Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-netherlands
Change description : 2020-01-24 09:48:00: Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal. [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-09-23 15:31:50 +00:00..2020-01-24 09:51:30 +00:00
Guidance
Official information forBritish UKpeople nationals moving to and living in the Netherlands need to know, including Brexit guidance, residency, healthcare and driving.
This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
You should:
The UKon is leaving the EU. This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit and will be updated if anything changes.
You should:
You acan citizen outreach meetingalso:
The
Youfor can also:
You may want to check the entry requirements for the Netherlands.
You must carry photographic ID at all times. If you are in the Netherlands for more than 3 months, you must apply for your residence permit (verblijfsdocument). To do this, you must register with your local Municipality Administration (Gemeente) who can tell you what documents you will need.
If there are changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
If youthe areUK residentleaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. You can live, work and travel in the Netherlands broadly as before Brexit. You will be able to move to the endNetherlands and establish residency under the same rules as before Brexit.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, a national transition scheme will take effect up to and including 30 June 2020. Under this scheme, as a UK national, you keep your rights to live, work, and study in the Netherlands. This also applies if you are the family member of a UK national and you do not have another EU citizenship.
Before the implementationdate periodthe onUK 31exits December,the 2020,EU, the IND will send you a letter. This letter will be ableyour temporary residence permit. If you would also like to stay.receive the letter digitally, take the necessary steps to receive post from the IND in your Message Box on MijnOverheid. The IND has already sent these permits to all UK nationals legally resident by 29 March 2019.
After Brexit,the transition period you will need a new national residence document.permit. DuringYou can obtain a residence permit if you meet the implementationsame period,conditions for residence that apply to EU citizens, and have been invited to submit an application for this residence permit. This residence permit gives you the Immigrationright to work and Naturalisationstudy Servicein (the Netherlands.
During the transition period you will receive an invitation from the IND) to apply on-line for the national residence permit before 1 April 2020. These invitations will writebe sent in stages, as they would be in a deal situation.
If you already have a permanent EU residence document, the IND will invite you to apply for a permanent residence permit free of charge.
Your family members can be considered for a (temporary) residence permit (regardless of their nationality or main residence) if, as a UK national living in the Netherlands, you atare yourin possession of a (temporary) residence permit. This is only possible during the transition period (in the event of a no-deal exit up to and including 30 June 2020). After this, the stricter national requirements for family reunification apply. These are explained on the Family section of the IND website.
If you are registered addressin heldthe byNetherlands yourwith localthe councilGemeente’s (gemeente).Personal TheRecords letterDatabase, the Dutch government will tellsend you howa temporary residence permit by post.
If you have not registered with the Gemeente’s Personal Records database, follow these steps to obtainregister for a digital version of the newtemporary residence document.permit:
Read
If your residency right is not affected by Brexit, you may not receive a temporary residency permit. You can look at the IND’s guidance for more information.
WeFor willmore includeinformation:
If you arrive in the Netherlands after BrexitBrexit, asyou soonwill be treated as it’sa available.non-EU national. Further information on this will be published on the Ministry of IND website in due course.
Read the Dutch government’s summary of impacts of Brexit for UK nationals.
If you are in the Netherlands for study purposes only, your educational institution will apply for a residence permit on your behalf. The educational institution can only submit a residence permit application for you if they are recognised as a sponsor by the IND.
To obtain a residence permit for study, you must:
If you are under 30 and live in the Netherlands for study purposes only, you cannot enrol with a Dutch health insurer for the mandatory basic health insurance. See ‘Studying after Brexit’ on what to do after Brexit about health insurance.
If you have a part-time job during your studies, you become subject to Dutch social security legislation and are required to have mandatory basic health insurance with a Dutch health insurer. This is also the case if you have a zero hours contract, volunteer position or internship.
YouIf there is a deal, you will be able to study in the Netherlands broadly as before. You will be able to use a UK-issuedUK issued EHIC card.
If there’s no deal, then whilst studying in the Netherlands you workwill need to purchase private health insurance (which differs from the mandatory Dutch health insurance). However, if you get a job or volunteer alongsideposition, youryou studies,will become subject to Dutch social security provisions and must take out mandatory health insurance.
If you arrive in the Netherlands to study after Brexit, you will be treated as a non-EU national and will need to purchase private health insurance. If you get a job, you will become subject to Dutch social security provisions and must take out mandatory Dutch health insurance.
