Guidance

Living in the Netherlands

Information about moving to, living or retiring in the Netherlands – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
17 May 2013
Last updated
23 December 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in the Netherlands

Help from the Dutch government

For any questions about moving to or living in the Netherlands, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in The Hague cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in the Netherlands.

Professional help in the Netherlands

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in the Netherlands, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for the Netherlands to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit the Netherlands. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship  

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for the Netherlands before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in the Netherlands.   

You can get a visa or residence permit to:

  • work
  • study
  • do an internship, apprenticeship or work experience
  • start a business
  • do research
  • live with family in the Netherlands
  • get medical treatment

For more information, read guidance on:

Registering as a resident

Once you arrive, you need to register with your local municipality (‘Gemeente’).

If you intend to live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you need to register as a resident with the Personal Records Database (BRP). To do this, you must make an appointment at your local municipality (‘Gemeente’) within 5 days of your arrival in the Netherlands.

If you’ll be living in the Netherlands for less than 4 months, you should register on the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI). To do this, contact your local RNI desk.

If you move house, you must inform your municipality of your change of address.

If you have any problems or questions about registering as a resident or non-resident in the Netherlands:

Citizens’ Service Number (BSN)

Once you have registered as a resident or non-resident in the Netherlands, you’ll get a Citizen Service Number (BSN). You must have a BSN to:

  • work
  • open a bank account
  • get health insurance
  • visit a doctor or hospital
  • apply for benefits

Extending or replacing your visa or residence permit

Contact the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service for information on how to:

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in the Netherlands if you have had a valid residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service’s guidance on permanent residence permits.

Citizenship

In most cases, the Netherlands does not recognise dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you may have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Dutch citizen. Read guidance on dual nationality in the Netherlands.

To find out if you’re eligible for Dutch citizenship:

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in The Hague cannot help with Dutch visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Residency if you moved to the Netherlands before 1 January 2021

If you moved to the Netherlands before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Read the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service’s guidance on living in the Netherlands after Brexit.

Residence documents if you moved to the Netherlands before 1 January 2021

If you moved to the Netherlands before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document (Article 50 TEU). This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Under the new digital Entry/Exit system (EES), you’ll need your Withdrawal Agreement residence document (Article 50 TEU) when entering or leaving the Netherlands. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to the Netherlands or other Schengen countries.

If you do not have a residence document

If you were living in the Netherlands before 1 January 2021, but do not have a residence document, you must apply for one. Read the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation service’s guidance on living in the Netherlands after Brexit.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a biometric Withdrawal Agreement residence document (Article 50 TEU). 

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. Consider getting legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in the Netherlands.

For more information on how to apply or appeal, read the Dutch government’s guidance on how to object or appeal a decision.

Renewing your residence document if you moved to the Netherlands before 1 January 2021

You’ll need to renew your residence document every 5 or 10 years, depending on how long you have been resident in the Netherlands.

Read the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service’s guidance on how to extend or renew your visa or residence permit.

Bringing family members to the Netherlands if you moved there before 1 January 2021

The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service’s guidance on the Withdrawal Agreement residence document (Article 50 TEU) and living in the Netherlands after Brexit explains:

  • which family members can join you in the Netherlands
  • how and when they should apply for their residence document
  • fees and processing times

Family members with EU, EEA or Swiss nationality do not need a residence document or permit to live and work in the Netherlands.

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

If you have a Dutch residence document or long stay visa, the time you spend in the Netherlands does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residence document when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence document or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

If you have dual citizenship with an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, you should enter and leave the Netherlands using your EU or EFTA passport.

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

Children aged 17 and under must carry a letter of consent if they’re travelling out of the Netherlands without their parent or legal guardian.

For more information:

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.

British nationals legally resident in the Netherlands, and who have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document (Article 50 TEU) do not need to register with the EES.

If you’re legally resident in the Netherlands but do not have a Withdrawal Agreement residence document (Article 50 TEU), contact the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service for information on how to get one.

For more information about how the EES will work and when it will come into force, read:

Healthcare in the Netherlands

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in the Netherlands

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in the Netherlands, you may need a work permit or work visa. Our guidance on travelling to the Netherlands for work explains the different work permits and visas available to you. 

You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in the Netherlands legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

To apply for a job, you may need to provide:

If you live in the Netherlands and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in the Netherlands, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised. Read the Dutch government’s guidance on evaluating qualifications attained outside of the Netherlands.

Driving in the Netherlands

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) and the Dutch government provide information on driving in the Netherlands, including how to:

For more information read guidance on:

Driving in the Netherlands using a foreign driving licence

You can drive in the Netherlands for up to 185 days using a driving licence issued in:

  • the UK
  • Gibraltar
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
  • the Isle of Man

You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in the Netherlands. 

For more information, read the Netherlands Vehicle Authority’s guidance on driving with a foreign driving licence.

