Moving to the Netherlands in 2026: The Complete Expat Checklist

Moving to the Netherlands means a lot of paperwork, and much of it has to happen in the right order: no BSN means no bank account, no bank account often means no salary, and no address means no BSN. This checklist takes you step by step from the months before your move to the end of your first year, with the deadlines that matter, the costs to expect and the practical things nobody tells you. It is just as useful if you have already arrived and want to check you have not missed anything.

In this guide

• Your moving timeline
• Before you move
• Registering with the municipality and getting your BSN
• Opening a bank account
• Health insurance and other insurance
• DigiD and MijnOverheid
• Housing: moving in
• Utilities, internet and phone
• GP, dentist and emergency care
• Work, salary and taxes
• Driving licence, car and getting around
• Moving with children
• Moving with pets
• Key deadlines
• Things nobody tells you
• Useful apps, websites and phone numbers

Your Moving Timeline

Use this as your master checklist. Each step is explained in more detail further down.

Before You Move

1. Check your right to live and work

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work in the Netherlands without a permit. You only need a valid passport or ID card and registration with the municipality.
• Everyone else needs a residence permit from the IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst). Most expats come as a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant): your employer must be a recognised sponsor and applies for you. The IND fee for this permit is €423 in 2026 and is normally paid by the employer. Depending on your nationality, you may also need an entry visa (MVV), which is arranged in the same procedure.

To qualify as a highly skilled migrant, your gross monthly salary (excluding holiday allowance) must be at least:

Partners and children can usually come with you on a family permit, and partners of highly skilled migrants are allowed to work without a separate work permit. Wondering whether your offer is competitive? See Salaries in the Netherlands in 2026.

2. Gather and legalise your documents

Missing or unlegalised documents are the most common reason registration gets delayed, and you cannot get an apostille for a foreign document once you are in the Netherlands. Bring:

• A valid passport or ID card for everyone moving.
• Your birth certificate and those of your children, legalised or with an apostille, plus a sworn translation if it is not in Dutch, English, French or German.
• Your marriage or registered partnership certificate (and divorce papers if relevant), also legalised.
• Your employment contract and recent payslips. Landlords often ask for these.
• Your driving licence, and an international driving permit if your licence is not in a Latin script.
• Medical records, a list of medicines (with generic names) and vaccination records, especially for children.
• Diplomas, if you may need them for work, study or your 30% ruling.

Tip for EU citizens: under EU rules, many public documents issued by another EU country, such as birth and marriage certificates, no longer need an apostille. You can also request a multilingual standard form from the issuing authority, so you do not need a translation either. Check with your municipality which documents it accepts.

3. Find a place to live

Housing is the hardest part of moving to the Netherlands, especially in the Randstad. Start early, and if you cannot find a home in time, book furnished temporary accommodation for the first 1 to 3 months.

• Make sure you can register at the address. You need a registered address to get a BSN. A landlord who does not allow registration is a major red flag.
• Beware of scams. Never pay a deposit or rent before you have seen the home (in person or by live video call), checked the landlord's identity and signed a contract. Prices far below the market are a warning sign.
• Know your rights: deposits are capped at 2 months' basic rent, tenants do not pay agency fees when the agent works for the landlord, and permanent contracts have been the default since 1 July 2024.
• Know the prices: a one-bedroom home of about 60 m² costs new tenants around €1,215 a month in Eindhoven and around €1,721 in Amsterdam. Compare cities in the Cost of Living Calculator.

Renting or buying, apartment or house? Read Apartment or House in the Netherlands? before you decide.

4. Negotiate your package

Ask your employer about the 30% ruling (a tax-free allowance of up to 30% of your salary in 2026 for eligible expats recruited from abroad, falling to 27% in 2027), a relocation budget, temporary housing and a commuting allowance. These are often easier to negotiate than a higher salary. In 2026 the ruling requires a taxable salary above €48,013 a year (€36,497 if you are under 30 with a Dutch-level master's degree). Read The Dutch 30% Ruling for the full conditions.

