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Your moving checklist

Tell us a little about your move and we'll show the steps that apply to you, in the order you'll need them. Every step links to the official source.

Before you arrive

  1. Get your residence permit (and MVV if needed) Most non-EU nationals need a residence permit from the IND to live in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, and many also need an MVV entry visa. Non-EU

    For students, highly skilled migrants and most employees, the application is filed by your sponsor: your university or your IND-recognised employer. If you are joining a partner, your partner in the Netherlands is usually the sponsor; if you are self-employed, you apply yourself and the IND asks the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) to score your business plan. The MVV and the residence permit are applied for at the same time. Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vatican City, Switzerland and the EU/EEA do not need an MVV.

    What to do

    1. Check with your university, employer or partner who will file the IND application and which documents they need from you.
    2. Check on the IND site whether your nationality needs an MVV.
    3. After a positive decision, book your appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate for the MVV sticker and travel to the Netherlands.
    4. Book your appointment to provide biometrics or collect your residence permit as soon as possible after arrival.
    5. Self-employed: register with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) as required for the self-employed permit.

    Official source

  2. Check your EU right of residence EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit, but must meet conditions to stay longer than 3 months. EU/EEA/Swiss

    Your valid passport or ID card is your proof of lawful residence. For stays over 3 months you must be working, studying or have sufficient income. Students must be enrolled at a Dutch school or university, have health insurance and have enough money to live on.

    What to do

    1. Bring a valid passport or ID card for yourself and each family member.
    2. Keep proof of your job, study enrolment or income in case you are asked for it.
    3. Plan to register with the municipality after arrival if you stay more than 4 months.

    Official source

  3. Pass the civic integration exam abroad Partners who need an MVV to live with their partner in the Netherlands usually must pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad before the MVV application. Deadline: Before the MVV applicationNon-EUPartners

    The exam is taken at a Dutch embassy or consulate. Nationals of the EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vatican City are exempt. You are also exempt if you join a family member who holds a residence permit for a temporary purpose, such as a student or (in many cases) a highly skilled migrant.

    What to do

    1. Check on the IND page whether you are exempt.
    2. If not exempt, prepare for and book the exam at a Dutch embassy or consulate.
    3. Pass the exam before your partner submits the MVV and residence permit application.

    Official source

  4. Get original civil documents and legalise them Eindhoven asks for original foreign documents such as birth and marriage certificates when you register, and these usually need to be legalised. Staying 4+ months

    Bring originals, not copies, for yourself and any children. Documents from abroad usually need legalisation or an apostille, which is much easier to arrange in your home country before you leave. The municipality may ask for extra documents depending on your country.

    What to do

    1. Request recent originals of birth certificates for everyone moving, and marriage or divorce certificates if relevant.
    2. Have them legalised or apostilled in the issuing country, and translated if needed.
    3. Pack the originals in your hand luggage.

    Official source

  5. Find housing where you can register You need a written rental contract (or the main occupant's consent) at an address where you are allowed to register, because municipal registration depends on it.

    Eindhoven asks for your rental or purchase contract, or a signed consent declaration from the owner or main occupant plus a copy of their ID if you move in with someone. Under the Good Landlordship Act, contracts from 1 July 2023 must be in writing, the deposit is capped at two months' basic rent, and a rental agency hired by the landlord cannot also charge you a fee. Landlords may not select tenants based on religion, nationality or sexual orientation.

    What to do

    1. Confirm in writing that you will be allowed to register at the address.
    2. Make sure you get a written tenancy agreement and the landlord's written information on the deposit, its refund and the municipal reporting office.
    3. Check the deposit is no more than two months' basic rent (excluding service costs).
    4. Do not pay a mediation fee to an agency that works for the landlord.
    5. Check the maximum fair rent with the Huurcommissie Rent Check before signing.

    Official source

    Our take

    Start before you arrive: housing is the hardest part of moving here. Never pay a deposit before you've seen the place and signed a contract.

    Read the full guide
  6. Check if you can use Holland Expat Center South If you are eligible, Holland Expat Center South in Eindhoven combines municipal registration and IND formalities in one appointment. Deadline: Within 5 days of arrivalEmployees, Highly skilled migrants, Partners, Self-employedStaying 4+ months

    Eligible groups include EU/EEA/Swiss citizens whose employer is an IND-recognised sponsor, highly skilled migrants, EU Blue Card holders, intra-corporate transferees, researchers, orientation year and start-up permit holders, and their dependants (except non-EU dependants of EU citizens). You must live or work in a participating municipality and have an active housing contract that starts no later than the appointment date. In Eindhoven the BSN is issued at the appointment. Everyone else registers at the municipality and handles IND matters at an IND desk.

