Visa guide for expats visiting Amsterdam for internship
Interning is a great way to learn the skills associated with your chosen profession. If you dream of staying in the Netherlands following your studies this may be one of the best routes to take. If you are enrolled in a university (Dutch or otherwise) permits are a great deal easier to come by. If you have graduated, you will need a work permit (See ‘You have a job and need to relocate’).
If you are enrolled in a Dutch university you can simply ask your internship provider to help you with a work permit (See ‘You have a job and need to relocate’ above). In some cases this will not even be needed. However, permits to intern are usually processed more quickly and with less hassle than normal work permits.
If you are enrolled in Amsterdam for internship in a university outside the Netherlands but within the EU, EEA or Switzerland you will not be required to seek a work permit. If the internship is three months or less you can simply arrive with your passport and start interning. If the Amsterdam internship will last for more than three months you will need to register with the local municipality and get a BSN number, as well as apply for insurance.
If you come from outside of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and you are not enrolled in a Dutch university you can check with your home institute about any arrangements they may be able to help you with or partnerships with Dutch universities that can help the process. If your internship in Amsterdam will be longer than three months you will need a residence permit which your internship provider will be able to help you with (refer to ‘You have a job and need to relocate’ for paid internships, and ‘You are coming to study’ for unpaid internships). If your stay will be less than three months you will only need a residency permit if the internship pays. In this case check ‘Relocation for Amsterdam Job’ above.
