Graduation and Orientation Year
Graduation and termination of enrolment
Once you have graduated or terminated your enrolment, we notify the IND and they will withdraw your residence permit for study. If both situations apply, your graduation date will be the official date used for this notification.
You will receive notice when we inform the IND. The IND will give you 3 months starting from the graduation date/unenrolment date or until the expiry date on your card, whichever comes first. Please pay attention to this, as in some cases it may mean you need to leave the Netherlands no later than your last day of enrolment. If you have applied for a different residence status at the IND (e.g. for an orientation year), you are allowed to stay in the Netherlands while the IND reviews your application.
If you unenroll temporarily, please refer to the information on taking a gap period.
Orientation year
When you have graduated and you wish to stay in the Netherlands afterwards to work, you can apply for the orientation year permit (Dutch: ‘zoekjaar’). This permit allows you to remain in the Netherlands for one year to search for a job after your graduation. You have to apply individually; TU Delft cannot assist you with the orientation year permit application. More information on this procedure can therefore be found on the IND website.
For the application you need proof of graduation at TU Delft; if you have finalized all your courses but have not yet received your diploma you can use the “Appendix statement on completion of study”, which you have to fill out yourself. The department SPA (Study Programme Administration) can help you fill out the form at sections 2 and 3.
During the review period
Once you have paid the application fee for this residence permit, you are allowed to stay in the Netherlands while the IND reviews your application. If you want to start working during this review period, you need to make an appointment with the IND to request a Residence Endorsement sticker you can add to your passport.