    What to do

    1. Check the eligibility list on the Expat Center appointment page.
    2. Email hollandexpatcenter@eindhoven.nl with each person's full name, V-number or date of birth and the services you need.
    3. Book within 5 days of arrival; the rental contract must start no later than the appointment date.
    4. Bring passports, legalised civil documents and your rental contract.

    Official source

First week

  1. Register with Gemeente Eindhoven and get your BSN If you will stay at least 4 of the next 6 months, you must register in person in the Personal Records Database (BRP), which gives you your citizen service number (BSN). Deadline: Within 5 days of arrivalStaying 4+ months

    You need your BSN for almost everything: work, health insurance, a bank account, DigiD and allowances. Registration is done in person at the Inwonersplein by appointment; partners and children must come too. Bring valid passports or ID cards, original (usually legalised) civil documents, and your rental contract or the main occupant's consent form. Non-EU nationals should contact the IND before registering, and you receive a confirmation letter within 4 weeks.

    What to do

    1. Book an appointment online or by phone (14 040, or +31 40 238 6000 from abroad); new slots open daily about 4 weeks ahead, so book early.
    2. Gather passports or ID cards, original civil documents and your rental contract or consent declaration.
    3. Go to the appointment with everyone who is registering.
    4. Keep your BSN letter safe; the municipality passes your address to organisations such as the Tax Administration, CAK, DUO, RDW, SVB and health insurers.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  2. Register as a non-resident (RNI) for a BSN If you stay less than 4 months, you register in the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI) instead of the BRP to get a BSN. Short stay

    Eindhoven has an RNI desk, but only for people with a European passport; people without one must register at the RNI desks in Breda or Venlo. Fill in the online RNI form first to get a QR code, then attend in person by appointment with your passport or ID card. In Eindhoven you get your BSN and proof of registration during the same visit, and registration is free.

    What to do

    1. Complete the online RNI registration form to receive a QR code.
    2. Book an appointment at an RNI desk: Eindhoven (European passport) or Breda or Venlo (other passports).
    3. Bring your valid passport or ID card and the QR code; bring birth certificates for children under 16.

    Official source

  3. Give biometrics and collect your residence permit After arriving with your MVV, you must provide biometrics and collect your residence permit card before the MVV expires. Deadline: Before your MVV expiresNon-EUStaying 4+ months

    Make this appointment as soon as possible after a positive decision. Eligible highly skilled migrants and their families can do this at Holland Expat Center South in Eindhoven; others usually go to an IND desk, often in 's-Hertogenbosch. Students usually collect their documents at a central location on set collection days arranged with their university.

    What to do

    1. Book the IND or Expat Center appointment straight after the positive decision.
    2. Bring your passport with MVV sticker and the IND letter.
    3. Check the details on your residence card when you collect it.

    Official source

  4. Get around by public transport and bike You can pay for trains, buses and trams with a contactless bank card or phone, and a bike is the easiest way to get around Eindhoven.

    Checking in with a contactless debit card, credit card or phone (OVpay) needs no registration but is always charged at the full second-class fare; for discounts, OV-fiets rental and bike storage you need a personal OV-chipkaart with a subscription. On a bike you must have working lights and use them in the dark, and holding a phone while cycling can get you a 170 euro fine. Never buy a bike from someone on the street, as it is likely stolen; bike shops sell many second-hand bikes.

    What to do

    1. Check in and out with the same contactless card or phone at every journey.
    2. If you commute regularly, compare NS subscriptions and load one on an OV-chipkaart.
    3. Buy a new or second-hand bike from a shop and a good lock.
    4. Always lock your bike to something, check your lights work and use cycle lanes.

    Official source

    Our take

    A second-hand bike is fine, but buy a good lock. When you tap in on the bus, take your card out of your wallet so the reader doesn't pick up another one.

    Read the full guide

First month

  1. Take the TB test if required Depending on your nationality, you must be tested for tuberculosis at the GGD after arrival to obtain and keep your residence permit. Deadline: Within 3 months of your permitNon-EUStaying 4+ months

    You do not need the test if your nationality is on the IND exemption list, if you are 11 or younger, or if you had a TB test in the Netherlands less than 6 months ago, among other exemptions. If your sponsor indicated on the application that you will take the test, book it with the GGD where you live (GGD Brabant-Zuidoost for Eindhoven) and bring the TB referral form (7604).

