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.
Passport valid for the duration of your stay.
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. 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.
03. What is the application fee?
The application fee is €85, payable to the Dutch authorities. Source
04. What documents are required for the application?
If you are applying online (possible for citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea), you will be asked to upload 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.
05. How long is the visa good for?
The residence permit for a working holiday is valid for a maximum of 1 year.
06. 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.
07. When should I apply?
You should apply no earlier than 90 days before your intended entry into the Netherlands.
08. 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.
Australians might be eligible for Dutch healthcare for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement.
09. 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.
10. Where can I apply?
Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders can apply online. In the form, you will be asked in which Dutch city you would like to pick up your residence permit from. As a passport holder of Australia, Canada, or New Zealand, you do not require a visa to enter the Netherlands, so once your permit application is approved, you can fly to Netherlands without a visa and pick up your permit at your chosen centre.
It is also possible to apply by mail or in person from within the Netherlands.
For more details and information for other nationalities, visit the official website.
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.
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.
Australians might already be covered up for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday 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: a way to meet friendly locals and save money
After you get your visa, 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 of all eligible nationalities must be between 18 and 30 years old.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
The official website indicates that you must have sufficient resources to support yourself for the beginning of your stay, but doesn’t specify a minimum amount. This should be based on your desired lifestyle, employment plans, and research of living expenses. See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
Canadians (and likely some other nationalities too) are not asked to submit proof of funds in their online application, but should still ensure that they have adequate savings to have a successful move to the Netherlands.
You previously did not have a residence permit in the Netherlands for the purpose of an exchange.
Before arriving in the Netherlands, 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.
Australians might be eligible for Dutch healthcare for stays up to a certain length, thanks to a reciprocal health care agreement.
Apply before the annual quota is reached. The Netherlands sets an annual quota (resets January 1) by nationality for the number of Working Holiday Visas issued.
– Australia, Canada, New Zealand: no limit
– Japan and South Korea: 200 each
– Argentina, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Uruguay: 100 each
Source