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

You are a citizen of the Union if you are a national of one of the member states of the European Union (EU). Nationals of the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have the same rights as citizens of the Union. Find out which countries belong to the EU/EEA.

No residence permit

You do not need a residence permit to live in the Netherlands. Your valid travel document (passport or ID card) issued by an EU/EEA country or Switzerland serves as proof of lawful residence in the Netherlands. You do not need to register with the IND.

Working in the Netherlands

You are free to work in the Netherlands. Your employer does not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV).

Would you like to come to the Netherlands for a short stay, for example on holiday or for a business trip? Then you can make use of the visa-exempt term. During this period, citizen of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland can stay up to 3 months in the Netherlands without any additional requirements.

You only need a valid travel document (passport or ID card) issued by an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

Certain requirements apply to your stay in the Netherlands. Check your situation and whether you meet the requirements.

Situation 1: You are economically active

You are economically active if you are an employee or entrepreneur.  To stay in the Netherlands for a longer period of time, you require to carry out genuine and effective work. This is the case in the following situations:

• Your income is at least 50% of the social assistance benefit amount applicable to you. Read more information about the amount of a Dutch social assistance benefit on Rijksoverheid.nl (only available in Dutch).
• You work for at least 40% of the normal full working week.

Is your income lower or do you work fewer hours than that? Then your work can still be considered as genuine and effective. The IND considers other aspects in your situation. For example, whether your salary payments continue if you are on holiday or sick.

Employed by foreign employer

Will you remain employed by your foreign employer? Then you are probably a posted worker. You work in the Netherlands on the basis of free movement of services. For more information, go to www.postedworkers.nl. 

Looking for work

Are you still looking for work? Then you must show that during the first 6 months you were registered as a job seeker with the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV). If you have not found a job within 6 months, you must show that you have a good chance of finding a job in the Netherlands.

Situation 2: You are economically inactive

You are not economically active if you are not working. To stay in the Netherlands for a longer period of time, you must have sufficient income to live from. This is the case if your income is the same as the Dutch minimum wage with holiday pay or more. Read more information about minimum wage on Government.nl.

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. It can also be income or funds from a partner or someone else.

Situation 3: You are a student

To stay in the Netherlands for a longer period, the following conditions apply:

• You are registered with a school or university in the Netherlands.
• You have a health insurance in the Netherlands.
• You have sufficient funds to support yourself. You cannot claim benefits from general funds during your stay in the Netherlands.

It is important that you arrange several things if you are going to stay in the Netherlands for a longer period of time.

Register at your town hall

Are you going to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 4 months? Then register yourself as soon as possible at your local town hall (in Dutch: gemeente). Your details will then be included in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). Go to Netherlandsworldwide.nl to read more information on the Non-residents Records Database (RNI).

Take out a health insurance

Are you going to stay for a longer period of time? Take out a health insurance within 4 months of arriving in the Netherlands. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl to read more information about about health insurance in the Netherlands. Are you coming to study in the Netherlands? Then an overseas health insurance with cover in the Netherlands is also sufficient.

Registering with the IND

You are only required to register with the IND if you previously lived legally in the Netherlands as an EU citizen and the IND ended your residency. Find out more on the page Registering with the IND as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
 

Have you been staying in the Netherlands for 5 years? And have you fulfilled the residency conditions over that 5-year period? Then you have permanent residency. You will not lose your residency entitlement in the Netherlands, if you apply for social benefits.

Have you been staying in the Netherlands for a period shorter than 5 years, and do you apply for social benefits? Then you might lose your residency entitlement in the Netherlands. Check which rules apply in your situation.

Situation 1: You are economically active

Do you still carry out genuine and effective work?  Then you will not lose your right of residence in the Netherlands after applying for a benefit (or additional benefit) from public funds.

Situation 2: You are economically inactive

Do you no longer have enough income? And do you also not have a family member with sufficient income? Then, the IND will check the level of your income and your outgoings. And the period you have been staying in the Netherlands.

• Registering with the IND as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• Permanent residence permit for Union citizens and their family
• Staying in the Netherlands if you no longer live with an EU citizen
• Living (and working) in the Netherlands for EU citizens

Rules and regulations

• Article 8.7 Vreemdelingenbesluit (Aliens Decree) (only available in Dutch)
• Article 8.11 and 8.12 Vreemdelingenbesluit (Aliens Decree) (only available in Dutch)
• B10/2 Vreemdelingencirculaire (Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines) (only available in Dutch)