Free Expat Checklists & Templates

In this guide

Jump to a checklist

1. Moving to the Netherlands 2. BSN Registration 3. Health Insurance Setup 4. Dutch Tax Return 5. 30% Ruling Application 6. Leaving the Netherlands 7. Opening a Bank Account 8. Housing Search

Moving to the Netherlands Checklist

Before you leave

Get apostilles on key documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, diplomas) — takes 2–8 weeks depending on country
Most countries issue apostilles through their Ministry of Foreign Affairs or designated authority
Arrange temporary or permanent housing in the Netherlands
You need a registered address to get your BSN — hotel addresses generally not accepted
Arrange travel insurance to cover the gap before Dutch health insurance kicks in
Book return flight or have onward travel if required for entry
Notify your home country bank of your move (international card access)
Gather certified copies of your employment contract, rental contract, and passport
Research your municipality (gemeente) and their BSN appointment process
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague have different booking systems and wait times
Arrange pet import paperwork if applicable (EU health certificate, rabies vaccine, microchip)

First week after arrival

Register at your gemeente and receive your BSN number
Book the appointment before you arrive if possible — some cities have 2–4 week waits
Open a Dutch bank account (or set up Wise for the interim period)
You need your BSN for most Dutch bank accounts, but Wise works without one
Contact your employer's HR to confirm payroll registration with Dutch tax authority (Belastingdienst)
Get a Dutch SIM card or plan (KPN, Odido, Lebara)
Register with a GP (huisarts) — walk in or call the practice directly
Many practices are full; register as early as possible

First month

Apply for DigiD (takes 1–2 weeks; activation code arrives by post)
You need DigiD for taxes, the IND portal, pension overview, and healthcare declarations
Take out Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) within 4 months of registration
⚠ If you miss the 4-month window, you are still required to be insured from your registration date and will owe backdated premiums with a surcharge
Apply for zorgtoeslag (healthcare benefit) at toeslagen.nl if your income qualifies
Set up a Dutch bank account if you haven't already (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, Bunq)
Apply for the 30% ruling with your employer if eligible
Both you and your employer must submit the application; you cannot apply alone
Arrange home contents insurance (inboedelverzekering) and liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering)
Notify your home country: cancel or redirect mail, update address with tax authority, pension, and bank

BSN Registration Checklist

Documents to prepare

Valid passport or national ID (original, not a copy)
EU citizens can use a national ID card; non-EU citizens must use a passport
Original birth certificate (plus an apostille if issued outside the EU)
Some municipalities accept a certified copy; call ahead to confirm
Rental contract or proof of address at a Dutch address
Your name must appear on the contract or have a landlord declaration (verhuurdersverklaring)
Marriage certificate if applicable (apostilled if issued outside the EU)
Work permit or employment contract (some municipalities ask for this)
Completed municipality registration form (varies per city; download from gemeente website)

Booking your appointment

Find your municipality's appointment portal (gemeente.nl, amsterdam.nl, denhaag.nl, etc.)
Book as early as possible — ideally before you arrive
Amsterdam and The Hague often have 3–6 week waits during peak periods (September–October)
Note your appointment reference and confirm appointment by email/SMS reminder
Check if your gemeente requires a specific form to be downloaded and completed in advance
If your city has a Expat Center (Amsterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven), check if you qualify — they often have faster appointments

At the gemeente appointment

Bring all original documents (not photocopies)
Arrive 10 minutes early; bring the appointment confirmation
Ask for written confirmation of your BSN on the spot if possible
Some municipalities give you a print-out; others send your BSN by post within 5 working days
Ask about DigiD registration at the same appointment if available
Note the date of your official registration — this is the start date for your 4-month health insurance window

Health Insurance Setup Checklist

Understand your deadline

Note your BSN registration date — your 4-month insurance window starts then
⚠ Critical deadline: You must have Dutch health insurance within 4 months of registering in the Netherlands. Missing this means backdated premiums plus a surcharge from the CAK.
Check whether you are exempt (EU cross-border workers, certain diplomats, and long-stay students under an international plan sometimes qualify)
Confirm your employment start date with HR — your employer may have insurance from day one

