Documents to bring when you move to the Netherlands

Before you start

• Knowing which country issued each of your civil status documents

Documents you need

• Valid passport (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may use a national ID card)

  required

• Original birth certificate, legalised or apostilled and translated if needed

  required

• Marriage or registered partnership certificate, legalised and translated if needed

  optional

• Apostille or legalisation stamp, plus sworn translation where required

  optional

• MVV entry visa and IND approval letter (non-EU nationals who need them)

  optional

• Employment contract or admission letter

  optional

• Rental contract or written permission to live at your first address

  required

• Proof of health cover for the first weeks

  optional

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Identity and travel documents

   • A passport valid for the whole period you plan to stay, ideally longer. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can use a national ID card.
   • Passports or ID cards for every family member, including children.
   • For non-EU nationals: the MVV visa in your passport if you need one, the IND approval letter, and any letter from your employer, institution or sponsor about collecting your residence document.
2. 2

   Step 2: Civil status documents (legalised and translated)

   • Your birth certificate, and those of your children.
   • Your marriage or registered partnership certificate, if applicable.
   • Where relevant: divorce decrees, death certificate of a former spouse, proof of a name change, or adoption papers.

   IN Amsterdam asks for originals of birth and marriage certificates for registration. If your document comes from a country that has signed the Apostille Convention, you usually need an apostille from that country's competent authority; otherwise there are often two steps, first by the issuing country's foreign ministry and then by the Dutch embassy or consulate. NetherlandsWorldwide has the procedure for each country.

3. 3

   Step 3: Translations

   Documents that are not in an accepted language may need a sworn translation. The IND accepts documents in Dutch, English, French or German; municipalities can apply their own rules, so check before you pay for translations. In the Netherlands, sworn translators are listed in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators. Ask whether the translation must be made in the Netherlands or may be made abroad.

4. 4

   Step 4: Work, study and education records

   • Your employment contract or job offer, and your university admission letter if you come to study.
   • Diplomas and transcripts (and diploma supplements). Bring the originals; obtaining them from abroad later can be slow.
   • Reference letters and proof of work experience, especially if you will apply for an EU Blue Card or a regulated profession.
   • Professional registrations or licences if you work in a regulated profession such as healthcare.

   If you plan to work in a non-regulated profession, consider an IDW credential evaluation (€148.83 in 2026). See recognition of diplomas.

5. 5

   Step 5: Housing documents

   • The rental contract for your first address, or a signed declaration from the main occupant with a copy of their ID if you live in someone else's home. You need one of these to register.
   • Recent payslips, an employer's statement and bank statements: Dutch landlords and agents commonly ask for proof of income when you apply for a rental.
6. 6

   Step 6: Health documents

   • Vaccination records for you and your children, and a summary of any medical conditions.
   • Prescriptions and the generic names of medicines you take regularly, so a Dutch GP and pharmacy can continue them.
   • Proof of health cover for the period before your Dutch insurance starts; EU citizens can use their EHIC for necessary care during a temporary stay.
   • If the IND says you need a TB test, you take it at the public health service (GGD) in the Netherlands within three months of receiving your permit.
7. 7

   Step 7: Money and tax documents

   • Recent bank statements, especially if you need to prove sufficient funds (for example, students must show €1,130.77 per month for higher education in 2026).
   • Your most recent tax returns and pension statements from your home country.
   • A credit card or foreign debit card for the first weeks; a Dutch bank account usually requires your BSN.
8. 8

   Step 8: Driving licence and vehicles

   • Your driving licence. With a licence from outside the EU/EFTA you may drive for the first 185 days after moving to the Netherlands; after that you need a Dutch licence. Some licences can be exchanged, others require new Dutch tests. An international driving permit is advisable if your licence does not use the categories A to E.
   • If you import a car, bring its registration and purchase documents.
9. 9

   Step 9: Children and pets

   • School reports and certificates, to help Dutch schools place your children.
   • For pets: the travel and health documents your pet needs; check the official rules for travelling from your departure country well before the move.

Documents you do not need to legalise again

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Bringing a copy or an old short-form birth certificate where an original or recent extract with an apostille is required.
• Paying for translations before checking whether the receiving office accepts English or another language.
• Leaving diplomas behind and having to request duplicates from abroad.

Tips

• Ask your employer, university or relocation contact for the exact document list that their IND procedure and IN Amsterdam appointment require.
• Scan every document and store the files in a secure cloud folder you can reach from your phone.
• Check the NetherlandsWorldwide page for your country early; some procedures take weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Collect the originals you will need in the NetherlandsAdd to plan
• Register your address and get your BSNAdd to plan
• Apply for your residence permit (and MVV if needed)Add to plan
• Check the conditions for joining your partner or familyAdd to plan
• Get your birth certificate legalised and translatedAdd to plan
• Plan what to ship and check the customs rulesAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 5 Apr 2027.