    What to do

    1. Check the IND exemption list for your nationality.
    2. Book an appointment with your local GGD.
    3. Bring your passport, residence permit and the TB referral form (7604).

    Official source

  2. Apply for your DigiD DigiD is your login for Dutch government services such as the Tax Administration, allowances, DUO and MijnOverheid.

    You need a BSN, an address registered with a Dutch municipality and a mobile phone. The activation letter is posted to your registered address and normally arrives within 3 working days (allow up to 5). After activating, install the DigiD app for easier logins.

    What to do

    1. Apply online at digid.nl once you have your BSN.
    2. Wait for the activation letter at your registered address.
    3. Activate your DigiD using the code starting with 'A' and set up the DigiD app.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  3. Open a Dutch bank account A Dutch account with a debit card (pinpas) makes it easier to receive salary, pay rent and use iDEAL for online payments and bills.

    Banks usually ask for your passport, proof of address (municipal registration confirmation or rental contract), an employment letter and your BSN. Many banks let you open an account online, and some allow you to start without a BSN for a limited time. Credit cards are not widely accepted, for example in supermarkets.

    What to do

    1. Compare banks and their English-language services.
    2. Have your passport, proof of address and BSN ready.
    3. Give your account number to your employer and set up iDEAL in the bank app.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  4. Take out Dutch basic health insurance Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out basic health insurance (basisverzekering) with a Dutch insurer, even if you already have insurance elsewhere. Deadline: Within 4 months of arrivingEmployees, Highly skilled migrants, Partners, Self-employed

    Coverage starts from the day you arrive and you pay the premium back to that date, but if you wait longer than 4 months you are not insured retroactively and care in that period is not reimbursed. The mandatory deductible (eigen risico) for 2026 is 385 euros; GP care, maternity care and some other care is exempt. Children under 18 must be insured but pay no premium. The only exception is if your employer is outside the Netherlands.

    What to do

    1. Compare insurers; the basic package cover is the same at every insurer.
    2. Decide whether you want supplementary cover (for example adult dental care or physiotherapy).
    3. Sign up with your BSN and set the start date to your arrival date.
    4. Add your children to your policy.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  5. Check your health cover as a student Whether you need Dutch basic health insurance as a student depends on where you are from and whether you work. Deadline: 4 months after you start a jobStudents

    EU/EEA students who only study can usually rely on their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); check with your home insurer. Non-EU students who only study need sufficient insurance from home or a private policy, because they cannot get Dutch public insurance for a study-only stay. Any student with a paid job, even part-time, must take out Dutch basic health insurance within 4 months, and may then be eligible for healthcare allowance.

    What to do

    1. EU/EEA: confirm your EHIC is valid for your whole study period.
    2. Non-EU: make sure your home or private policy fully covers care in the Netherlands.
    3. If you start a paid job or paid internship, take out Dutch basic health insurance straight away.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  6. Register with a GP (huisarts) Your GP is your first point of contact for health questions and refers you to specialists and hospitals. Staying 4+ months

    Register with a GP near your home before you need one. In the Eindhoven region, the official Find a GP platform (huisartszuidoostbrabant.nl) helps newcomers find a practice and start registering online. Outside office hours use the huisartsenpost, and in an emergency dial 112. GP care is not subject to the eigen risico.

    What to do

    1. Search for a practice near your home via huisartszuidoostbrabant.nl.
    2. Register yourself and your family members.
    3. Save the phone numbers of your GP and the local huisartsenpost.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  7. Apply for the 30% ruling with your employer The expat scheme lets your employer pay part of your salary tax-free to cover the extra costs of moving here. Deadline: Advised: within 4 months of starting workEmployees, Highly skilled migrants

    You must be recruited from abroad, have lived more than 150 km from the Dutch border for more than 16 of the 24 months before your first working day, and earn above the salary norm (2026: more than 48,013 euros a year, or 36,497 euros if you are under 30 with a master's degree). The maximum is 30% through 2026 and drops to 27% from 1 January 2027, with a higher salary norm from 2027; rulings started before 2024 keep 30%. A decision lasts up to 5 years, and you and your employer complete the application together. Holders of the ruling can also exchange a foreign driving licence from any country. Holland Expat Center South advises applying within 4 months of starting work, because a later application shortens the period you get the ruling.

