Abroad Experience International Recruitment: Useful Information

USEFUL INFORMATION

The Sofi Number - Tax Number

If you are to start working in The Netherlands you need to register with your local tax office (Belastingdienst) in order to receive your Sofi Number. Your Sofi Number is needed so that the necessary tax deductions and social security contributions can be made from your salary.

In order to make an appointment with your local tax office you need to call the general tax office number - 0800-0543 (you can only call this number whilst in The Netherlands).

The telephone information system is in Dutch, so perhaps a Dutch speaker can help you in getting through to the right department.

A tax office employee will ask you for your name, date of birth, often your nationality and your telephone number. You can tell them which tax office you want to have your appointment at. Within two working days the tax office will call you back to confirm an appointment date and time with you.

When you go to collect your Sofi Number you will need to bring a valid passport or Identity card. Please be aware that having a Sofi Number does not automatically mean you are eligible to work in The Netherlands .

Taxation

The tax % that employees in The Netherlands have to pay depends on their salary scale. All employees pay at least 32.35% which may seem high for some, but generally it is a very good system.
Your employer will deduct the tax from your gross salary and this money will then automatically go into the tax system for you.

Health Insurance

As of 1 January 2006 a new health insurance system has been implemented in The Netherlands. It is compulsory for all people living in The Netherlands to have a private insurance policy. The health insurance companies are obliged to accept anyone who applies for insurance regardless of their health background.

All people have to pay for at least a basic policy which covers the costs of visiting their General Practitioner (doctor) and hospital care.

You can also take out an additional policy on top of your basic policy for dentistry care, physiotherapy, optician care and so on. Most health insurance companies have several extra policies to choose from, so that you can be insured for the care that you need.

It is a good idea to ask several health insurance companies to forward information of their policies onto you as the prices can vary considerably. Officially once you start working, you have 60 days to arrange your health insurance.

Below are several health insurance companies:

Agis, Amicon, CZ, FBTO Achmea, Groene Land/PWZ Achmea, OHRA, ONVZ, Unive, VGZ, Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Zorg en Zekerheid

Bank Account

If you start working in The Netherlands it will be necessary to open a Dutch bank account so that your salary can be paid to you. In most cases the bank will ask to see a copy of your contract/passport and Sofi Number before an account can be opened.

Some of the larger banks in The Netherlands are the ABN Amro, the Rabobank, the SNS Bank and the Postbank. Generally a money transfer from a bank to another bank account takes around 2 days, however the transfer from the Postbank to a bank account can take up to around 3 days.

The Municipality and the IND

If you are a EU or EEA national it is important for you to register at your local Municipality within 3 months of your arrival in The Netherlands, you will then be registered in the personal records database.

As of 1 May 2006 nationals of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland who wish to stay or have stayed in The Netherlands for more than 3 months should Register with the IND (the immigration service). The European Union has passed legislation making it easier for nationals of EU member states to exercise the right to free movement and to live in other member states. The same applies to nationals of EEA member states and Switzerland. As a result, nationals of these countries no longer require a residence permit, but should instead register with the IND, stating their purpose of their stay.

Once you are registered at the Municipality you can then register yourself with the IND

You should register with the IND if:

-You are a national of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or the United Kingdom of great Britain and Northern Ireland.

When you register with the IND you must submit documents showing the purpose of your stay. After registration, the IND will immediately give you a registration certificate by means of a sticker in your passport (or other identity document). Registration with the IND is free of charge. Your registration certificate will enable you to prove that your stay in The Netherlands is legal, which may be needed if you are dealing with the tax authorities, municipal services and so on.

If you have lived in The Netherlands for 5 years or more, you will be eligible for a permit for permanent residence for EU citizens. The fee for this document is Euro. 30,00.

How to Register with the IND

Call the IND for an appointment on 0900 123 4561. Choose the option - appointment desk -(afsprakenlijn). An appointment will be made for you at the IND office nearest to you. A letter confirming the appointment will be sent to your home address and the letter will also state the documents that you must bring with you.