ForIf morethere’s informationno visitdeal, thethere Nufficmay websitebe changes to student fees and readloans. Find more information from the Dutch government’sgovernment guidance on studying in the Netherlands after Brexit.Brexit.
For more information about studying in the Netherlands, visit the Nuffic website.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from the Netherlands.
After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. YourYou’ll need to renew your passport shouldbefore betravelling validif foryou thedo proposednot durationhave ofenough time left on your stay;passport.
If youthere dois nota needdeal, anynothing additionalwill periodchange until the end of validity2020. onIn this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your passportUK beyondpassport. this.What happens after 2020 will form part of the next part of negotiations.
You’llIf needthere’s no deal, you should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to renewtravel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before travellingthe ifprevious youone doexpired, notextra months may have enoughbeen timeadded leftto its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport.passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
TheIf rulesthere’s onno traveldeal, UK nationals will staynot theneed samevisas untilfor theshort endstays ofelsewhere in the implementationEU. periodYou onwill 31be Decemberable 2020.to Duringstay thisup timeto you90 candays continuein toanother EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You must retain evidence of travel to(such countriesas train and plane tickets), in thecase Schengenthese areaare requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or elsewhereEFTA incountry, theyou EUwill withbe able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your UKcountry passport.of residence.
WeIf willyou updateare theseresident pagesin withthe detailsNetherlands, ofyou anymust changescarry toyour thetemporary rulesresidency aspermit soonwith asyou informationat isall available.times Youwhen shouldtravelling signto upand forfrom updatesthe onNetherlands. thisIt guidance.is only valid in combination with a valid passport.
If you move to the Netherlands, you must arrange health insurance within 4 months of your arrival. The basic Dutch health insurance (basis verzekering) covers general medical care, such as visits to a local GPGP, hospital and hospitalbasic dental care. You can read guidance on health insurance in the Netherlands.
If you are resident in the Netherlands, you must not use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in the Netherlands.
When you travel from the Netherlands for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:
Read the NHS guidance on healthcare in the Netherlands.
Find an English-speaking doctor in the Netherlands.
You should also check that your prescriptions are legal.
If you are a student, read further information about healthcare:
ThereIf you are a resident and purchase mandatory health insurance, your rights will beremain nothe changessame, towhether or not there is a deal.
If there is a deal, your healthcarecurrent rights on access beforeto 31healthcare Decemberin 2020.the YouNetherlands canwill alsoremain continuethe tosame useuntil yourthe EHIC,end of the implementation period, as long as you didremain before,a duringresident thisin time.the Netherlands.
If there’s no deal, and you access healthcare through an S1 or S2 arrangement with the UK, your access to healthcare may change.
If you are a residentS1 andform purchaseholder, mandatoryyou healthshould insurance,take action now to confirm your residency status by contacting the IND to decide what steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare willif remainthere’s no deal.
If you currently have your healthcare costs paid for by the sameUK government, we can help if you are asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.
IfThe UK has offered to continue paying the country you arelive livingin for your healthcare in the event of no deal, just as it does now. The government has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with the Netherlands orfor moveS1 thereform permanentlyholders beforeuntil 31the end of December 2020,2020. you’llIf havethere’s life-longno deal and there is no arrangement with the Netherlands to continue reciprocal healthcare, UK nationals receiving healthcare rightsthrough inthe S1 form will not be covered.
Your UK-issued EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme, however this relies on the Netherlands ascontinuing to accept UK EHICs. If you dohave now,a providedNetherlands issued EHIC, you remainmay resident.continue to access healthcare outside of the Netherlands.
You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals and how it may change after Brexit.
Read our guidance on working in another EU country.
You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.
You may need a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) Netherlands.
YourIf there is a deal, your right to work will not change,change asuntil longthe asend youof remainimplementation period.
If there’s no deal, the temporary residence permit issued by the IND to legally resident UK nationals already in the Netherlands can only be used in combination with a valid passport. You must provide your employer with a copy of your temporary residence permit, together with a copy of your passport, to show that you are entitled to work in the Netherlands. This also applies to non-EU family members.
If you are planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit, you should read our guidance on providing services after Brexit.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with the Netherlands to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
For more information, you can read our guidance on:
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in the Netherlands. Find an English-speaking lawyer in the Netherlands.
You may also be able to pay National Insurance while abroad so that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If you are employed or self-employed in the EU or EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.
If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.
Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.