Register With the Municipality and Get Your BSN

Registration in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP) is the key that unlocks everything else. At or shortly after your appointment you receive your BSN (burgerservicenummer), the personal number you need for your employer, bank, health insurer, GP and the tax office.

• Staying longer than 4 months? Register with the municipality (gemeente) where you live within 5 days of arrival. Book the appointment before you arrive: in the big cities, slots can be weeks away.
• Staying shorter than 4 months? Register as a non-resident in the RNI (Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen) at one of the designated RNI desks. You also get a BSN this way.
• What to bring: your passport or ID card, your legalised birth certificate (and marriage certificate), your rental contract or written permission from the main occupant, and your residence permit or IND letter if you have one.
• Cost: registration is free.
• Moving within the Netherlands later? Report your new address to your new municipality, usually online with DigiD, within 5 days of moving.

Open a Bank Account

Most employers pay salaries into a bank account in your own name, and landlords, utilities and the tax office collect payments by direct debit.

• Traditional banks (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank) usually ask for your BSN, a valid ID and proof of address. Some offer special expat packages or let you start the process before you have a BSN.
• Digital banks such as bunq let you open an account online quickly, sometimes before you have your BSN (you add it later).
• A non-Dutch EU IBAN should be accepted for SEPA payments, but in practice a Dutch account makes life easier.
• You pay by debit card ("pinnen") almost everywhere. Some shops and cafés do not accept cash at all, while credit cards are less widely accepted than in many other countries.
• Online payments: iDEAL, the standard Dutch online payment method, is being replaced step by step by the European system Wero during 2026 and 2027. Your banking app handles both.
• Tikkie is how friends and colleagues send each other payment requests. Expect to receive one after a group dinner.

Health Insurance and Other Insurance

Health insurance (compulsory)

Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out basic Dutch health insurance (basisverzekering) within 4 months of registering or starting work. The insurer backdates the premium to that date, so waiting does not save money, and any care you received in the meantime is covered.

• Premium: about €157 a month on average in 2026. Everyone with the same policy pays the same premium, regardless of age or health.
• Deductible (eigen risico): you pay the first €385 of most care each year yourself. GP visits are exempt.
• Children under 18 are insured free on a parent's policy, but you do need to register them.
• Supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) covers extras such as adult dental care and physiotherapy.
• Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag): with an income below about €40,857 (€51,142 with a partner), you may get up to €129 a month towards your premium.
• Not insured? The CAK will remind you and then fine you (€529.74 per fine in 2026). After two fines it takes out a policy for you at a higher premium.
• Exceptions: some people, such as posted workers who stay insured in their home country, do not need Dutch insurance. Check with the SVB if you are unsure.

New premiums for the next year are published in November and you can switch insurer until 31 December. The 2027 deductible is set to rise to €400.

Other insurance worth having

• Liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering, AVP): covers damage you or your children accidentally cause to others. Cheap, and almost every Dutch household has it.
• Contents insurance (inboedelverzekering): covers your belongings against theft, fire and water damage. About €15 to €22 a month together with liability insurance.
• Car insurance: at least third-party (WA) cover is compulsory if you own a car.
• Bike insurance: worth considering for a new or electric bike, because bike theft is common.

DigiD and MijnOverheid

Once you have a BSN, apply for DigiD at digid.nl. It is your login for the tax office, allowances, your municipality, health insurer and patient portals. The activation code arrives by post at your registered address within a few working days, so make sure your name is on the letterbox. Then install the DigiD app.

Next, log in to MijnOverheid and switch on the Berichtenbox (message box). More and more government letters, including tax assessments and fines, are sent there instead of by post. Turn on email notifications so you do not miss anything. Our guide What Is DigiD and How Do You Use It? explains every step.

Housing: Moving In

• Do a check-in inspection. Go through the home with the landlord or agent, take dated photos of every room and existing damage, and sign a check-in report. It protects your deposit when you leave.
• Note the meter readings for electricity, gas, heat (if applicable) and water on the day you get the keys, with photos.
• Check what your rent includes. Service costs, energy, water and internet may or may not be included. Unfurnished homes (kaal) can come without flooring, curtains or light fittings.
• Check your rent. If the rent seems too high for the home's size and quality, the Rent Tribunal (Huurcommissie) can test it against the legal points system. Social and mid-rent homes have maximum rents.
• Put your name on the letterbox. PostNL may not deliver post to a name that is not on the box, and official letters such as your DigiD code will not reach you.
• Find out your waste collection days on your municipality's website or app.

