Checklist for exchange students (non-EU)
This checklist applies to you if you are a non-EU citizen and are going to do an exchange at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. Navigate through the subjects below to find out what you need to arrange.
A BSN (in Dutch: Burgerservicenummer) is an individualized personal number that you will use in the context of the Dutch public administration. You'll need a BSN to work, open a bank account, arrange health insurance, visit a doctor or hospital, or apply for benefits.
City registration
To get it you need an appointment at the Municipality of your town of residence. You should book this appointment as soon as you have a housing situation settled. If you are staying for more than four months in the Netherlands, you are legally required to go to the city council and register as a new resident of the town where you are living. This procedure is mandatory, irrespective of your nationality or purpose of stay. If you are moving within the Netherlands, you must also inform your (new) municipality.
for more information and to make an appointment for the city registration for the Utrecht region. Make sure you bring a valid ID card and the tenancy agreement or purchase contract of your home in the Netherlands.
DigiD
Is a form of online ID that allows you to access many services and government websites in the Netherlands. It's like a digital version of your passport or driving license. The DigiD consists of a username and password that are linked to your personal public service number (BSN).
How to get it and why you need it?
You can apply online . It will ask for information about your address and a letter will come to you by mail. You need it to apply for the housing allowance, health insurance allowance if working, and other matters related to the government.
Why get a Dutch bank account?
From the moment you arrive in the Netherlands, your home country’s bank account may not be sufficient in every situation. For example, most supermarkets only accept payments by debit card or cash. Since the so-called ‘pinpas’, or debit card, is most commonly used in the Netherlands, opening a Dutch bank account might be useful or even necessary for some things. For example:
- Working in the Netherlands
- Automatic monthly payments of your tuition fees
- A mobile phone subscription
- Making online payments via IDEAL
Please note that if you have an IBAN bank account with a Maestro card, you may not need to open a Dutch account.
How to open a bank account?
If you want to open a Dutch bank account, you can do so either prior or after your arrival in the Netherlands, often online or in a physical office. While banks differ on which documents they will need for registration, it is a good idea to have the following on hand: 
- ID (passport or identity card)
- Citizen service number (in Dutch: Burgerservicenummer, BSN)
- Residence permit
- Tenancy agreement
- Proof of enrolment at the university
You can find more information on opening a Dutch bank account on
Having a European number can be truly important to be able to have contact with institutions as well as friends. This can also be a requirement from banks and apps as mostly all their services are now managed through mobile services.
Normally, non-EU students acquire temporary sim cards at the airport for immediate communication necessities. However, in the long term, this is more expensive than acquiring a plan. Most providers offer monthly, yearly or bi-yearly contracts, so you can choose what best fits your needs. Our advice is that you check your options and replace your temporary SIM card to save more money in the long run.
To get a Dutch phone number and subscription with a provider in the Netherlands, you need to have the following on hand:
- A valid ID
- A Dutch resident permit
- A Dutch address
- Your BSN number
- A Dutch bank account
- Student ID if you opt for any special student deal
In the Netherlands, it is mandatory for everyone to have health insurance. As a non-EU student, you took this out already when you applied for a visa/residence permit.In case you need additional health insurance you can take out private insurance. This can be done via for example. You can also visit the AON stand during the Get Settled Lab for more information.
You are obligated to take out Dutch basic health insurance when you plan to start working during your studies in Utrecht.
Dutch basic health insurance
You have multiple options if you decide to take out Dutch basic health insurance. For basic insurance, you pay a set premium to the insurer that provides the healthcare. The government decides what is covered by basic insurance. Not all care covered by basic insurance is fully reimbursed. You may need to pay an excess (eigen risico) and sometimes a co-payment (eigen bijdrage).
NOTE! If you do not work alongside your studies you are not allowed to take out Dutch basic health insurance.
The GP is your only path to access healthcare!!!
General Practitioner
In the Dutch healthcare system, the general practitioner (GP) is your first point of contact for all questions about physical and mental health. If you get sick you can only be treated by a GP and for this, you must register for one. The GP is meant for medical problems that are not an emergency. Most of the time the first healthcare is received from GP. The doctor can, however, refer you to a specialist (for example in the hospital) if needed. In case of an emergency you call 112. For more information on the Dutch health care system visit
Why and how?
You should sign up with a GP as soon as you are registered at the municipality. You may never need to go there, but if you are sick (which is usually sudden and unexpected) the last thing you want is to not be able to go anywhere for a check-up.
First of all, find out to which practice you can register; this depends on your address. If you cannot find a GP, your health insurance company will help you find one and can mediate if necessary. Additionally, your local town hall will have information on local healthcare providers.
You can register with a GP with your proof of health insurance and your BSN. It is possible to make an appointment with a GP before registering; this is recommended so that you can get to know the GP. It is important to find a doctor that you feel comfortable visiting and discussing your health status with. The Netherlands has a large number of English-speaking GPs.
