Moving to the Netherlands Checklist
Moving to the Netherlands is exciting, but the to-do list arrives fast and most of it depends on the step before it. You cannot open a bank account without a BSN, and you cannot get a BSN without registering. Get the order wrong and you spend weeks waiting. Work through this list top to bottom and nothing will catch you out.
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1
Before you arrive
A little preparation here saves weeks later. Line up a registered address before anything else.
Sort your visa or residence permit (non-EU only)
Deadline
Arrange your MVV or residence permit through the IND and book your biometrics appointment. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can skip this.
Secure an address you can register at
Important
Temporary housing is fine but you need somewhere that permits registration. Check before you sign — some short-term rentals do not allow it.
Gather and translate your documents
Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate if relevant. Some documents need an apostille or sworn translation. Arrange from home – it is slow from inside the Netherlands.
2
Your first week: the essentials
These three steps are the foundation. Everything else waits on them, so treat your first week as admin week.
Register with your gemeente
Day 1-5
Must happen within 5 days of arriving if staying longer than 4 months. Late registration risks a fine of around 325 euros. Book your appointment before you arrive. Full guide →
Receive your BSN number
Week 1
Your citizen service number unlocks work, banking, insurance, taxes and DigiD. You get it at or shortly after gemeente registration. Write it down and keep it safe. Full guide →
Apply for DigiD
Week 1
Apply at digid.nl once you have a BSN and registered address. Activation code arrives by post in a few days – apply immediately rather than waiting until you need it. Full guide →
3
Health and money
With your BSN active, you can now set up the things that make daily life work. Health insurance has a real deadline.
Open a Dutch bank account
You need one for your salary, rent and direct debits. ING, ABN AMRO and Rabobank are the main options. bunq and N26 are faster digital options. Bring BSN, passport and proof of address. Full guide →
Arrange health insurance (basisverzekering)
4-month deadline
Mandatory and backdates to arrival date. Must be done within 4 months. Around 140 to 165 euros per month in 2026, plus 385 euro own-risk (eigen risico). Compare at independer.nl. Full guide →
Register with a GP (huisarts)
Do this before you are ill, not after. Practices can be full and your huisarts is the gateway to almost all non-emergency care and specialist referrals.
4
Tax breaks and allowances
This is where newcomers most often leave money on the table. A short check now can be worth thousands of euros a year.
Apply for the 30% ruling (if eligible)
4-month deadline
You and your employer apply jointly within 4 months of your first working day. That deadline cannot be extended. The benefit is 30% in 2026, dropping to 27% from January 2027. Full guide →
Check whether you qualify for allowances (toeslagen)
Worth checking
Using your DigiD, check via the Belastingdienst for the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) and rent allowance (huurtoeslag). Many people who qualify never realise it.
5
Settling into daily life
The legal essentials are done. These are the practical bits that turn a new address into a home.
Get a Dutch SIM or phone number
Cheaper than roaming and needed for verification on Dutch services and deliveries.
Set up utilities and internet
Gas, electricity, water and broadband. You will often need your BSN or DigiD to sign up.
Sort public transport
Tap in and out with OVpay using a contactless card or phone, or get an OV-chipkaart for trains, trams and buses. Full guide →
Set up direct debits (automatische incasso)
Put rent, insurance and utilities on automatic payment. Far fewer things to track each month.
Collect your residence permit card (non-EU only)
When notified
Pick it up when the IND tells you it is ready. It proves your lawful stay and right to work.
6
Good to know
None of these are urgent on day one but each one trips people up later.
Prepare for your first tax return (M-form)
Year 1
In your year of arrival you usually file a special M-form rather than the standard return. The Belastingdienst has English resources. Full guide →
Update your address everywhere when you move
Update gemeente, bank, insurer, employer and DigiD. An outdated address delays important post and can cause problems with official services.
Consider Dutch lessons
Recommended
Some residents are legally required to integrate (inburgering). For everyone else it is optional but makes daily life much easier. Full guide →
Check your driving licence
185-day rule
Some non-EU licences must be exchanged or re-tested within 185 days. If you hold the 30% ruling you can often swap without retaking the test. Full guide →
Get your diplomas recognised if needed
If relevant
For certain jobs or further study you may need qualifications formally evaluated through Nuffic or IDW.
Bookmark the NLdaily expat guides
Handy
Deep guides on every topic above, all updated for 2026. Browse all guides →
Rules and amounts on this page are for 2026 and can change during the year. For anything affecting your legal status, check rijksoverheid.nl, ind.nl and your local gemeente, or speak to a professional.