In this guide
Turkey and the Netherlands have a long migration relationship, and the EU-Turkey Association Agreement gives Turkish citizens some different rules for Dutch residence permits. This guide covers what the Dutch authorities publish: work permits, the Association Agreement, tax, health insurance, housing and family reunification. We give no numbers for Turkish salaries, rents, taxes or prices, because we have not used official Turkish sources for them. For those, use the Turkish authorities, for example TurkStat for statistics, the revenue administration for tax and SGK for social security.
Rules and amounts change, so check the official pages named below.
For moving from Turkey in practice, see Moving to the Netherlands from Turkey. See also the comparisons with the UK and Germany.
💡 Looking for a complete banking comparison? Read Best banking for expats in the Netherlands 2026 — covers ABN, ING, Bunq, Wise, Revolut & 5 others by expat use case.
Cost of Living and Housing
We do not compare costs between the two countries. For the Netherlands, Pararius reports the average rent new tenants paid per square metre in the free sector in the third quarter of 2026: Amsterdam EUR 28.56, Rotterdam EUR 22.92, Den Haag EUR 22.95, Utrecht EUR 22.87 and Eindhoven EUR 19.61 (Pararius Huurmonitor Q3 2026). Multiply by the floor area to get a rough monthly rent before service costs. Use the cost of living calculator to model your own expenses with your own numbers.
The Dutch housing crisis is explained in a separate guide, and finding housing in the Netherlands covers the practical side. In the Dutch rental market the maximum deposit is two months of basic rent for new contracts (Rijksoverheid). For Turkish housing and rental rules, use the Turkish authorities and a local adviser.
Work Permits and Salary Criteria
Turkish citizens need a residence permit to work in the Netherlands, and Turkey is not on the IND’s list of nationalities exempt from a provisional residence permit (MVV). For highly skilled migrants only an employer recognised by the IND can apply. The 2026 gross monthly salary criteria, excluding holiday allowance, are €5,942 for 30 and older, €4,357 under 30 and €3,122 on the reduced criterion (IND).
The IND explains that, because of the Association Agreement, the requirements are sometimes less strict for Turkish citizens and their families. For Turkish employees, the IND lists these requirements: you have Turkish nationality, you are legally employed in the Netherlands, you carry out genuine and effective work (for example, your salary is at least 50% of the social welfare level or you work at least 40% of the common full working week) and you pose no risk to public order and national security.
We do not give Dutch or Turkish salary ranges. For Dutch pay levels use the CBS statistics (see salaries in the Netherlands).
Taxes
Dutch Income Tax
In 2026 box 1 income tax for people below the AOW age is 35.75% up to EUR 38,883, 37.56% up to EUR 78,426 and 49.50% above that (Belastingdienst).
The 30% ruling (the Belastingdienst’s Expat Scheme) can give a tax-free allowance of up to 30% for up to 5 years if you meet its conditions, including paid employment, specific expertise (2026 salary norm €48,013, excluding the tax-free allowance, or €36,497 if you are under 30 with a Dutch academic master’s or an equivalent) and recruitment from outside the Netherlands. From 2027 the maximum becomes 27% for rulings applied from 1 January 2025 (Rijksoverheid). Your employer applies. We do not give an effective tax rate, because it depends on your salary and your situation.
Turkish Taxes
For Turkish income tax, social security contributions and the tax treatment of foreign income, use the Turkish revenue administration or a local tax adviser. We give no rates. If you move between the two countries, ask an adviser who handles both systems whether a tax treaty applies to your income and how your property and savings in Turkey are treated in the Dutch box 3.
Health Insurance
Dutch health insurance is mandatory for everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands. You take out basic insurance no later than 4 months after arriving, and the cover applies from the day of arrival (Government.nl). The average basic premium in 2026 is €157 per month (Rijksoverheid), and the compulsory deductible (eigen risico) is €385 per year. Supplementary insurance is optional.
For the Turkish social security system (SGK) and Turkish private health insurance, use SGK and Turkish insurers directly. We do not compare costs or waiting times.
If you are between long-term residencies or travelling between the two countries, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is one option. Its Essential plan starts at USD 62.72 per 4 weeks for ages 10 to 39 (safetywing.com, 31 October 2026). It is travel medical insurance, not a substitute for Dutch basic insurance.
Language and the Turkish Community
CBS counted 93,926 residents with Turkish nationality on 1 January 2026 (table 85510NED). That is nationality only and excludes people with a Turkish background who hold Dutch nationality. We do not quote a total for people of Turkish origin.
If you move to the Netherlands, Dutch is the language of the gemeente counter and the tenancy agreement. For the civic integration obligation, check your own position with DUO and your gemeente, because it depends on your permit. The best Dutch language courses guide covers courses, and the inburgeringsexamen guide covers the exam.
Family Reunification and Nationality
Bringing Family to the Netherlands From Turkey
The IND income requirement for a partner is €2,337 gross per month excluding holiday allowance (1 July to 31 December 2026). Partners usually apply for an MVV and the residence permit together, and the family member generally has to pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad first. The IND lists the exemptions, including being under 18 or having reached the state pension age.
