Found a Job in the Netherlands During Your Orientation Year? Your Employer Doesn’t Need to Be a Recognised Sponsor

The Dutch Orientation Year permit (zoekjaar) allows international graduates to stay in the Netherlands and seek employment. During your orientation year, you are generally free to work without your employer needing to arrange a separate work permit.

But there is an important question to consider:

What happens when your Orientation Year permit expires?

If you want to continue working in the Netherlands as aHighly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant), your employer normally needs to be a Recognised Sponsor (erkend referent) with the IND.

And that is where things can become complicated.

You found the right job – but your employer is not a Recognised Sponsor

Imagine you have found a great position with a Dutch company. The company wants to hire you, your qualifications match the role, and you are ready to start.

There is only one problem:

The company is not an IND Recognised Sponsor.

This is more common than you might think. Many startups, scale-ups, SMEs and international companies operating in the Netherlands are not registered as recognised sponsors.

This does not necessarily mean you have to give up the job opportunity.

An Employer of Record (EOR) structure may provide a solution.

What is an Employer of Record?

An Employer of Record is an organisation that becomes your formal employer in the Netherlands while you perform your day-to-day work for another company.

In an EOR structure:

• The company provides your position and manages your day-to-day work.

• The Employer of Record becomes your legal employer in the Netherlands.

• Your Dutch employment contract and payroll are handled through the EOR.

• Where applicable, the EOR can act as the recognised sponsor for your Highly Skilled Migrant application.

This can make it possible for companies that are not themselves recognised sponsors to employ international talent in the Netherlands.

How BlueStone can help

BlueStone supports international professionals and Dutch employers with employment, payroll and immigration solutions.

If you have found a job with a company that is not a Recognised Sponsor, we can assess whether an Employer of Record structure could work for your situation.

The process typically looks like this:

1. You find a job in the Netherlands
You agree on a potential position with a Dutch company. The employer does not necessarily need to be a recognised sponsor.

2. We check the employment situation
BlueStone reviews the proposed employment structure, salary, position and immigration situation to determine whether an EOR solution is possible.

3. BlueStone becomes your legal employer
If the structure is suitable, BlueStone arranges the Dutch employment agreement, payroll and onboarding.

4. We support the immigration process
Where applicable, BlueStone can facilitate the transition from your Orientation Year permit to a Highly Skilled Migrant residence permit.

5. You work for the company
You continue working in your role at the company, while BlueStone remains your formal employer and handles the relevant employment and immigration administration.

An important advantage for Orientation Year graduates

Graduates who qualify for the Orientation Year scheme may also qualify for the reduced Highly Skilled Migrant salary criterion.

This can make the transition to a Highly Skilled Migrant permit significantly more accessible compared with the regular salary thresholds.

The exact requirements depend on your personal circumstances, the timing of your application and the applicable IND rules, so it is important to check your eligibility before making employment arrangements.

Already working during your Orientation Year?

You do not have to wait until your permit is about to expire.

If you are currently working for a company during your Orientation Year, it is worth checking well before the expiry date whether your employer is a recognised sponsor and what your options are afterwards.

Your situation could look like this:

Orientation Year → Employment → Employer of Record → Highly Skilled Migrant

This can provide a route to continue working for the same company even when that company cannot sponsor you directly.

Check whether your employer is a Recognised Sponsor

Before discussing an EOR solution, it is useful to determine whether your current or prospective employer is already registered with the IND.

BlueStone provides a Recognised Sponsor Checker in our APP that can help international professionals check whether a Dutch employer is registered as a recognised sponsor.

If the company is already a recognised sponsor, it may be able to sponsor you directly.

If it is not a recognised sponsor, BlueStone can explore whether an Employer of Record solution could be an alternative.

What should you tell a potential employer?

If a company is interested in hiring you but says:

“Unfortunately, we cannot hire you because we are not a recognised sponsor.”

that does not always have to be the end of the conversation.

You can explain that an Employer of Record solution may allow the company to employ you without becoming a recognised sponsor itself.

BlueStone can then speak directly with the employer about the structure, costs, responsibilities and immigration requirements.

BlueStone is not a recruitment agency

It is important to understand the difference.

BlueStone does not find a job for you. You remain responsible for your job search and application process.

Our role starts when you have found — or are close to finding — an employer that wants to hire you.

We can then help determine how the employment and immigration structure can be arranged.

Found a job? Let’s check your options

Have you graduated in the Netherlands, are you currently on an Orientation Year permit, and have you found an employer that is not a recognised sponsor?

You may still have options.

BlueStone can review your situation and determine whether an Employer of Record solution could allow you to work for the company while continuing your career in the Netherlands.

Found the job. Need a sponsorship solution? Talk to BlueStone.