Netherlands Working Holiday Visa

A mutual cultural exchange program called the WHP or WHS enables young people from the participating nations to spend up to a year living in the Netherlands. They can work during that year, learn about Dutch society and culture, and even take Dutch classes.

Who Can Apply

For young individuals from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Korea, the Netherlands offers a working holiday visa.

What are the requirements

 A set of standard requirements and conditions apply to all Dutch residence permit applications. Then, depending on the type, there are additional ones.

  • Ages 18 to 30 are required.
  • You are only permitted to stay for a year at a time.
  • A return ticket is required. If not, you must provide proof—such as bank statements—that you will have the money to buy one.
  • You are not allowed to sign a contract with an exchange organization or intermediate agency that includes a clause requiring you to pay a fine if you break the terms of the agreement.
  • Any intermediary agency or exchange organization cannot accept deposits, whether Dutch or not
  • You must have the resources necessary to cover your initial stay. After that, you can start doing odd jobs.

Can I Work or Study?

Your primary objective in participating in the WHP or WHS program is to engage in a cultural exchange with the Netherlands and learn about their way of life. This means that you cannot work a regular job or enroll in studies full-time.

You are only allowed to do a short study/course while on a working holiday visa for the Netherlands.

Work is also permissible, and as it is incidental work done just to support yourself, no work permit is required. There are, however, restrictions on how much effort you can expend.

The working holiday visa allows the exchange participants to work for one employer for a maximum of 12 weeks in a row. They have to look for a new employer/workplace after the 12 weeks are up. Participants are not permitted to extend their workday in order to put in more time for one employer.