The Association Agreement changes some conditions. The IND says that if you are a Turkish citizen working in the Netherlands and want to bring your spouse or registered partner, you and your partner must both be at least 18 instead of 21. The IND fee for a stay with a Turkish family member is EUR 85 for the first application and extension (with lower amounts for children), where the standard fee is EUR 254 (IND fee schedule). Check the IND’s page on Turkish citizens living in the Netherlands (ind.nl) for your own situation, and consider a Dutch immigration lawyer. For the practical move, see Moving to the Netherlands from Turkey.
Nationality
Whether you can keep Turkish nationality when you naturalise in the Netherlands is a legal question that depends on your situation. Check the IND for the Dutch conditions and the Turkish authorities for the Turkish side, and take advice on both sides before you apply. See the Dutch nationality guide.
Money Transfers: EUR and TRY
Compare what your bank and a transfer provider charge for the exact currency pair and amount, and what documentation your bank requires for larger transfers. Wise publishes its fee per currency on its website, so check EUR to TRY there on the day you transfer.
Safety and Quality of Life
We do not compare safety, climate or quality of life between the two countries. For the Netherlands, see CBS and Government.nl statistics. For Turkey, check the Dutch government’s travel advice for Turkey on NederlandWereldwijd and Turkish official statistics. Perceptions of safety and quality of life are personal.
Practical Steps for Moving Between the Two
Netherlands to Turkey
- Deregister from your Dutch gemeente (BRP) if you leave for more than 8 months; you can report it from the last 5 days before departure (Rijksoverheid).
- Check your Dutch pension rights (see our leaving the Netherlands guide).
- For the Turkish residence permit, bank accounts and health insurance, use the Turkish authorities (for example the Directorate General of Migration Management) and Turkish banks and insurers directly.
Turkey to the Netherlands
- Find a job with a Dutch employer. For highly skilled migrants the 2026 gross monthly salary criteria are €5,942 (30 and older), €4,357 (under 30) and €3,122 (reduced criterion), excluding holiday allowance (IND).
- Your employer applies for the residence permit and MVV via the IND. The IND’s target decision period for a complete application from a recognised sponsor is 2 weeks (legal maximum 90 days).
- Register with your gemeente after arrival and get your BSN number.
- Take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months of arrival.
- Check whether a civic integration obligation applies to you.
- Check whether you are eligible for the 30% ruling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Netherlands more expensive than Turkey?
We do not compare, because we have not used official Turkish sources. For Dutch rents see the Pararius figures above, and use TurkStat for Turkey.
How many Turkish citizens live in the Netherlands?
CBS counted 93,926 residents with Turkish nationality on 1 January 2026, out of 18,130,208 inhabitants. That excludes people with a Turkish background who hold Dutch nationality.
Can Dutch citizens keep Turkish nationality after naturalisation?
It depends on your situation. Check the IND and the Turkish authorities and take advice from both sides.
How does the Turkish SGK compare to Dutch health insurance?
We do not compare them. Dutch basic insurance is mandatory, costs €157 per month on average in 2026 and has a compulsory deductible of €385. For SGK use the Turkish authorities. SafetyWing offers a travel-medical bridge if you are between countries.
What are the integration rules for Turkish nationals moving to the Netherlands?
They depend on your permit, so check with DUO and your gemeente. The IND explains that the Association Agreement makes some requirements less strict for Turkish citizens and their families. Permanent residence requires at least 5 consecutive years with a valid Dutch residence permit and your main residence in the Netherlands during that period (IND).
Summary
The Dutch rules (IND, Belastingdienst, Rijksoverheid) can be checked in advance, and the Association Agreement gives Turkish citizens some different conditions. For Turkish rules use the Turkish authorities.
For currency transfers between the two countries, use Wise and compare the fee for the exact amount first.
Also see our comparisons with Netherlands vs UK, Netherlands vs Germany, Netherlands vs Spain, Netherlands vs France, Netherlands vs Belgium, Netherlands vs USA, and Netherlands vs India for more reference points.
More questions
Can Turkish citizens keep Turkish nationality if they naturalise in the Netherlands?
That is a legal question that depends on your situation, and the rules on both sides have their own procedures. Check the IND for the Dutch naturalisation conditions and the Turkish authorities for the Turkish side, and take advice from both before you apply.
How does Dutch health insurance work compared with Turkey's SGK?
In the Netherlands basic health insurance is mandatory: take it out no later than 4 months after arriving and the cover applies from the day of arrival (Government.nl). The average basic premium in 2026 is EUR 157 per month (Rijksoverheid) and the compulsory deductible (eigen risico) is EUR 385 a year. For the Turkish social security system (SGK) use the Turkish social security authorities (SGK) directly; we do not compare the two.
Do Turkish citizens have different rules for a Dutch residence permit?
Sometimes. Because of the EU-Turkey Association Agreement the IND says the requirements are sometimes less strict for Turkish citizens and their families. Examples on the IND site: for a Turkish citizen working in the Netherlands who wants to bring a spouse or registered partner, both partners must be at least 18 instead of 21; and the IND fee for a Turkish family member is EUR 85 where the standard family fee is EUR 254. Check ind.nl for your own situation.
Can I use Wise to send money between the Netherlands and Turkey?
Compare what your bank and a transfer provider charge for the exact currency pair and amount. Wise publishes its fee per currency on wise.com, so check EUR to TRY there on the day you transfer; we do not quote a fee or exchange rate. Transfers involving Turkish accounts and larger sums can have documentation requirements, so ask your Turkish bank in advance.