Utilities, Internet and Phone

Want to see how these costs add up in your city? The Cost of Living Calculator includes energy, water, internet, insurance and local taxes for each city. For a full breakdown, read Cost of Living in the Netherlands in 2026.

GP, Dentist and Emergency Care

In the Netherlands, your GP (huisarts) is your first point of contact for almost all non-emergency care. You need a GP referral to see a hospital specialist covered by basic insurance (physiotherapists, dentists and midwives you can contact directly), so register as soon as you have an address and a BSN. Do not wait until you are ill.

• Find a GP near you on ZorgkaartNederland or your municipality's website. Most practices only accept patients who live within a short distance. Many have lists that are full, so call several.
• Can't find one? Your health insurer has a care mediation service (zorgbemiddeling) that must help you find a GP.
• Register with a dentist as well. Children under 18 are covered by basic insurance for dental care; adults need supplementary insurance.
• Pharmacy: register with a pharmacy (apotheek) near you. Your GP sends prescriptions there directly.
• Evenings, nights and weekends: call the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost) for your region. Find its number on your GP's website and save it in your phone now.
• Life-threatening emergency: call 112.
• Pregnant? In the Netherlands, a midwife (verloskundige) rather than a doctor is your first contact. You can contact a midwife practice directly, without a referral.

Work, Salary and Taxes

• Give your employer your BSN and bank details as soon as you have them. Without a BSN, your employer must withhold tax at the highest rate.
• Check your first payslips. Make sure the payroll tax credit (loonheffingskorting) is applied by your main employer only, and that your 30% ruling and pension contribution are correct. You also receive at least 8% holiday allowance (vakantiegeld), usually paid in May. Our payslip guide explains every line.
• Your first tax return: in the year you arrive you usually file an M form (migration return). You can file it online from 1 May of the following year, and the deadline is usually 1 July (check the date in your letter from the Belastingdienst). You can request an extension. You may receive a tax refund.
• Resident or non-resident? Your tax status determines what is taxed and which deductions you get. See Resident or Non-Resident Taxpayer?
• Allowances (toeslagen) such as healthcare, rent and childcare allowance are paid in advance based on your estimated income. Estimate carefully and update your income when it changes, or you will have to pay money back.

To see what your salary means in practice, try the Salary Calculator, or compare your net pay with your living costs in the Cost of Living Calculator.

Driving Licence, Car and Getting Around

Your driving licence

• EU/EEA licence: valid in the Netherlands for 15 years from the date it was issued, as long as it has not expired. If it is already older than 15 years, you can use it for 2 more years after you move. After that, exchange it for a Dutch licence.
• Non-EU licence: you can drive on it for 185 days after moving here. After that you need a Dutch licence.
• Exchanging: if you have the 30% ruling, you and your family members can usually exchange any valid foreign licence without tests. Licences from some other countries can also be exchanged. Otherwise you must pass the CBR theory and practical exams, so start early. You apply at your municipality; the fee is set locally (for example €53.65 in The Hague and €64.65 in Amsterdam in 2026).

Bringing your car

Once you live in the Netherlands, you generally cannot keep driving on foreign plates. Have your car inspected and registered by the RDW. You normally pay the Dutch car tax BPM on import, but you can be exempt if the car is part of your household goods: you must have lived abroad for at least 12 months and owned and used the car for at least 6 months. Apply for the exemption before registration, and do not sell or lend the car within 12 months. Road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting), insurance and parking permits come on top: in practice, many expats find a car is not worth it in the big cities.

Bikes and public transport

• Buy a bike in your first week. A reliable second-hand bike and a good lock cost about €300. Buy two locks and use one to attach the bike to something fixed.
• Public transport: just tap in and out with your contactless bank card or phone (OVpay) on all trains, trams, buses and metros. A personal OV-chipkaart is only needed for some subscriptions and discounts.
• Commuting by train? Look at an NS Flex subscription and ask your employer about a commuting allowance.

