Visa, Legal & Paperwork
16 practical guides for life in The Netherlands.
Before You Move
- Highly Skilled Migrant Visa Netherlands: What You Need to Know for 2026The Highly Skilled Migrant visa needs a sponsoring employer and a minimum salary. Here are the exact 2026 thresholds and how the process works for Indian professionals.
- The 30% Ruling in the Netherlands: What It Means in 2026The 30% ruling lets part of your Dutch salary go tax-free. Here is how it currently works, the 2026 salary cap, and what changes in 2027.
Your First Weeks
- Zorgtoeslag 2026: Dutch Healthcare Allowance ExplainedA complete guide to zorgtoeslag (Dutch healthcare allowance) in 2026: who qualifies, income and asset limits, how much you get, and rules for students and professionals.
- DigiD Explained: Why Every Expat in the Netherlands Needs OneDigiD is your login for Dutch government and healthcare services. Here is exactly how to apply, what you need, and how long activation takes.
- Dutch Health Insurance for Expats: What You Need to KnowDutch health insurance is mandatory within 4 months of arrival, with no backdated cover if you miss it. Here is what every newcomer needs to know.
- How to Get a BSN Number in the NetherlandsMoving to the Netherlands? Here is exactly how to get your BSN number, which documents you need, and the 5-day rule that catches most newcomers off guard.
- How to Open a Bank Account in the Netherlands as a NewcomerYou do not need a BSN on day one to open a Dutch bank account. Here is how the process actually works and what each major bank requires.
Settling In
- Bringing Childcare From Abroad to the Netherlands: Your Real OptionsThe real legal routes for bringing a nanny, au pair, or grandparent from abroad to help with childcare in the Netherlands, and what each one costs.
- Huurtoeslag 2026: Dutch Rent Allowance Rules ExplainedA complete guide to huurtoeslag (Dutch rent allowance) in 2026: who qualifies, rent, income and asset conditions, rules for students and professionals, and how to apply.
- Kinderopvangtoeslag 2026: Dutch Childcare Allowance ExplainedA complete guide to kinderopvangtoeslag (Dutch childcare allowance) in 2026: conditions, maximum hourly rates, income-based percentages, and how to apply on time.
- Kindgebonden Budget 2026: Dutch Child Budget ExplainedA complete guide to kindgebonden budget (Dutch child budget) in 2026: how it differs from kinderbijslag, conditions, asset limits, and whether you need to apply.
- Converting an Indian Driving Licence in the NetherlandsIndia is not on the Dutch driving licence exchange list, so Indian licence holders must pass the CBR theory and practical exams. Here is what that involves.
Living Here
- Newborn Checklist for Indian Parents Living in the NetherlandsA step-by-step checklist for a baby born in the Netherlands to Indian parents: Dutch birth registration, BRP and BSN, health insurance, and the Embassy of India's citizenship and passport process.
- Newborn Checklist When a Parent Has Already Taken Dutch NationalityWhat changes for a baby's passport, health insurance, BRP data and Indian-origin paperwork when one or both Indian-origin parents already hold Dutch nationality before the birth.
- Visa Sponsorship Checklist: Inviting Parents or Relatives from IndiaA step-by-step checklist for sponsoring a parent, relative or friend visiting from India: documents, conditions, insurance, timing, and what to do in parallel.
- What Your Dutch Gemeente Actually Handles Beyond Your BSNRegistering with your gemeente is just the start. Here is what Dutch municipalities bill you for and manage on an ongoing basis.