Cross-border worker
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 to their home in the other EU country at least once a week.
Requirements
These are the requirements for cross-border workers:
- You work in the Netherlands.
- You live in another member state of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. For example Belgium or Germany.
- You have the nationality of a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland. Or you have a different nationality and live with a valid residence permit in this other country in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- You go to your home in this other country at least once a week.
- You must register in the Register of Non-Residents (RNI) for a Citizen Service Number (BSN).
- You sometimes need 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 member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland with a residence permit.
- You live in the other country as a family member of a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland. You yourself have a different nationality, and your family member with an EU, EEA or Swiss nationality 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 A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements Make sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents These are the documents you need:
- Your valid passport.
- Your residence permit from the EU country where you live.
- Copy of the TWV, if you need that in the Netherlands.
Extra documents for family members of citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland
- The valid passport of the citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- Proof of registration in the other EU country of the citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- Documents that show your family relationship, for example your marriage certificate.
- For unmarried partners without a registered partnership: documents showing that you live at the same address in the other EU country.
- Proof that you work in the Netherlands, for example your employment contract.
- If the citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland also works in the Netherlands: documents showing that this person earns an income of more than 50% of the Dutch social assistance amount (link only available in Dutch). Or documents showing that this person works at least 40% of the full normal working week.
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3. Apply You apply for the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker at an IND desk. Call the IND for an appointment for a cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker.
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4. Pay for sticker The cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker is free of charge.
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5. Decision on application You will get a decision immediately at your appointment. Do you meet the requirements for cross-border work? Then the staff member will place the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker in your passport.
Does your employer need a TWV for you? Then it will say on the sticker that you are only allowed to work with a TWV.
See also
- Object or appeal decision
- WorkinNL.nl (Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment)
Rules and regulations
- B10/2.2. Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (in Dutch: Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000) (only available in Dutch)
- Annex 7h Aliens Regulations (in Dutch: Voorschrift Vreemdelingen) (only available in Dutch)