Compare and choose a policy

Decide on your eigen risico (own risk / deductible): €385 minimum in 2026, up to €885 voluntary
Higher own risk = lower monthly premium, but you pay more out of pocket if you use care
Decide whether you need aanvullende verzekering (supplementary insurance) for dental, physio, or glasses
Check if English-language support matters to you (Zilveren Kruis, CZ, and ONVZ all offer English)

Compare all Dutch health insurers side by side Independer is the Netherlands' largest comparison platform — free, takes 10 minutes, shows exact premiums for your age and preferred own risk.

Compare on Independer →

Documents needed to enrol

BSN number (required by all Dutch insurers)
Dutch home address
Dutch bank account IBAN for direct debit
Some insurers accept a foreign IBAN temporarily; Wise works here if you don't have a Dutch account yet
Date of birth and passport number
Preferred GP (huisarts) if choosing a managed-care (zorgmodel) policy

After you sign up

Save your insurance card (verzekeringskaart) — you need it at doctors and pharmacies
Apply for zorgtoeslag (monthly healthcare benefit) at toeslagen.nl if you are eligible
In 2026, single people earning under ~€37,000 may qualify; couples up to ~€47,000
Register with a GP (huisarts) near your home address
Cancel any international or home-country health insurance that overlaps

Dutch Tax Return Checklist

Key deadlines

1 May — standard deadline to file your aangifte inkomstenbelasting (income tax return) online via belastingdienst.nl
⚠ If you can't file by 1 May, request an extension before the deadline. Extensions are usually granted automatically for 6 months.
1 July — extended deadline if you request one in time
M-form: If you arrived or left the Netherlands during the tax year, use the M-form (Migration form) — this has a separate process and a different deadline (typically end of June)

Before you start: what you need

DigiD login with SMS authentication activated
Without DigiD you cannot file online; apply at digid.nl if you don't have one
Jaaropgave (annual salary statement) from every employer — typically sent by February
If you changed jobs mid-year, you need a jaaropgave from each employer
WOZ-waarde (property valuation) if you own property — gemeente sends this by post in January/February
Mortgage annual statement (hypotheekopgave) showing interest paid — from your bank or mortgage provider
Annual bank statements or January 1 balances for all accounts (Box 3 savings)
Dividend statements if you hold shares or have a Box 2 (substantial interest) situation
Healthcare invoice total (for the eigen risico deductible you paid)
Pension statement (pensioenoverzicht) from mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl
30% ruling approval letter if applicable — shows your tax-free allowance and the correct taxable salary

Potential deductions to check

Mortgage interest deduction (hypotheekrenteaftrek) — only for your primary residence
Alimony payments (partneralimentatie)
Study costs (if paid out of pocket and not reimbursed) — check current rules as these have been restricted
Gifts to recognised charities (giftenaftrek) over €60 or 1% of income, up to 10% of income
Specific healthcare costs not reimbursed by insurance (limited circumstances)

After filing

Keep confirmation and the filing reference number
Wait for the voorlopige aanslag (provisional assessment) — Belastingdienst sends this within a few weeks
Check the final aanslag (definitive assessment) and verify figures match your filing
If you disagree with the assessment: file a bezwaar (objection) within 6 weeks of the date on the letter

30% Ruling Application Checklist

Eligibility requirements — confirm all apply

You are recruited from abroad (not already living in the Netherlands)
You have a specific expertise that is scarce in the Dutch labour market
Your taxable salary (after the 30% exclusion) meets the minimum threshold:
2026 threshold: €48,013/year of taxable salary (i.e. after the 30% allowance has been deducted). Under 30 with a qualifying master's degree: €36,497. Adjust upwards — your gross salary must be at least ~€68,590 or ~€52,138 respectively. Scientific researchers at designated institutions face no minimum.
You lived more than 150 km from the Dutch border for 16 of the 24 months before your start date
This is the "distance criterion" — it disqualifies people who lived in Belgium, Luxembourg, or near the German/French border
Your employer is a Dutch payroll entity (registered with Belastingdienst)
This is your first time applying (or you meet the recalculation rules for prior Dutch work)
You submit within 4 months of your Dutch employment start date
⚠ Apply within 4 months of your Dutch contract start date. If you miss this window, the ruling can only start from the date of application — you lose the backdated benefit.