Exchanging a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, or Isle of Man driving licence

To continue driving after 185 days, you must exchange your foreign driving licence.

You should apply for the exchange before the 185 days is over. Applications may take time to process, and you’ll need your Dutch licence to drive legally. 

Applying for a Dutch driving licence

If you cannot exchange your driving licence, you must apply for a Dutch licence as a non-EU national. Read the Netherlands Vehicle Authority’s guidance on how to apply for or renew a Dutch driving licence. 

You’ll need to:

  • register with your local municipality (‘Gemeente’)
  • apply for a certificate of fitness
  • pass a Dutch theory test
  • pass a practical driving test

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for:

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in the Netherlands, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance. 

The UK has a double taxation agreement with the Netherlands so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Netherlands Tax Administration for any questions about double taxation relief. You can also read guidance on paying tax on foreign income if you live in the Netherlands.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in the Netherlands. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in the Netherlands.

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK state pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming a Dutch pension

Contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to find out whether you can claim an old-age (‘AOW’) pension in the Netherlands.

You can also read the Dutch government’s guidance on:

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit. 

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Dutch benefits

You may be entitled to some Dutch social benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim, read guidance on:

Buying and renting property in the Netherlands

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad. 

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in the Netherlands if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in the Netherlands

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Dutch elections

Once you register as a resident with the Personal Records Database (BRP), you can vote in the Water Board Elections.

If you have been resident in the Netherlands for 5 years or more, you can vote and stand in local municipal elections. You cannot vote in Dutch national elections unless you hold Dutch citizenship.

You also cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.

Studying in the Netherlands

If you plan to study in the Netherlands, you must meet all visa and residency requirements before you travel.

You do not need a student visa or residence permit if you have been living in the Netherlands legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the school system in the Netherlands.

All children aged 5 to 16 must attend school in the Netherlands, unless they are exempt. Read guidance on exemptions from compulsory school attendance in the Netherlands.

For more information, read the Dutch government’s guidance on:

Childcare

The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science are responsible for early childhood education and care in the Netherlands.

Read the Dutch government’s guidance on childcare in the Netherlands for information on:

  • the different types of childcare available to you
  • childcare benefits and allowances

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in the Netherlands, register the birth with the Dutch authorities.

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in the Netherlands, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad. 

The Dutch government provides information on:

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.  

The Dutch government offers guidance on divorce, separation and ending a civil partnership in the Netherlands.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in the Netherlands.

Documents for British people in the Netherlands

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in the Netherlands, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to the Netherlands, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

If the NHS funds your healthcare in the Netherlands through the S1 form, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it.  

Read the Dutch government’s guidance on ending your stay in the Netherlands.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Dutch authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 17 May 2013
Last updated 23 December 2025 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  2. Updated information on the EU Entry Exit System for holders of residence permits.

  3. Important information in the Working in the Netherlands, and National insurance sections if you work in the Netherlands, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

  4. Guidance reviewed and updated throughout, with new information on visas and residency, passports and travel, healthcare, working, tax, benefits, pensions, driving, births deaths and marriages, pets, and returning to the UK.

  5. Visa and residency section updated after the 30 September 2021 residency application deadline for people living in the Netherlands since before 1 January 2021. There is new information about ongoing and late residency applications, appeals and family members' applications.

  6. Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to the Netherlands after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021. Guidance reviewed for sections including passports and travel, healthcare, and working and studying in the Netherlands.

  7. Guidance reviewed and updated for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.

  8. Revised links in Studying in the Netherlands section.

  9. Working in the Netherlands section updated: new guidance for frontier workers.

  10. Visas and residency section updated: further guidance on Type II residency documents and extended deadline for residency applications

  11. Driving section updated with new information on when you must exchange a UK driving licence for a Dutch one. If you were resident before 31 January 2020 you must do this by 1 May 2021.

  12. Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in the Netherlands section updated with links to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.

  13. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

  14. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on driving, pet travel and moving to the Netherlands.

  15. Additional guidance on how to get the new residency document and healthcare access if you are a student. Passport and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

  16. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers

  17. Visas and residency section updated to include details of changes to the new residency system.

  18. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021.

  19. Visas and residency section updated with further information on the new residency system

  20. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  21. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  22. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  23. EU Exit update: updated information in the Passport & Travel, Pensions, and Returning to the UK sections.

  24. EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections

  25. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  26. EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. You must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.

  27. EU Exit update: Updated information on double taxation following EU Exit in the money and tax section

  28. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare

  29. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.

  30. EU Exit update: Latest Brexit information from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) added to the EU Exit and Visa and Residency sections.

  31. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in Pets section.

  32. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  33. Updated information on healthcare entitlement

  34. Addition of energy and services comparison website

  35. added more links re: health insurance in the Netherlands

  36. added information about health insurance for students and expats.

  37. First published.

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