I want to move to Holland to be with my girlfriend?

Question

Is there any legal paperwork or anything i have to do or can i just take off and go there because they are within the EU ?

Answer 1

I am Dutch and live in the Netherlands, my husband (we werent married yet when he moved over) is from England. Cos he's from another EU country (with british passport) he doesnt need a visa's nor needs to get out of the country after 3 months (we are not the USA!!). I am assuming you are from the UK too.

Husband registered with the counsil (gemeente) in the town he was going to live (having an official address). You need your passport, your official birth certificate (!!) and if you are moving in with your gf, she needs to agree as well that you are moving in on that address. Word of note, the counsil we had to deal with asked from us to get my husbands birth certificate officialized by British Gouvernement, meaning we would have to send it back to England, get a certain stemp on it etc, get it send back; cos I didnt agree with that stating they had informed me incorrect about that when I made all enquireries about how to legalise my husband here, they didnt push the issue. They did keep the birth certificate to check it (I dont know how or what ) for 2 weeks when we wanted to get married. On that point (and i still hope I am making sense lol ) the counsil wanted my husband to prove he hadnt been married before, which you obviously cant. Now in the past ppl had to go to the British embassy and swear on the bible (no joke), again on that point I argued with them that he was an EU citizin and was given paperwork for someone from outside the EU, that it was impossible to prove you arent married yet and that new law states you dont have to prove that anymore. I won.
We live in a provincial town, that might have something to do with the fact they were so ignorant at the counsil/town house :-s .

My husband also went to the Tax office in Utrecht (or any of the other 12 offices around the country, where ever you are closest to) to get a BSN-number: a personal tax registration number, so he could officially start working. You bring your passport and the counsil copy which states you got an address here (uittreksel bevolkingsregister).
You also need to open a dutch bank account for any wages or bills you need to pay. This you can do after you've registered both at counsil house and tax, bring all paperwork with you to your bank of choice.

I am assuming your girlfriend is Dutch and it is much easier if she helps you out at the counsil house, makes the appointment for the Tax thingy and helps you at the bank.

I've put some links below about dutch tax legislation and an expat site with information on it.

Oh... you dont need to register with the police. We checked.

Hope all this is of any use, good luck.

Answer 2

I did this 13 years ago, moved to NL to be with my girlfriend.

The first thing you do is go the local police station and find out about their Alien Registration office, known as the 'Vreemdelingendienst'. They'll tell you all you need to do: register with the local municipal council ('gemeente'), write a letter to the Dutch state to ask for permission to move there (a formality, but nonetheless it has to be done), and be able to prove that you have the means to support yourself financially while you are living there, either through your girlfriend supporting you with her work, or find a job yourself. They will also check on you to make sure you haven't committed any crimes, that you don't have a police record, so if you have, don't lie about it, they find these things out. The Dutch are very thorough in this regard. These things take about 3 months, and this is very important: Take your girlfriend and your passport to the Vreemdelingdienst when you go there, especially the first time. You might have to wait a little.

Once you have established all these things, you can do the last bit of paperwork there at the police station, and they'll send it off to be processed, and in a couple of weeks you can swing past (again, with passport) to pick up your 'Vreemdelingepas', or Alien Identity Card. If for any reason you decide to stop living in the Netherlands, you must inform the Vreemdelingedienst and turn in your card. If your wallet is ever stolen (God forbid) with the card in it, you report it. The card is officially not your property, it is only lent to you by the state in which you reside. You have to renew this pass every year.

A word of advice: if you are moving to the Western half of the Netherlands (Amersterdam, the Hague, Leiden), you'll be able to manage without learning Dutch. However, it will be very hard to find work in other areas if you do not speak at least some Dutch. Inform yourself about language classes, they are well used to teaching their language to foreigners so finding a suitable class will not be a problem. Start a the local university, and also ask at the local job centre ('arbeidsburo'). You will also have to get a 'sofinummer' or social security number from the tax office, get your girlfriend to phone up and ask about this.

Vital for everywhere you go in the Netherlands: any and all certificates, proof of academic or other skill, qualification, etc. - it is VERY VERY HARD to get a good job in the Netherlands without recognised qualifications. If you can't prove you've been trained for the work, you're going to have to start at the bottom of the bottom - and that's only if they let you in the door. Have copies of these and your CV ready to drop off to the job centres and temping agencies ('uitzendbureaus').

These seems like a lot to do, but it takes a while to get it sorted and you won't be rushed off your feet. You'll have time to explore the place a little bit!

Answer 3

Well, you really should follow the regulations and apply for residence. However....

Residents of several nations have the right to visit the Netherlands for up to 3 months on a tourist visa. You can do that and when your three months are almost up, take a train to Germany, Belgium or France, and come back to start you 3 months over again. Keep the train ticket to prove to authorities when you arrived in case they check (they rarely do for most westerners).

While you are in the Netherlands on a tourist visa, you have the right to search for work. Of course, larger companies are not going to let you work without a residence permit, but they will help you with the process if you are eventually hired. Smaller business (bars, cafes, restaurants, hostels) may let you work without getting a permit.

Just a reminder: Without a residence permit, you will not have access to public funds. This means no national healthcare, employment protections, access to government subsidies, etc.

Answer 4

I done it and wish I never had. Register with the local police and keep going for interviews. You need to get work to maintain yourself and have no criminal record. The police control over there and take no rubbish. You will get robbed (at least once a year) as the drug problem is so bad. Dutch people will always see you as an outsider and they dont welcome foreigners. Most of all you will miss english food as a lot is not available. M&S is in the big cities but very pricy. You will need to learn the language but a lot of Dutch speak english. Your police registration has to be updated regularly. All formal paperwork is dealt with by the Town Hall. Always think security first and fun second.

Answer 5

in case you won't be in a position to stay without one yet another, then you certainly'll could desire to pass, or you will die!! yet no, heavily..... in case you incredibly love her and positively choose to pass, then do it. you could continually pass back to the united kingdom if it does not artwork out, and hopefully your friends and kin will nonetheless be here. you will %. up the language at last and that i'm specific she'd help you. it ought to be that as quickly as you get there, you omit domicile too lots an d the classic ingredient happens - she's have been given her existence and her acquaintances there, you sense disregarded and lonely, and you improve aside. If that occurred, a minimum of you will understand which you gave it a shot and you should pass on without questioning "what if..." xx Emmie

Answer 6

This Dutch government-site will answer all your questions... Well, it should... :) Good luck!

http://www.ind.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/verblijfwijzer_content.asp?proc=komen&lang=en


[from the site]
"I want to come to the Netherlands.



What conditions must you meet? And what documents do you need? This depends on your specific situation. Please indicate:

how long you want to stay in the Netherlands
what your nationality is *
why you want to come to the Netherlands "


..

Answer 7

just go pal no paper work no forms just go and enjoy the weed man

Answer 8

sure to stay there legally....always is unless you are married then you can automatically stay...