Steps for your employer

HR or payroll team submits the application to Belastingdienst on your behalf (the employee cannot apply alone)
Employer completes form "Verzoek loonheffingen 30%-regeling" (available at belastingdienst.nl)
Employer signs and submits the form — you both sign
Wait for the "beschikking" (ruling letter) — typically 4–10 weeks
Once approved, employer applies the ruling to payroll starting from the approval date (or retroactively if within the window)

Documents to gather

Employment contract showing Dutch salary and start date
Proof of previous foreign address (utility bills, registration document from prior country)
Copies of relevant diplomas or credentials demonstrating scarcity
Passport copy
BSN number (once received from gemeente)

Percentage schedule (2026 rules)

2025 and 2026: a flat 30% of your salary is tax-free in every month of the ruling
The 30/20/10 step-down announced in the 2024 Tax Plan was scrapped in the 2025 Tax Plan before it ever applied to anyone. There is no 20% or 10% phase.
From 1 January 2027: the maximum drops to 27% — unless the ruling was already being applied to your salary on or before 31 December 2023, in which case transitional rules keep you at 30%
First applied in 2024: 27% from 2027 on the current salary norm. First applied on or after 1 January 2025: 27% from 2027 plus a higher salary norm (announced, still to be set by decree).
Salary cap: the allowance is calculated on salary up to €262,000 (2026), so the tax-free amount stops at €78,600 per year
Maximum ruling duration: 5 years (previous time in NL within last 25 years is subtracted)

Leaving the Netherlands Checklist

3 months before you leave

Notify your employer of your leaving date and start your notice period (opzegtermijn)
Check your rental contract notice period (usually 1 month; some contracts require 2–3 months)
Arrange your move: shipping company, temporary storage, or selling furniture
Contact Belastingdienst if you have an ongoing voorlopige teruggaaf (provisional refund) to stop it
Check your pension situation: request a value statement (waardeoverzicht) from your pension fund and check transfer or continuation options
Cancel subscriptions with notice periods: gym, streaming, mobile plan, internet

1 month before you leave

Deregister at your gemeente (uitschrijven) — this officially ends your Dutch residency
You can deregister up to 5 days before your actual departure date
Cancel Dutch health insurance — it ends automatically on your deregistration date, but notify your insurer
File or arrange filing for your final Dutch tax return (M-form for the year of departure)
Request a final jaaropgave from your employer at the end of your employment
Notify the IND if you are on a residence permit (they should be informed of departure)
Return any leased equipment from work
Get a deposit refund from your landlord — document the apartment's condition with photos

Final week

Download your banking history and statements before closing or switching accounts
Dutch banks often send final statements by post — update your forwarding address first
Set up mail forwarding with PostNL (doorsturen service) for 3–12 months
Update your address with Belastingdienst to your new address abroad (or a trusted contact in NL)
Notify your Dutch bank of your new address; consider keeping the account open for any final refunds
Take your BSN note — you may need it for the M-form tax return after you leave
Cancel DigiD or update your contact details to your new address
Collect final pay and holiday allowance (vakantiegeld) from employer

Opening a Bank Account Checklist

Before you can open a Dutch bank account

Account eligibility, verification time, address and tax-ID requirements vary by provider and residence. Bunq says eligible customers may supply a tax ID within 90 days; for every provider, check the live onboarding terms before relying on an account or card.
Dutch home address registered at gemeente
Valid passport or ID card
Dutch phone number (for SMS verification)
Email address

Interim option: open a Wise account first

Wise availability, verification, EUR details and card delivery depend on residence and the current account terms; it is not an NL bank account.
Good for receiving your first salary while waiting for your Dutch bank account
Works with most Dutch landlords, health insurers, and employers for initial payments

Wise availability, verification, EUR details and card delivery depend on residence and the current account terms; it is not an NL bank account. No BSN required, holds 40+ currencies, Dutch IBAN available, low international transfer fees.

