The Orientation Year for Highly Educated Persons, known in Dutch as the zoekjaar hoogopgeleiden, is a residence permit that lets recent graduates and qualifying researchers live in the Netherlands for up to twelve months while looking for skilled work or starting a business. It is issued by the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) under the Vreemdelingenwet 2000.
Eligibility covers graduates of a Dutch master's, bachelor's, or post-doctoral programme, graduates of designated top-200 international universities, and researchers who completed a scientific research assignment in the Netherlands. The application must be filed within three years of graduation or research completion. Applicants do not need sponsorship.
During the zoekjaar, the holder works freely on the open labour market without a separate work permit. Employers do not need a TWV. Once the holder secures qualifying employment, they can switch directly to the highly skilled migrant route, where a reduced salary threshold applies.