Moving to the Netherlands: Everything you need to do before moving

Are you moving to the Netherlands? Before you settle down here, you must check and arrange some things. Let’s take you along a checklist to make it easier for you.

There's a lot to arrange before your big move to the Netherlands. Prepare yourself in the best way possible by following this checklist: 

• Find a home
  It's up to you to arrange a place to live in the Netherlands. To not end up on the streets, it's smart to do this before you leave. If your employer doesn't provide you with housing, this will be the first thing that should be on your to-do list.
  
  Do your research well before you start looking for a place to live. Are you looking for a home in a big city like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, or Den Haag? Or do you prefer to live in one of the surrounding (smaller) cities, like Diemen, Capelle aan den IJssel, Nieuwegein, or Zoetermeer? Choosing to live in the big city will generally mean you'll pay more rent, for example. The choice is yours! 
  
  If you move to the Netherlands from another country, you may want to start renting instead of buying. But – we can't deny it – in the current housing market, it can be hard to find a suitable home. Luckily, several websites and agencies can help you find a new home. One of them is us: Holland2Stay. On our website, you can find all available residences. The best part is that you can book from anywhere in the world. The filter menu allows you to select your wishes, making it easy to find your perfect home. Filter on city, building, facilities, finishing, monthly rent, or number of bedrooms. Book directly or participate in the weekly lottery. Don't forget to check the requirements before you book.
  
  
• Check if you need to apply for a residence permit
  If you need a residence permit to stay in the Netherlands depends on your situation. You can check if you need one at Immigrations & Naturalisation Service (IND). You can easily apply for a residence permit online by filling in some forms. Once your residence permit is completed and accepted, you'll receive a letter at home with more information about when and where you can pick it up at the municipality. Good to know: temporary residence permits are valid for up to 5 years. 
  
  There are residence permits for those coming to the Netherlands for their family or partner, work, study, au pair, or exchange, and there are differences for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and for long-term EU residency. For example, if you're not from any EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, UK, USA, South Korea, or Switzerland, and you intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, you must apply for a provisional residence permit.
  
  In many cases, your future employer, future educational institution, or partner you're going to live with can apply for a residence permit from the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, we call those persons and organizations ‘sponsors’. Your sponsor will need to submit an admission and residence application (TEV) to the Immigration and Nationalisation Service (IND) in the Netherlands. This can be done online.
  
  
• Check and prepare your documents
  If you already know where you’re going to live in the Netherlands, you can check with the municipality where you’re going to live which documents they need to register you. Whether you need to do this depends on the country where the documents are issued. Think of a proof of identity, marriage certificates, birth certificates, or a proof of deregistration with a foreign municipality. Medical records, pay slips, or school records translated into English can also be handy.
  
  Make sure that your passport or ID card is valid on the day you arrive in the Netherlands. When traveling within Europe, your passport must be valid for three months after coming to the Netherlands. For most countries outside Europe, your passport must be valid for at least the months after your departure date from the destination country. You can submit an application for a new passport or ID card at the Dutch embassy in the country where you live.
  
  
• Check your driving license
  If you’ve got your driving license in another country and wish to drive in the Netherlands, you need to check how long it stays valid. In this blog, we'll share more information about using your foreign driving license in the Netherlands. 
  
  
• Start your integration
  When you’re going to live in the Netherlands, it’s useful to start learning Dutch and to learn about Dutch culture. But don’t worry, most Dutch people can express themselves in English. It never hurt anybody to learn some basic Dutch words. Makes it all a bit easier!
  
  

Hopefully, we have given you enough information to start preparing your stay. It's of course possible that you're missing some information that's not covered above. Additional information on preparing for your stay in the Netherlands can be found on the website of the Dutch Government.