The Residence Permit and MVV

If you are a national of Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, or Slovakia you are required to apply for a Residence Permit (proof of lawful residence). This may change on 31 December 2006. Until then you must submit your application for a Residence Permit to the municipality where you are staying using the form "Application for verification against EU Community Law". This form is available from the local government and the IND.

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national and you are planning on residing in The Netherlands for more than 3 months you will require a Residence Permit. In most cases you will also need an MVV - authorisation for temporary stay - in order to enter The Netherlands.
The MVV is a special visa. Visit the IND website - www.IND.nl to find out how to apply for a MVV.

Nationals of the following countries do not need an MVV in order to enter The Netherlands:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America or the Vatican city.

The Residence Permit

Once you have arrived in The Netherlands and you are planning on staying here for 3 months or longer you must report to the police in the municipal authority where you are staying. You must do this within 3 working days. All foreign nationals must report to the police, except foreign nationals who are citizens of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.

You must apply for a Residence Permit at the municipal authority where you are staying - here you can ask for the forms you will need, or from the IND via 0900 123 4561, from +31 20 889 3045 (if calling outside of The Netherlands) or you can download the forms via www.ind.nl. Once you have completed the form and gathered all the required documents you can submit your documents to the municipal authority. Which documents you will need to enclose depends on your purpose of stay. You will always need to bring your passport, or another travel document, and a recent passport photograph. The municipal authority will place a sticker in your passport which you can use to show that you are a lawfully residing in The Netherlands - you will also need to pay a fee to the municipal authority when you submit your application. Your IND will then assess your application and it will then be decided if you are to be granted lawful residency or not.

If you have a MVV you will need to apply for a Residence Permit whilst your MVV is still valid. You need to apply for an MVV at a Dutch embassy or consulate in either your country of origin of continuous residence. To do this you will, in most cases, need a sponsor in The Netherlands. The sponsor is the person or organisation with whom you wish to stay while you are in The Netherlands, or who will finance your stay here.

If you are a highly skilled immigrant you must obtain a Residence Permit from the IND. You can be classed as a highly class immigrant if are the following:

You are going to work as a paid employee and have an employment contract which guarantees you an independent sustainable income

You are 30 years of age or over and earn a gross annual salary of at least Euro. 45,495 or you are younger than 30 years of age and earn a gross annual income of at least Euro. 33,363

Or, you enter the employment of an educational or research institute as a Phd student or you are a post doctorate or a university teacher under 30 earning a net monthly income equal to the national assistance benefit level

Your employee has signed a standard statement to effect the admission and residence of a highly skilled migrant, which means that he or she takes on a number of responsibilities regarding your stay in The Netherlands.

Applying for a Work Permit

Nationals of the EU States:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not need to apply for a Work Permit.

Nationals of the EEA states:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia The Czech Republic and Slovakia do still need to apply for a Work Permit. If you have been given a Residence Permit you are allowed to look for work in The Netherlands, however if you find a job your employer must apply for a Work Permit for you.

Nationals of non EU/EEA states:
You could apply for a Work Permit if you have a Dutch or EU partner who is already living and working in The Netherlands. A non-EU partner with a valid Work Permit may also shorten the process. Your partner must be willing to sponsor you. Your partner must agree that he/she will be financially responsible for you whilst looking for a job or if you become unemployed.

You could also apply for a Work Permit via a company. If a company in The Netherlands would like to hire you, a Work Permit can be requested on your behalf. This Work Permit is company related and therefore the permit will not be valid if you stop working for your employer. Unfortunately Abroad Experience or our clients cannot apply for a Work permit for you.

The Working Holiday Scheme

This scheme enables, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand citizens between the ages of 18-30 to work in The Netherlands for up to one year. You should be able to receive your Residence/Work Permit upon your arrival in The Netherlands, however the system often goes a lot more smoothly if you already apply for your permits at the Dutch embassy in your country of origin.