Living in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

For a short stay, for example a visit or a business trip, you only need a valid passport or ID card. There are no further conditions during the first three months.

The conditions depend on your situation, according to the IND:

• You work or run a business. The work must be genuine and effective. The IND treats this as met if your income is at least half of the social assistance amount that applies to you, or if you work at least 40% of a normal full-time week. Below that, the IND looks at your overall situation. If you stay employed by a foreign employer, you are probably a posted worker; see the government's posted workers site.
• You are looking for work. You must show that you were registered as a job seeker with the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) during your first six months. After six months, you must show that you have a real chance of finding work.
• You do not work. You need enough money to live on, which the IND treats as an income at least at the level of the Dutch minimum wage including holiday pay. The source does not matter: a pension, savings, maintenance or a partner's income all count. If your income is lower, you can show that it still covers your costs.
• You study. You are registered with a Dutch school or university, have health insurance, and have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds.

For context, the statutory minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over is €14.99 per hour from 1 July 2026 (€14.71 from 1 January 2026).

If you will live in the Netherlands for more than four months, register in person with your municipality within five days of arrival. You receive your citizen service number (burgerservicenummer, BSN), which you need for work, banking, health insurance and DigiD. Bring your ID, proof of address and civil status documents such as a birth certificate. In Amsterdam, EU citizens who work for an IND-recognised sponsor can also use IN Amsterdam. See registering in Amsterdam.

For a stay of four months or less, you can register in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI) at one of the RNI municipalities to get a BSN. As an EU citizen you can use any RNI desk.

If you live or work in the Netherlands, you are generally required to take out Dutch basic health insurance within four months of arrival. If you only come to study and do not work, the IND notes that a foreign health insurance policy that covers you in the Netherlands is also sufficient; many students use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Once you take a job alongside your studies, Dutch basic insurance usually becomes compulsory. See health insurance in the Netherlands.

If you have lived in the Netherlands for five years while meeting the conditions above, you have permanent residence and applying for social benefits does not affect your right to stay.

Before five years, it depends on your situation. If you still do genuine and effective work, applying for a (supplementary) benefit does not end your right of residence. If you are not economically active and no longer have enough income, the IND can look at your income, costs and length of stay, and your right of residence may end. Get advice before you apply for social assistance in that situation.

After five years of continuous residence in which you worked or had enough money to live on, you can apply to the IND for a document confirming permanent residence for Union citizens. It is optional but useful as proof, for example towards employers or landlords. The fee is €85 in 2026 (€46 for a child under 18). In some cases you can apply earlier, for example after retiring or becoming permanently unable to work.

Your partner, children under 21 and in some cases other dependent family members can join you under EU law, even if they are not EU citizens themselves:

• If they need a visa to enter, they apply for a facilitation visa at a Dutch embassy or consulate.
• After arrival, they register with the municipality and apply to the IND for verification against EU law (verificatie EU-recht). The fee is €85, or €46 for a child under 18 (2026). The resulting document confirms their right to live and work in the Netherlands.
• Unmarried partners can qualify if the relationship is durable. An immigration law firm writing for IN Amsterdam explains that the IND usually accepts this if you have a child together or have lived together for at least six months.

There is no civic integration exam abroad for this route. See family reunification in the Netherlands.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not required to complete civic integration (inburgering), according to the government. If you later want to become Dutch, you can apply for naturalisation on the basis of your EU right of residence without a residence permit, but you must meet the other conditions, including the civic integration exam and, in most cases, renouncing your current nationality. See Dutch citizenship.