Brexit will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in the Netherlands. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
YouIf willthere’s needno todeal, tellit themay UKbecome governmentmore officesexpensive thatto dealuse with your benefits,UK pensionbank andcard taxin ifthe youNetherlands. areRead movingour orguidance retiringon abroad.
You onwill claimingneed to tell the UK Stategovernment Pensionoffices inthat thedeal EU,with EEAyour orbenefits, Switzerlandpension asand atax resultif ofyou theare UKmoving leavingor theretiring EU.abroad.
If you retire in the Netherlands, you can claim:
For more information you can read the Dutch government’s guidance on Dutch social security, including pensions.
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
YouThe canUK government will continue to receivepay youra UK State Pension ifto youthose liveeligible in the EU,EU EEAafter orBrexit. SwitzerlandYour and you can still claim your UK State Pension.
IfPension you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will getbe your UK State Pension uprated everyin yearApril for2020, as2021 longand as2022 you continue to live there. This will happen even if you startlive claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions.
If you are living in the NetherlandsEU, beforeEEA byor 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.Switzerland.
There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in the Netherlands.
You should:
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You may be eligible to claim some Dutch social security benefits. Read the EU’s guide to benefits in the Netherlands.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
IfThe youUK aregovernment living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receivepay anychild UKbenefits, benefitsand youdisability alreadybenefits receive.to Thisthose willeligible continuein forthe asEU longafter asBrexit.
If you live there andis meeta alldeal otherand eligibility requirements.
If you work and pay social security contributions in the Netherlands, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Dutch contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.
Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.
DrivingIf you are a resident in the Netherlands, you should exchange your UK licence rulesfor a Dutch driving licence before Brexit. If there’s no deal, UK driving licences will stayno thelonger samebe untilrecognised 31in Decemberthe 2020.EU.
UK nationals who are resident in the Netherlands before Brexit will have 15 months from the day of Brexit to exchange their licence. Driving licences can be exchanged at your local council (gemeente). More information about the process can be found via the Netherlands’ Vehicle Authority (RDW).
For information on driving in the Netherlands, read guidance on:
When driving in the Netherlands, you should always carry your:
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
Once you’re registered as a resident in the Netherlands, you must register your vehicle with the Dutch authorities and you may need to pay some taxes.
You can read the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) advice on importing a vehicle into the Netherlands. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Currently, if you are resident in the Netherlands you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections. For more information you can read the European Union’s guidance on elections abroad.
YouThis guidance will not be ableupdated toas vote in European Parliament elections.
We will provide more information aboutbecomes voting rights in the Netherlands as soon as it become available.
If your child is born in the Netherlands, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in the Netherlands you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
You may also need:
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
CurrentAfter petBrexit, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will staychange. theYou samecan untilread 31guidance Decemberon 2020.pet travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.
While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time youyou’ll musthave to visit your vet to get a pet passport.
Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet travel.horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.
For all emergencies dial the European emergency number on 112.
People with disabilities can use the emergency application, a web-based emergency access and relay service.
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.
Tell the UK and the Dutch authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
You should read our guidance on:
If you get a UK State Pension, you must tell the International Pension Centre.
If you get healthcare in the Netherlands through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Netherlands authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
EU Exit update: updated information in the Passport & Travel, Pensions, and Returning to the UK sections.
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections
We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. You must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.
EU Exit update: Updated information on double taxation following EU Exit in the money and tax section
EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare
EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.
EU Exit update: Latest Brexit information from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) added to the EU Exit and Visa and Residency sections.
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.
Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
Updated information on healthcare entitlement
Addition of energy and services comparison website
added more links re: health insurance in the Netherlands
added information about health insurance for students and expats.
First published.
2024-07-12 13:01
Updated information on the EU Entry Exit System for holders of residence permits.
2022-03-11 14:29
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.
2021-12-20 10:47
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.
2021-10-01 09:19
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.
2021-06-02 14:07
Visas and residency section updated: further guidance on Type II residency documents and extended deadline for residency applications
2021-02-17 09:42
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
2020-09-16 10:24
Visas and residency section updated to include details of changes to the new residency system.
2020-09-07 13:15
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021.
2020-08-05 11:50
Visas and residency section updated with further information on the new residency system
2020-01-24 09:48
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-09-23 16:25
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 16:58
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-06-13 13:51
EU Exit update: updated information in the Passport & Travel, Pensions, and Returning to the UK sections.
2019-04-09 22:01
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections