Living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

Last update: 22 February 2023

You are a national of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. Read the conditions to live in the Netherlands and when you should register with the IND.

For whom is this page about living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen?

You have the nationality of a country of the EU, EEA or Switzerland. That means you are a Union citizen. You are coming to live in the Netherlands. You do not need a residence permit. However, certain conditions apply to your residence in the Netherlands. And you sometimes have to register with the IND.

Visiting the Netherlands for a short stay

Are you not coming to live in the Netherlands? But do you want to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days? In that case the requirements for a permit-exempt term for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals apply to you.

Requirements

Requirements living in the Netherlands for less than 3 months

You need a valid passport from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland or a valid identity card. You are allowed to work without a work permit (TWV).

Entry to the Netherlands may be refused

You may not be allowed to enter the Netherlands in one of these situations:

You have (or might have) tuberculosis (TB). You will need to receive treatment first in your own country.
You have previously been deemed to be an undesirable foreign national by the Netherlands. You will be pronounced an undesirable foreign national if you pose a threat to public order or national security. Read more about being pronounced an undesirable foreign national.

Requirements living in the Netherlands for more than 3 months

You have a valid passport from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland or a valid identity card. Other requirements apply in the following situations.

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You are economically active
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You are an employee or entrepreneur. Or, you are looking for work in the Netherlands. The requirement of carrying out genuine and effective work applies in these situations:
1. Your income is at least 50% of the social assistance benefit amount applicable to you. Read the amount of a Dutch social assistance benefit (only available in Dutch).
2. You work for at least 40% of the normal full working week.
Is your income lower or do you work fewer hours than that? You can still be carrying out genuine and effective work. The IND also considers other aspects in your situation. These aspects can be whether your salary payments continue if you are on holiday or sick. Or, how long your contract is valid for or whether you have or are looking for customers as an entrepreneur.

Are you still looking for work? If so, you must have a good chance of finding a job.
You are economically inactive
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You are not working. These conditions apply to you:
1. You have health insurance.
2. You have sufficient funds for yourself and your family members to live on. Your income is sufficient if it is equal to or higher than the Dutch minimum wage plus holiday allowance.
Is your income lower? Then you must show that your income is enough to live on, for example, because your costs are also low.

The source of your income is irrelevant. It may take the form of a pension, inheritance, maintenance payments, a benefit from abroad or income from your own assets. However, it can also be income or funds from a partner or someone else.
You are a student
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The following conditions apply to you:
1. You are registered with a school in the Netherlands.
2. You have health insurance in the Netherlands.
3. You have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members.
You will be working as an au pair
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Will you be working in the Netherlands as an au pair with a host family? The au pair agency must also be recognised as a sponsor by the IND. Only then is your host family allowed to pay you pocket money of € 340 per month. And you and your host family must fulfil all requirements of the Dutch au pair policy.

Do you and your host family not fulfil the conditions of the Dutch au pair policy? Then your host family must pay you at least the minimum wage. If the host family does not the labour authority (in Dutch: Arbeidsinspectie) can issue a fine to the host family. Read more information about au pairs from the Dutch labour authority (only available in Dutch).

Right of residence after applying for a benefit from public funds

Do you apply or does your family member apply for a benefit from public funds? And do you not have a permanent residence permit? You may lose your right of residence in the Netherlands. The IND will assess your situation and check the level of your income. Different rules apply to income depending on whether you are economically active or inactive.

You are economically active

Do you still perform real and actual work? This means you still work at least 40% of the normal work week. Or, your income is still at least 50% of the social assistence benefit. If so, you will not lose your right of residence in the Netherlands after applying for a benefit (or additional benefit) from public funds.

You are economically inactive

Do you no longer have enough income? And do you also not have a family member with sufficient income to support themself and you? Then, the IND will check the level of your income and your outgoings. The IND will also check how long you have been living in the Netherlands. You have a greater entitlement to a benefit from public funds if you have already been living in the Netherlands for a number of years. If you have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years and have fulfilled the residency conditions over that 5-year period, you have permanent residency status and will not lose your residency entitlement in the Netherlands.

Registering with the IND

You are usually not required to register with the IND. The IND will check whether you are entitled to stay in the Netherlands, but only if other organisations notify the IND that you may no longer fulfil the conditions. In some situations you are required to register with the IND.

Mandatory registration

The Municipal Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP) states that your right of residence has been terminated (code 41). You need to register (again) at the IND (re-registration).

Read more information about registering with the IND as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

Arrangements in the Netherlands

If you will be living in the Netherlands, you need to arrange these things.

Registering with a local authority

Register with the local authority in which you will be living. Your details will then be entered in the BRP. Read more about the Personal Records Database (BRP).

Taking out healthcare insurance

Everyone who lives in the Netherlands has to take out healthcare insurance within 4 months of arriving in the Netherlands.

Living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

For whom is this page about living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen?

Visiting the Netherlands for a short stay

Requirements

Requirements living in the Netherlands for less than 3 months

Entry to the Netherlands may be refused

Requirements living in the Netherlands for more than 3 months

You are economically active

You are economically inactive

You are a student

You will be working as an au pair

Right of residence after applying for a benefit from public funds

You are economically active

You are economically inactive

Registering with the IND

Mandatory registration

Arrangements in the Netherlands

Registering with a local authority

Taking out healthcare insurance

See also

Rules and regulations

Responsible organisation

Questions?

Living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

For whom is this page about living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen?

Visiting the Netherlands for a short stay

Requirements

Requirements living in the Netherlands for less than 3 months

Entry to the Netherlands may be refused

Requirements living in the Netherlands for more than 3 months

You are economically active

You are economically inactive

You are a student

You will be working as an au pair

Right of residence after applying for a benefit from public funds

You are economically active

You are economically inactive

Registering with the IND

Mandatory registration

Arrangements in the Netherlands

Registering with a local authority

Taking out healthcare insurance

See also

Rules and regulations

Responsible organisation

Questions?​

Questions?