All about the working holiday in the Netherlands!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalization, repatriation…).
Between 18 and 30 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
Must cover initial period of stay
This must be your first participation
Must cover cost of healthcare in the Netherlands
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Is there a difference between a WH resident permit and a WH visa?
No. They are referring to the same thing. The official name given by the Dutch government is the Working Holiday Resident Permit but in reality it is often colloquially referred to as a Working Holiday Visa (WHV), since that's what many other countries have named theirs. We use the terms interchangeably.
03. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from the following countries can apply for the Working Holiday Visa to the Netherlands:
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Uruguay.
04. What is the application fee?
The application fee is €76, payable to the Dutch authorities.
05. What documents are required for the application?
For your application for the residence permit in the Netherlands, you need the following supporting documents:
- a copy of the page in your passport showing your personal details.
- a return ticket/reservation or a bank declaration showing that you have enough money for a ticket back to your country of origin. The bank declaration or reservation must be in Dutch, English, French or German and your name must be on it.
- if you come from Japan or South Korea: a valid pre-registration certificate for participation in the WHP from the Dutch embassy in Tokyo or Seoul is needed. Your personal details and the serial number must be on the pre-registration certificate.
06. How long is the visa good for?
The residence permit for a working holiday is valid for a maximum of 1 year.
07. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?
In addition to the eligibility requirements for the WHV (age, nationality, savings etc), applicants must also comply with these general requirements that are not specific to the WHV.
08. When should I apply?
You should apply no earlier than 90 days before your intended entry into the Netherlands.
09. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Yes, though the Dutch official website does not provide much detail: You have insurance that covers the cost of healthcare in the Netherlands.
We suggest that you choose a private insurance that covers at least medical, hospitalisation, and repatriation. Those are standard requirements for most working holiday destinations.
10. Are there any work restrictions?
The main purpose of your stay should be cultural exchange. This means that although you are permitted to work full time, you cannot work for the same employer for the whole year. Nor may you work as a self-employed person (source).
11. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in the Netherlands and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don't ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
12. Where can I apply?
Application steps differ by nationality:
- Australians, Canadians, and New Zealanders can apply online.
- All other nationalities must follow the steps outlined on this website.
As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers must buy private health insurance for the duration of their WHV.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Working Holiday and Other Adventures Abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
The Netherlands’ currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in the Netherlands, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in the Netherlands. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in the Netherlands. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in the Netherlands.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in the Netherlands before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6. Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing Abroad
Once your application is approved, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in the Netherlands, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on Dutch. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our some other deals for working holiday makers.
Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
You have enough money to pay for the initial period in the Netherlands. You must estimate how much money you need (there is no specific number indicated by the Dutch authorities). You may not receive social benefits from Dutch public funds.
See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
You previously did not have a residence permit in the Netherlands for the purpose of an exchange.
You must have insurance that covers the cost of healthcare in the Netherlands. We recommend choosing one that covers at least medical, hospitalisation, and repatriation. Those are standard requirements for working holidays in most other countries.
Apply before the annual quota is reached. The Netherlands sets an annual quota by nationality for the number of Working Holiday Visas issued.
- Argentina: 100
- Australia: no limit
- Canada: no limit
- Hong Kong: 100
- Japan: 200
- New Zealand: no limit
- South Korea: 100
- Taiwan: 100
- Uruguay: 100