Moving With Children

• Register your children with the municipality at the same time as yourself, and add them to your health insurance (free under 18).
• School: children can start primary school the day they turn 4, and school is compulsory from age 5 (leerplicht). Contact schools early: popular schools have waiting lists. Dutch public schools are free; international schools charge fees, though government-funded Dutch International Schools (DIS) are much cheaper than private ones. Children aged 4 to 12 who do not speak Dutch can often start at a newcomers' class (nieuwkomersklas).
• Childcare: put your name down at daycare centres as early as possible, ideally months before you need a place. Working parents can get childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag).
• Child benefit (kinderbijslag): every child under 18 who lives in the Netherlands entitles you to a quarterly payment from the SVB, regardless of income. The SVB usually contacts you after registration; if not, apply yourself.
• Youth healthcare: the local youth health centre (consultatiebureau / JGZ) provides free check-ups and the national vaccination programme. Bring your children's vaccination records.

Moving With Pets

• Dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an EU pet passport (or an EU health certificate if you come from outside the EU). Some countries also require a rabies antibody test months in advance. Check the requirements at netherlandsworldwide.nl well before you travel.
• Register your dog in a Dutch pet database once you arrive: every dog in the Netherlands must be chipped and registered.
• Dog tax (hondenbelasting): many municipalities charge a yearly tax per dog. Check whether you need to report your dog to your municipality.
• Pet insurance is not compulsory, but vet bills can be high.

Key Deadlines

Things Nobody Tells You

• Always carry ID. Everyone aged 14 and over must be able to show a valid ID document to the police or enforcement officers when asked. Not having it on you can mean a fine.
• The sirens on the first Monday of the month are a test. At 12:00 on the first Monday of every month, air-raid sirens sound across the country for about a minute and a half. Nothing to worry about. In a real emergency you also receive an NL-Alert message on your phone.
• Deposit on bottles and cans (statiegeld): 15 cents on cans and small plastic bottles, 25 cents on large plastic bottles. Return them at the supermarket machine.
• Separate your waste. Rules differ by municipality: paper, glass, plastic packaging, organic waste and textiles often have their own bins. Put out bins and bulky waste only on the right day, or risk a fine.
• Bike lights are compulsory after dark: white at the front, red at the back. Fines are common, and using your phone while cycling is also fined.
• Appointments matter. The Dutch plan ahead: GP visits, municipal services and even social plans are often booked days or weeks in advance.
• Shop opening hours are shorter outside the big cities. Many shops close around 18:00, with late-night shopping (koopavond) on one evening a week. Sunday opening depends on the municipality.
• Check the rain radar before you cycle. It is what everyone does.
• Read your post, including the Berichtenbox. Government letters often have short deadlines for objections or payments.

Useful Apps, Websites and Phone Numbers

Learning Dutch and Civic Integration

You can get by in English almost everywhere, especially in the big cities, but learning some Dutch makes daily life, letters and friendships much easier. Many municipalities, universities and language schools offer courses, and some employers pay for them.

Whether you must take the civic integration exam (inburgering) depends on why you came. EU citizens and labour migrants such as highly skilled migrants are not obliged to; many family migrants are. If you later want permanent residence or Dutch citizenship as a non-EU national, you will generally need to pass the integration exams, so starting early pays off.

Official Sources

• IND: required amounts and income requirements 2026
• Government.nl: citizen service number (BSN)
• I amsterdam: official expat centres in the Netherlands
• DigiD: official website (English)
• CAK: uninsured persons scheme
• RDW: driving with a foreign driving licence
• RDW: moving to the Netherlands with your vehicle
• Belastingdienst: BPM exemption when moving (Dutch)
• Huurcommissie: Rent Tribunal
• Netherlands Worldwide: travelling with pets and moving to the Netherlands
• Thuisarts.nl: health information from Dutch GPs

Figures were checked on 4 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change regularly, usually on 1 January and 1 July. Always check with the official organisation before you act. This is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice.