12-month open work permit for recent graduates
The Orientation Year (Zoekjaar) grants 12 months of open Dutch labour-market access to recent graduates of accredited Dutch universities OR top-200 global universities (Times Higher Education, QS or ARWU rankings) — filed within 3 years of graduation.
Timeline
4-8 weeks.
Investment
Professional fees ₹85,000+…
Success rate
94% approvals
Families filed
12,000+ since 2016
Chapter 01
It uncouples work authorisation from a sponsor. Graduates can freelance, work multiple part-time roles or interview widely — and any Dutch employer can convert them to HSM at the reduced graduate salary threshold once they choose.
Every box below counts. Meet 70% or more and you're a strong candidate — book a free assessment and we'll map the exact CRS / points / score.
Total timeline
4-8 weeks.
Investment
Professional fees ₹85,000+. Government fees EUR 228.
Mark Consultant advantage
Written scope · Fixed fee · Licensed advisors · 94% approval rate
The process
A transparent, milestone-based process. You always know what stage your file is at.
Step 1 of 5
Confirm alma mater is Dutch or top-200 and graduation within 3 years.
Step 2 of 5
Direct IND filing (Orientation Year is self-sponsored).
Step 3 of 5
Collect MVV in Mumbai / New Delhi.
Step 4 of 5
Register with municipality, collect VVR card.
Step 5 of 5
Interview freely; convert to HSM once employer offer is signed.
Document checklist
Every document is pre-verified for accuracy, chronology and destination-country standards before submission.
Mark Consultant filed our Orientation Year end-to-end. Written scope, fixed fee, honest timeline — no follow-up chasing. We landed in Netherlands exactly when they said we would.
Verified client family
Netherlands · Filed through Pune office
More Netherlands pathways
HSM / Kennismigrant
Netherlands' flagship 2-week skilled-worker route
EU Blue Card
EU-wide skilled permit with mobility across EU
Student Visa
Study at TU Delft, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Amsterdam, Erasmus
Documents Required
Dutch consular documentation checklist
FAQs
Yes — the Orientation Year is an open work permit with no employer or hours restriction.
Since 2016 we have filed 12,000+ approved visas from Pune with a 4.9-star client rating on Google and JustDial. We are known as the best visa and immigration consultants because we sign written scope-and-fee agreements, refuse to over-promise outcomes and assign a single accountable case manager to every file. Our team is trained on ICCRC-aligned processes and stays current with monthly IRCC, Home Affairs, UKVI, USCIS, INZ and BAMF policy changes.
Client-rated yes — Mark Consultant is repeatedly ranked among the best visa consultants in Pune and the best visa consultants in India for permanent residency, skilled work and student visas. Our reputation is built on transparent pricing, refusal to file weak cases and post-landing settlement help.
No ethical consultant can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the immigration authority. What we guarantee is an accurate eligibility assessment, honest advice on the strongest visa route for your profile, forensically prepared documents and a filing that maximises your approval odds.
For a free 30-minute assessment we review your latest CV, passport bio page, highest education mark-sheets and any English test scores you already have. If you don't have IELTS/PTE yet, we still run an indicative eligibility calculation and share a step plan by email.
Book a free assessment
Honest eligibility read within 24 hours. Written scope, written fees, and a single accountable case manager from day one to landing.
Why 12,000+ clients trust us
Free visa assessment
Share a few details — a licensed advisor will call you within 24 hours with an honest read on your profile.