Naar Nederland

Emigration to the Netherlands

Wat moet je allemaal regelen?

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October 18, 2024

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When you want to come and live in the Netherlands, you need to prepare well. This starts even before you come to the Netherlands, in your home country. For example, you need to apply for a residence permit and, depending on your situation, you need to start learning Dutch already in your home country. Once you are in the Netherlands, there are also important things to arrange. In this article, we list the most important information for people who want to emigrate to the Netherlands.

Why do you want to go to the Netherlands?

Not everyone who comes to the Netherlands has the same purpose. Some people come to live with their partner, others come here to study or work for a short or longer period, and there are people who have fled their own country and are seeking asylum in the Netherlands.

What you need to arrange depends on where you come from and the reason you want to emigrate.

Why do you want to go to the Netherlands?

What you need to arrange depends on where you come from and the reason you want to emigrate.

NB The questions and answers below only apply to people who are not from an EU country or from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

Are you coming to the Netherlands to live with your partner or family?

You need a residence permit if you want to come and live with relatives in the Netherlands. Not everyone gets a residence permit; it depends on your situation and the family member with whom you plan to live. Your relative in the Netherlands can apply for the residence permit for you. You also have to take an exam before coming to the Netherlands: the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad.

Read more on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) .

Are you coming to the Netherlands to study?
You need a residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) if you want to study in the Netherlands. If you want to do an internship or you want to gain work experience in the Netherlands, you need a Combined permit for residence and work (gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid, GVVA).

Read more on the website of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND).

Are you coming to the Netherlands to work?
You need a residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) and usually a work permit (werkvergunning) if you want to work in Netherlands. Which permits you need depends on the kind of work you are going to do (for example, paid employment or as an independent entrepreneur).

Read more on the website of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND).

Are you coming to the Netherlands because you fled from your own country and you are seeking asylum?

If you submit an asylum application (asielaanvraag) in the Netherlands, this is also the application for a residence permit (verblijfsvergunning). There are strict conditions that you must meet to receive asylum in the Netherlands. In addition, there are rules for refugees in the field of work and integration. For example, refugees with a (temporary) residence permit are required to integrate and learn Dutch. They may only work if they have a work permit (werkvergunning).

Read more on the website of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND).

For people coming from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, different rules apply when moving to the Netherlands.

Are you from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland?

Different rules apply to you when you move to the Netherlands.

You do not need a residence permit or a work permit.
You are not obliged to integrate. Nevertheless, it is important that you learn Dutch quickly. You will then have more job opportunities and be able to talk to the municipality, your family doctor and your children's school.

Read more on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).