Cross-border worker

Last update: 6 May 2024

You want to work in the Netherlands as a cross-border worker. You live in Belgium, Germany or another country in the European Union (EU). Find out what the requirements are for cross-border workers in the Netherlands.

What is a cross-border worker?

A cross-border worker is someone who lives in one country but works in another country. This is usually a neighbouring country. Cross-border workers go back home on weekends or on other days off.

Requirements

These are the requirements for cross-border workers:

  • You work in the Netherlands.
  • You live in another EU country, for example Belgium or Germany.
  • You have the nationality of the EU country where you live or you live there with a valid residence permit.
  • You go to your home in the other EU country at least once a week.
  • You must register in the Register of Non-Residents (RNI) for a Citizen Service Number (BSN).
  • You have a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning  or TWV). A TWV is a work permit for foreign employees. Your employer only needs a TWV for you in these situations:
    • You live in the other EU country with a residence permit.
    • You live in the other country as a family member of a citizen of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. You yourself have a different nationality, and your family member with an EU, EEA or Swiss nationality of the EU, EEA country or Switzerland does not work in the Netherlands.

Your employer applies to the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV) for the TWV.

No residence permit, but a cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker

Cross-border workers do not need a residence permit. Do you have the nationality of a country of the EU, EEA or Switzerland? A valid travel document (passport or identity card) is sufficient proof that you are allowed to be in the Netherlands. Do you not have the nationality of a country of the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you can apply for a cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker. This is not mandatory, but sometimes other authorities or organisations ask for proof that you are allowed to be in the Netherlands. This endorsement is a sticker that the IND places in your passport.

Validity of the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker

The cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker is valid for 1 year. Will you still be working in the Netherlands afterwards? Then you can apply for a new residence endorsement sticker.

 

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker:

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  • 1. Check requirements open minus
  • 1. Check requirements open minus
  • 2. Collect documents open minus
  • 3. Apply open minus
  • 4. Pay for sticker open minus
  • 5. Decision on application open minus
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