Open a Wise account →

Choose a Dutch bank

ING: English app, widely accepted, easy account opening online
ABN AMRO: Strong English support, good for expats and internationals; Expat Banking package available
Rabobank: Good rural and mid-city coverage; English support is more limited
Bunq offers app-based onboarding and says eligible customers may supply a tax ID within 90 days, but approval and delivery times are not guaranteed.
N26 / Revolut: European neobanks — convenient but not always accepted by all Dutch systems
Some landlords and pension funds only accept Dutch IBANs (NLxx XXXX). Always confirm acceptability first.

After opening your account

Activate your debit card and iDEAL (the Dutch online payment system)
Set up salary payment with your employer's HR using your new IBAN
Set up automatic payments (machtigingen) for rent, health insurance, and utilities
Register for your bank's app and enable push notifications for transactions
Share your Dutch IBAN with Belastingdienst for any tax refunds

Housing Search Checklist

Set your budget first

Calculate your maximum rent: Dutch standard is that rent should not exceed 1/3 of your gross monthly salary
Factor in servicekosten (service charges), which are added on top of the base rent for apartments
Budget for the deposit (waarborgsom): typically 1–2 months' rent, paid upfront
Check if you qualify for huurtoeslag (rent benefit): single people earning under ~€31,750/year may qualify for social housing; private sector has no income cap for benefit
Use the Rent Affordability Calculator to know exactly what you can afford

Where to search

Funda.nl — the main listings platform; most agents post here
Pararius.nl — strong for international listings, English interface
Kamernet.nl — good for rooms, student housing, and shared flats
Facebook Groups — "Amsterdam Housing", "Expats in The Hague Housing" — fast-moving, mix of scams and legitimate listings
Expat Center / relocation agency — if your employer offers a relocation package, ask HR to activate it
Set up email alerts on Funda and Pararius for your criteria — good apartments in Amsterdam and The Hague go within 24–48 hours

Kamernet — rooms, studios and shared flats Useful if you need something before a permanent contract. Contacting advertisers requires a paid membership; listings themselves are free to browse.

Search on Kamernet →

Scam red flags — walk away if you see these

Landlord is "abroad" and sends keys by post after you wire a deposit
Price is significantly below market rate for the location
Payment requested via cryptocurrency, Western Union, or WhatsApp only
No physical viewing possible before signing the contract
Urgency pressure: "someone else is offering today — decide now"
Landlord's identity cannot be verified against the Kadaster (land registry) ownership records

Documents landlords typically want from you

Passport or ID copy
Employment contract or proof of income (3 recent payslips)
Employer's statement (werkgeversverklaring) confirming your employment and salary
Bank statements for the last 3 months
References from previous landlords if available
BSN number (required once you register in the Netherlands)
Some landlords accept a letter confirming BSN is in process if you haven't registered yet

Before signing the rental contract

Read the entire contract — if it's in Dutch and you don't read Dutch, get a translated copy or have it reviewed
Check the notice period (opzegtermijn) and any break clauses
Confirm what is included in the servicekosten (hot water, heating, building maintenance?)
Do a thorough inspection and document all existing damage with photos before moving in
Confirm the deposit goes into a separate account (not into the landlord's personal account)
Check Huurcommissie rules: if your rent is in the social sector range, you may have rent protection rights

Editorial review

Wilco Terlouw

Publisher and editor at Expat Netherlands Hub. Checks high-impact guidance against current official Dutch sources; not a licensed tax, legal, immigration or insurance adviser. Read our methodology and corrections policy.