Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In the Netherlands

Checked on 23 October 2026

When and how do you take out compulsory health insurance in the Netherlands?

Anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out basic health insurance (basisverzekering) with a Dutch insurer, no later than 4 months after arriving, even if they are still insured in another country. Cover must run from the day of your arrival and you have 4 months to take it out; after that, nothing is retroactive: you only pay premiums from the time you take out the policy, but care received before is not reimbursed. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is only for unplanned care during a temporary stay.

Costs: Fixed premium depending on the insurer + income-related contribution; compulsory deductible of €385 per year (adults); basic insurance premium free for under-18s
Timeframes: No later than 4 months after arrival

Steps

Before leaving: take your EHIC: it covers unplanned care during a temporary stay, not a move.
Register in the BRP of your municipality to obtain your BSN (fiche NL-NIF-TOUS-001): insurers and doctors use it to identify you.
Choose an insurer and take out basic insurance as soon as possible, and no later than 4 months after your arrival. Insurers must accept everyone for basic insurance, at the same price whatever the age and state of health.
Insure your children: under-18s must be insured, but do not pay a premium for basic insurance.
Option: supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) covers what is not in the basic package. It is optional and the insurer may refuse it.
Low income: apply for the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) from the allowances service of the tax administration (Belastingdienst).

Documents

Your BSN and an ID; the insurer will tell you whether it needs other documents.

Costs and timelines

Timeline: no later than 4 months after your arrival.
Premium: fixed nominal premium, specific to each insurer, plus an income-related contribution (ZVW contribution), paid by your employer to the health insurance fund.
Compulsory deductible (eigen risico): €385 per year for adults, according to government.nl, excluding visits to the general practitioner. Amount set every year: to be rechecked.
Children under 18: no premium for basic insurance.
Retroactivity: cover must run from your arrival and you have 4 months to take it out. Beyond that: no retroactivity, premiums due from the time you take out the policy, earlier care not reimbursed.

Common pitfalls

Exceeding the 4 months. After this period, care received between your arrival and the time you take out the policy is not reimbursed. Take it out straight away.
Thinking that your foreign insurance is enough. According to government.nl, the obligation applies "even if you have insurance from another country". Possible exception if your employer is abroad (posting): the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) can tell you whether you remain insured elsewhere.
Staying uninsured. The CAK (central office that monitors insurance) sends you a letter (you then have 3 months to take out insurance), then fines; after 2 fines, it registers you with an insurer automatically and deducts the premium from your income. Care received without insurance remains at your expense.
Relying on the EHIC. It covers necessary care during a temporary stay, not a move.
Students: many remain covered by their foreign insurance, but some must take Dutch insurance: check your situation (government.nl refers to Studyinholland.nl).

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: obligation within 4 months, even with insurance from the country of origin, except in particular cases (posting, official of an EU institution covered by their own scheme).
Swiss nationals: same rules: the insurance obligation applies to anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands, and the IND treats Swiss nationals like EU and EEA citizens for residence.
British nationals (including Scots): the British GHIC card (for UK residents) has replaced the British EHIC for temporary stays. Once resident or working in the Netherlands, the same basic insurance obligation applies.

Official sources (7) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in the Netherlands.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

For a Schengen short-stay visa, you must show travel medical insurance covering urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation (including in case of death), valid in all Schengen countries, with at least €30,000 of cover (Visa Code, Article 15). For long stays, the EU directives ask for sickness insurance covering the risks normally covered for nationals of the destination, for example for students, family members, Blue Card holders and long-term residents. The exact proof, and whether you must buy private insurance or can join the public system, depend on the destination.

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In the Netherlands

Checked on 23 October 2026

When and how do you take out compulsory health insurance in the Netherlands?

Costs: Fixed premium depending on the insurer + income-related contribution; compulsory deductible of €385 per year (adults); basic insurance premium free for under-18s
Timeframes: No later than 4 months after arrival

Steps

Before leaving: take your EHIC: it covers unplanned care during a temporary stay, not a move.
Register in the BRP of your municipality to obtain your BSN (fiche NL-NIF-TOUS-001): insurers and doctors use it to identify you.
Choose an insurer and take out basic insurance as soon as possible, and no later than 4 months after your arrival. Insurers must accept everyone for basic insurance, at the same price whatever the age and state of health.
Insure your children: under-18s must be insured, but do not pay a premium for basic insurance.
Option: supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) covers what is not in the basic package. It is optional and the insurer may refuse it.
Low income: apply for the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) from the allowances service of the tax administration (Belastingdienst).

Documents

Your BSN and an ID; the insurer will tell you whether it needs other documents.

Costs and timelines

Timeline: no later than 4 months after your arrival.
Premium: fixed nominal premium, specific to each insurer, plus an income-related contribution (ZVW contribution), paid by your employer to the health insurance fund.
Compulsory deductible (eigen risico): €385 per year for adults, according to government.nl, excluding visits to the general practitioner. Amount set every year: to be rechecked.
Children under 18: no premium for basic insurance.
Retroactivity: cover must run from your arrival and you have 4 months to take it out. Beyond that: no retroactivity, premiums due from the time you take out the policy, earlier care not reimbursed.

Common pitfalls

Exceeding the 4 months. After this period, care received between your arrival and the time you take out the policy is not reimbursed. Take it out straight away.
Thinking that your foreign insurance is enough. According to government.nl, the obligation applies "even if you have insurance from another country". Possible exception if your employer is abroad (posting): the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) can tell you whether you remain insured elsewhere.
Staying uninsured. The CAK (central office that monitors insurance) sends you a letter (you then have 3 months to take out insurance), then fines; after 2 fines, it registers you with an insurer automatically and deducts the premium from your income. Care received without insurance remains at your expense.
Relying on the EHIC. It covers necessary care during a temporary stay, not a move.
Students: many remain covered by their foreign insurance, but some must take Dutch insurance: check your situation (government.nl refers to Studyinholland.nl).

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: obligation within 4 months, even with insurance from the country of origin, except in particular cases (posting, official of an EU institution covered by their own scheme).
Swiss nationals: same rules: the insurance obligation applies to anyone who lives or works in the Netherlands, and the IND treats Swiss nationals like EU and EEA citizens for residence.
British nationals (including Scots): the British GHIC card (for UK residents) has replaced the British EHIC for temporary stays. Once resident or working in the Netherlands, the same basic insurance obligation applies.

Official sources (7) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in the Netherlands.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

In the Netherlands

When and how do you take out compulsory health insurance in the Netherlands?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics

Healthcare

In the Netherlands

When and how do you take out compulsory health insurance in the Netherlands?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics