Work

You may quickly want to get to work in the Netherlands – to earn money for your family and yourself. Or you may want to do volunteer work or a work placement – to keep busy and gain experience. Read here about what you need to know about work if you have applied for asylum and have a W-document for 1 year.

Highlights

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Een man en vrouw staan samen met papierwerk onder de arm

Conditions for paid work

If your asylum application is pending in the Netherlands for 6 months or more, you may perform paid work under conditions.

Twee heren die op een computer hun zaken regelen

What you need to arrange if you want to work

If you want to perform paid work in the Netherlands, you need to arrange a number of things. You also have rights. Read here about what you need to arrange and what rights you have.

Twee mensen die aan tafel overleggen over werk

This is what you need to know about working safely in the Netherlands

An employer may treat you badly. For example, if you don't get money or have to work too much. This is called exploitation and is punishable in the Netherlands. If you are working while this is not allowed, you have labour rights and can report exploitation.

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Work placement with a W-document for 1 year

If you have applied for asylum in the Netherlands, but do not yet have an asylum residence permit, you may do a work placement if you have to for your education. Read more here.

Twee mensen aan het werk in een moestuin

Volunteering with a W-document for 1 year

You may volunteer if you have applied for asylum and have a W-document for 1 year. Read more about how to volunteer here.

Looking for work with a W-document for 1 year

If you are still waiting for an asylum residence permit, but would already like to work in the Netherlands, you will find more information on how to find work on this page.

Applying with a W-document for 1 year

If you don't have an asylum residence permit (yet), but would like to apply for a new job, you can read about how applying for a job in the Netherlands works on this page.

Meerdere mensen aan het overleggen aan een tafel

Rights and obligations for work with a W-document for 1 year

As an employee, you have a number of rights and obligations that you and your employer must abide by. You can read back here what the most important rules are.

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