    What to do

    1. Ask your employer whether they offer the scheme and what percentage they will pay.
    2. Complete the application form together with your employer.
    3. Submit as early as possible; the Tax Administration responds within 8 weeks.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  8. Check your rent and know where to get help The Huurcommissie (Rent Tribunal) Rent Check calculates the maximum rent for a home under the points system, and the tribunal settles rent, maintenance and service cost disputes. Staying 4+ months

    Landlords need a points score for all new rental contracts from 1 January 2025, and you can use the Rent Check result when asking for a rent reduction. Rulings of the Huurcommissie are binding on both you and your landlord. Every municipality also has a reporting office for problems under the Good Landlordship Act, and the Juridisch Loket gives free legal advice on deposits and handovers.

    What to do

    1. Run the Rent Check for a self-contained home or a room.
    2. If the rent is too high, raise it with your landlord in writing.
    3. If you cannot resolve it, contact the Huurcommissie, the municipal reporting office or the Juridisch Loket.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  9. Consider liability and contents insurance Personal liability insurance is not compulsory but very common, and contents insurance protects your belongings against risks such as fire and theft.

    Personal liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering, AVP) covers claims if you or your family accidentally damage someone else's property. Third-party motor insurance (WA) is compulsory for every vehicle you own. Contents insurance (inboedelverzekering) covers your own possessions; in a furnished rental the owner's policy usually does not cover your personal items.

    What to do

    1. Compare personal liability policies (often combined with contents insurance).
    2. Take out contents insurance for your belongings.
    3. If you own a car or scooter, arrange compulsory WA insurance.

    Official source

First three months

  1. Check if you can get healthcare or rent allowance If your income is low, the Tax Administration (Dienst Toeslagen) may pay healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) and rent allowance (huurtoeslag). Deadline: 31 December of the following yearStaying 4+ months

    Healthcare allowance requires being 18 or older and having Dutch health insurance; for 2026 your income must not be higher than 40,857 euros (51,142 euros together with a benefit partner). Rent allowance is only for an independent home with its own lockable entrance, kitchen, toilet and shower or bath, so most rooms in shared houses do not qualify. You need a valid residence status that entitles you to benefits, and you can apply until 31 December of the following year.

    What to do

    1. Make a trial calculation (proefberekening) on the Toeslagen site.
    2. Apply via Mijn toeslagen with your DigiD.
    3. Report changes in income or household straight away to avoid paying back.

    Official source

  2. Register with a dentist Find a dentist near you, and check how dental costs are covered. Staying 4+ months

    Basic health insurance covers check-ups and treatment for children under 18 without the eigen risico. For adults, the basic package only covers surgical dental care and X-rays (subject to the eigen risico), so routine adult dental care needs supplementary insurance or is paid yourself.

    What to do

    1. Find a dental practice near your home that accepts new patients.
    2. Register yourself and your children.
    3. Check whether your supplementary insurance covers adult dental care.

    Official source

  3. Check your driving licence and exchange it if needed A non-EU licence is only valid in the Netherlands for 185 days after you relocate, while an EU/EFTA licence stays valid longer. Deadline: 185 days after you move (non-EU licence)Staying 4+ months

    Non-EU/EFTA licences can be exchanged only if the issuing country has an agreement with the Netherlands, or if you have the 30% ruling (then a licence from any country can be exchanged). EU/EFTA car licences (AM, A, B, BE) can be used until 15 years after issue, or for 2 years after your move if the licence is already older than 15 years. You apply at the municipality, and processing takes at least 15 working days, so start well before the deadline; you cannot drive after it while your application is pending.

    What to do

    1. Check whether your licence can be exchanged on the RDW site.
    2. For non-EU licences, submit a CBR Health Declaration and allow time for the medical assessment.
    3. Apply at the municipality with a passport photo, your foreign licence and, if relevant, your 30% ruling decision.
    4. If exchange is not possible, take the CBR theory and practical tests.