Costs for the GP
Visiting the doctor is covered by the compulsory basic healthcare insurance that all Dutch residents must take out. This also means that you do not have to pay (deductible) excess if you visit the GP. If you do not have general healthcare insurance, you could be obliged to pay for the treatment yourself. Check your healthcare insurance policy before visiting the GP, if possible.
As an exchange student you will be informed by the international office of your faculty about practical matters like course registration, learning agreements and other academic related topics. In case you have questions, you can reach out to your faculty. You can find the contact details of your faculty .
You have uploaded your visa/residence permit application documents and you have received your IND approval email. When you arrive in the Netherlands you still need to pick up your residence permit card:
In case you applied for an entry visa (MVV) and residence permit you already gave your biometric data at your embassy appointment. You can pick up your residence permit In Utrecht when it is ready. You will receive an email from the Visa Office with information about when and where you can pick up your residence permit.
In case you didn't visit the embassy prior to coming to the Netherlands you need to make an appointment with the IND to give your biometric data: After your biometric appointment, you will be notified by the visa office when your residence permit card is ready for pick up.
Without the biometric data, the IND cannot make the residence permit card. However, you can give your biometric data and pick up your residence permit card before your TB test and/or city registration.
Are you not sure if your residence permit card is ready and if you already gave your biometric data? You can check at one of the information points during the Get Settled Lab if your card is ready.
Finding your way in a new city and a new country can be complicated and a little confusing. As a student in the Netherlands, the two most common ways of transportation are by bike and by public transport. We have summarised the most important information to get you from A to B like a local in no time.
Get a bike
The Dutch love their bikes, but we understand this subject can be entirely new and maybe even a little bit complex for internationals. Familiarizing yourself with buying, and maintaining a bike can be a handful, especially when you are only in the Netherlands for a semester or one academic year. A good option is to buy a new or second-hand bike in any bike store near you, or you can opt for online sales through platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Get access to public transportation
You will most certainly need to use the trains, trams, buses and metros around the country at some point during your studies here. Your best options to do so are through acquiring either an OV-chipcard or the Student Mobility Card.
The OV-chipkaart is the means of payment for the entire public transport system throughout the country (bus, train, tram and metro). The OV-chipkaart can be loaded with credit in Euros, which you can use to travel anywhere within the Netherlands. You have the option to request a personal card or an anonymous card; depending on the duration of your stay one might suit your needs better than the other. More information on the OV-chipkaart on the or the
The Student Mobility Card
If you would rather get an all-in package, the Student Mobility Card might be just the option you're looking for. In their mobility package, they offer a plan that includes a durable (lease) bike to get you on the move right away. Additionally, you will get a 15% discount on Dutch Railways (NS) trains on weekdays during off-peak hours and weekends. You can register with any (international) bank account and the card automatically tops up. for more information on the benefits of this card and how to purchase it.
Getting a student job alongside your studies is quite popular amongst both international and local students in the Netherlands. However, as a non-EU citizen residing in the Netherlands based on a study permit, there are some rules:
- You will need a work permit in order to work in the Netherlands. Your employer applies for this on your behalf if your job hunt is successful. Please bear in mind that the work permit might take up to a month to process. If you change jobs your new employer will have to apply for a new permit.
- You may work for up to 16 hours a week. If you do not work during your study year, you may work full-time through June, July, and August. In both cases, your employer must apply for a work permit for you.
- You will need to check if your health insurance is suitable for working, and if this is not the case you must also apply for
Because of these rules and regulations, it may be more difficult to find a job as employers can choose to hire somebody that doesn't need a work permit.
How to find a job
You can apply directly via the company: many restaurants/bars display notes informing that they are hiring or you can also use the portal . Pro tip! Norms and expectations for CVs and motivation letters are different around the world – make sure you go to to get a CV check!
Other things to keep in mind
To apply for a job, you will first need a BSN and a bank account. Additionally, once you start working you will need a ). Once you take out the insurance, you can apply for , a health care benefit. Meaning you may receive compensation for your monthly insurance cost! Be aware that the processing of your zorgtoeslag application might take several weeks.
Budgeting
Studying in the Netherlands can be expensive. You will have to balance your rent, your study costs and groceries and save some money to do fun stuff. De Geldzaak is an Utrecht-based platform that can help you with money-related questions. You can visit to make an appointment but they are also present at the Get Settled Lab. Come to one of their talks or visit their stand.
Government benefits
When you work and take out Dutch basic health insurance you be eligible for a In some cases you may also be eligible for
Uni-Life is the official community and events platform of Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. With the , you can join or create a community to meet other students with similar interests and keep in touch with them through a group chat. You will also be the first to find out what the 90+ student associations at UU are organizing for the upcoming academic year.