The Royal Netherlands Embassy - Washington DC

RESIDENCE PERMITS - US CITIZENS - FOR VISITS OF MORE THAN THREE MONTHS

American citizens who intend to stay in the Netherlands for a period longer than three months (90 days) should apply for a temporary residence permit (so called 'VTV') within 3 days after arrival in the Netherlands at the local Alien Police ('Vreemdelingenpolitie') of the municipality in which he or she will be staying.

The visitor must submit:

proof of sufficient means to finance his/her stay in the Netherlands;
proof of adequate housing;
proof health insurance covering all medical/hospital costs during the stay in the Netherlands;
a legalized birth certificate. Since both The Netherlands and the US are part of the 'Hague Apostille Convention' an apostille is the appropriate type of legalization (authentication), available from US State Departments.

Only in exceptional cases, the Embassy and Consulates-General of the Netherlands process applications for a stay beyond the three-months' period.

In general, a residence permit does not allow employment. Residence and employment permits are two seperate things.

Please note: the Netherlands is a small and overcrowded country. Housing shortages and unemployment are acute problems. The government wants to be able to guarantee that all foreigners admitted to the country will enjoy equal status and have the best possible chance of self-fulfillment. Admitting too many foreigners would threaten those efforts. Given this cautious policy, only small numbers of foreigners are granted permission to stay in the Netherlands for a prolonged period.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE NETHERLANDS

If you intend to work in The Netherlands, apart from a temporary residency permit (which allows you to stay in the country) a work permit is needed. For more information on work permits please visit the website of the Netherlands Board of Work and Income (www.cwinet.nl)

MORE INFORMATION & BROCHURES

For detailed information, please visit the website of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service, (www.ind.nl), where you can download specific brochures:

Paid employment in The Netherlands
Working in The Netherlands as a Self-Employed Person
Work Placement and Practical Training in The Netherlands
Au Pair in The Netherlands - Study in The Netherlands
International Exchange Programs in the Netherlands
The Admission of EU Citizens to the Netherlands
Visa for Short Stay in the Netherlands
Regaining Dutch nationality
Family Reunification and Formation in the Netherlands
The Asylum Procedure in The Netherlands