    Official source

  4. Apply for DUO student finance if you work EU/EEA, Swiss and UK students who work enough hours in the Netherlands can be entitled to Dutch student finance. Deadline: Documents within 4 weeks of applyingEU/EEA/SwissStudentsStaying 4+ months

    If you work fewer than 32 hours a month you are often not entitled; between 24 and 32 hours DUO assesses your case. An income of at least 50% of the social security norm (700.75 euros a month in 2026, or 173 euros under 21) or 5 years of continuous residence can also qualify you. You apply in Mijn DUO with your DigiD and upload supporting documents with the application or within 4 weeks.

    What to do

    1. Check the eligibility conditions for your situation.
    2. Collect supporting documents such as your employment contract and payslips.
    3. Apply in Mijn DUO with your DigiD and upload documents within 4 weeks.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  5. Start your civic integration (inburgering) Many non-EU partners and family members who come to live here permanently must integrate within 3 years, including learning Dutch. Deadline: Within 3 yearsNon-EUPartnersStaying 4+ months

    Nationals of EU/EEA countries, Switzerland and Turkiye are exempt, as are people who come temporarily to study or work. Once you have a BSN, residence permit and municipal registration, DUO sends a letter (this can take 8 weeks). The municipality then holds a broad intake and draws up a personal integration and participation plan (PIP), usually aiming for B1 Dutch.

    What to do

    1. Wait for the DUO letter, or contact DUO if it has not arrived 8 weeks after registration.
    2. Attend the broad intake with Gemeente Eindhoven.
    3. Follow your PIP and pass the exams within 3 years.

    Official source

Once you're settled

  1. Budget for Eindhoven municipal taxes Eindhoven residents receive one yearly municipal tax bill, which for tenants mainly covers the waste levy. Staying 4+ months

    The bill usually arrives at the end of February, by post or in your MijnOverheid Berichtenbox. The 2026 waste levy (afvalstoffenheffing) is 229.46 euros for a one-person household and 287.07 euros for two people. Property tax (OZB) and the sewerage charge are paid by the owner on 1 January. You can pay at once or in up to 10 monthly direct debit instalments, and people on a low income can apply for remission (kwijtschelding).

    What to do

    1. Activate your MijnOverheid Berichtenbox to receive the bill digitally.
    2. Sign up for direct debit soon after the bill arrives to get all 10 instalments.
    3. If your income is low, apply for remission.

    Official source

  2. File your Dutch income tax return In the year you move you become a resident taxpayer, and you usually file a special return (M form) for the year of immigration. Deadline: Date in your tax return letter

    You will usually get a letter from the Tax Administration asking you to file; if not, check Mijn Belastingdienst with your DigiD. For the year you arrived, you file the return for people who lived in the Netherlands for part of the year, online or on paper form M. The final filing date is in your letter, and you can request a postponement up to that date. Give the Tax Administration your bank account number so refunds can be paid.

    What to do

    1. Log in to Mijn Belastingdienst with your DigiD in spring.
    2. File the M return for your year of arrival, or the regular return in later years.
    3. Request a postponement before the final date if you need more time.

    Official source

    Read the full guide
  3. Learn Dutch Speaking some Dutch makes daily life, work and social contacts much easier, and it is required if you must integrate. Staying 4+ months

    In the Eindhoven region you can join free language cafes at the library, take free courses with Taalkracht Eindhoven (for adults not subject to mandatory integration), or join Humanitas language cafes. Holland Expat Center South runs the Praat Nederlands Met Me campaign. Official recognition of your level requires the NT2 state exam.

    What to do

    1. Join a library language cafe or a free Taalkracht course.
    2. Use easy-Dutch media such as NOS Journaal in Makkelijke Taal.
    3. Pick up a Praat Nederlands Met Me button at the Expat Center welcome desk.

    Official source

  4. Deregister when you leave the Netherlands When you move abroad, or will be abroad for at least 8 of the next 12 months, you must report your departure to the municipality. Deadline: Up to 5 days before you leaveStaying 4+ months

    Report it within 5 days before you leave; Eindhoven cannot process it earlier. You can do this online with DigiD, by post with the signed form and a copy of your ID, or in person by appointment, and it is free. Proof of deregistration is sent to your new address abroad. Remember to also arrange your tax position, health insurance and allowances.

    What to do

    1. Report your departure to Gemeente Eindhoven within 5 days before leaving.
    2. Cancel or end your Dutch health insurance, allowances and rental contract.
    3. Check the Tax Administration's emigration checklist.

    Official source

This checklist covers the common steps. Your situation may need more, for example if you bring children or pets, or work self-employed. If in doubt, ask the Holland Expat Center South or the organisation that sets the rule.