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. The IND must make a decision within 90 days of receiving your application.
How to apply
Check the conditions at the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply at the Netherlands consulate-general in Hong Kong. Please make an appointment via the online appointment system.
What to bring
Make sure you bring the following documents to your appointment:
- a completed and signed application form
- a valid HKSAR passport and a copy of the holder page of your passport. Please note: If you want to avoid renewing your passport during your stay in the Netherlands, please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least 18 months at the day of your application.
- 2 passport photographs, which must meet the Dutch requirements for passport photos
What is next
After submitting your application at the consulate-general in Hong Kong:
- You will get an email from the central processing office with an information sheet and a reference number (V number).
- You will be requested to pay the fees and to mail all the relevant documents to the IND in the Netherlands. Its email address will be provided in the information sheet.
- The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit, after that the IND will inform you by email about their decision. If the decision is positive, you need to visit the consulate-general to affix the MVV visa in your passport. Please note that your visa must be affixed in your passport before you can enter the Netherlands.
All slots for the 2024-2025 Working Holiday Program have been filled. Applicants from now will be added to a waiting list and assigned a slot when it becomes available.
How to apply
Before you can apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands, you must first apply for a pre-registration. You will need this proof of pre-registration for your application for a residence permit in the Netherlands. Application for this pre-registration can be done by email only. You do not need to visit the embassy.
To apply for this proof of pre-registration, please send an email to TOK-WHP@minbuza.nl.
Please provide your personal information:
- name: SURNAME, First name (example: TANAKA, Riku)
- passport number: your passport must be valid for more than 1 year
- date of birth: year-MONTH-date (example: 1995-APR-01)
What is next
In the pre-registration letter you will be informed about the next steps to take. It is important to know that you cannot apply for a residence permit at the Netherlands embassy in Tokyo. Your application for a WHP residence permit will take place after you have arrived in the Netherlands. For more information please visit the IND website.
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.
If you do not travel to the Netherlands and have not started the procedure for a WHP residence permit within 90 days from the date of issuance of this pre-registration, this pre-registration is not valid anymore and you will not be eligible to apply for a WHP residence permit.
How to apply
Check the conditions at the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply 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. The IND must make a decision within 90 days of receiving your application.
Pre-registration for the 2023-2024 Working Holiday Program has closed. The quota of 150 applicants has been reached.
How to apply
Before you can apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands, you must first apply for a pre-registration. You will need this proof of pre-registration for your application for a residence permit in the Netherlands. Application for this pre-registration can be done by email only. You do not need to visit the embassy.
To apply for this proof of pre-registration, please send an email to SEO-WHP@minbuza.nl.
Please provide your personal information:
- name: SURNAME, First name (example: HONG, Gildong)
- passport number: your passport must be valid for more than 1 year
- date of birth: year-MONTH-date (example: 1995-APR-01)
What is next
In the pre-registration letter you will be informed about the next steps to take. It is important to know that you cannot apply for a residence permit at the Netherlands embassy in Seoul. Your application for a WHP residence permit will take place after you have arrived in the Netherlands. For more information please visit the IND website.
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.
If you do not travel to the Netherlands and have not started the procedure for a WHP residence permit within 90 days from the date of issuance of this pre-registration, this pre-registration is not valid anymore and you will not be eligible to apply for a WHP residence permit.
Yearly registration process
Every year on 1 April, appointment timeslots 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 timeslots 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 at the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). If you meet all the conditions, you can apply at the Netherlands Office Taipei. Please make an appointment via the online appointment system.
What to bring
Make sure you bring the following documents to your appointment:
- a completed and signed application form
- a valid passport issued by the authorities in Taiwan and a copy of the holder page of your passport. Please note: If you want to avoid renewing your passport during your stay in the Netherlands, please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least 18 months at the day of your application.
- 2 passport photographs, which must meet the Dutch requirements for passport photos
What is next
After submitting your application at the Netherlands Office Taipei:
- You will get an email from the central processing office with an information sheet and a reference number (V number).
- You will be requested to pay the fees and to mail all the relevant documents to the IND in the Netherlands. Its email address will be provided in the information sheet.
- The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit, after that the IND will inform you by email about their decision. If the decision is positive, you need to visit the Netherlands Office to affix the MVV visa in your passport. Please note that your visa must be affixed in your passport before you can 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.
Check the conditions at 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 at the Netherlands embassy in Buenos Aires. Please make an appointment via the online appointment system.
What to bring
Make sure you bring the following documents to your appointment:
- a completed and signed application form
- a valid passport and a copy of the holder page of your passport. Please note: If you want to avoid renewing your passport during your stay in the Netherlands, please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least 18 months at the day of your application.
- 2 passport photographs, which must meet the Dutch requirements for passport photos
What is next
After submitting your application at the embassy in Buenos Aires:
- You will get an email from the central processing office with an information sheet and a reference number (V number).
- You will be requested to pay the fees and to mail all the relevant documents to the IND in the Netherlands. Its email address will be provided in the information sheet.
- The IND checks if you meet all the conditions for a residence permit. After that the IND will inform you by email about their decision.
- If the decision is positive, you can bring your passport to the embassy on Monday or Wednesday at 12:30. After your visa is affixed, the embassy will inform you by email that you can collect your passport. 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 visa affixed. Arrange shipping at a DHL office at your own expense.
- Please note that your visa must be affixed in your passport before you can 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.