Cross-border worker

Last update: 19 November 2024

You want to work in the Netherlands as a cross-border worker. You live in Belgium, Germany or another country in the European Union (EU). Find out what the requirements are for cross-border workers in the Netherlands.

What is a cross-border worker?

A cross-border worker is someone who lives in one country but works in another country. This is usually a neighbouring country. Cross-border workers go back home on weekends or on other days off.

Requirements

These are the requirements for cross-border workers:

You work in the Netherlands.
You live in another EU country, for example Belgium or Germany.
You have the nationality of the EU country where you live or you live there with a valid residence permit.
You go to your home in the other EU country at least once a week.
You must register in the Register of Non-Residents (RNI) for a Citizen Service Number (BSN).
You have a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). A TWV is a work permit for foreign employees. Your employer only needs a TWV for you in these situations:
- You live in the other EU country with a residence permit.
- You live in the other country as a family member of a citizen of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. You yourself have a different nationality, and your family member with an EU, EEA or Swiss nationality of the EU, EEA country or Switzerland does not work in the Netherlands.

Your employer applies to the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen or UWV) for the TWV.

No residence permit, but a cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker

Cross-border workers do not need a residence permit. Do you have the nationality of a country of the EU, EEA or Switzerland? A valid travel document (passport or identity card) is sufficient proof that you are allowed to be in the Netherlands. Do you not have the nationality of a country of the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you can apply for a cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker. This is not mandatory, but sometimes other authorities or organisations ask for proof that you are allowed to be in the Netherlands. This endorsement is a sticker that the IND places in your passport.

Validity of the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker

The cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker is valid for 1 year. Will you still be working in the Netherlands afterwards? Then you can apply for a new residence endorsement sticker.

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker:

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1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus
These are the documents you need:
- Your valid passport.
- Your residence permit from the EU country where you live.
- Copy of the TWV, if you need that in the Netherlands.
Extra documents for family members of citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland
- The valid passport of the citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- Proof of registration in the other EU country of the citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- Documents that show your family relationship, for example your marriage certificate.
- For unmarried partners without a registered partnership: documents showing that you live at the same address in the other EU country.
- Proof that you work in the Netherlands, for example your employment contract.
- If the citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland also works in the Netherlands: documents showing that this person earns an income of more than 50% of the Dutch social assistance amount. Or documents showing that this person works at least 40% of the full normal working week.
3. Apply open minus

You apply for the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker at an IND desk. Call the IND for an appointment for a cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker.
4. Pay for sticker open minus

The cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker is free of charge.
5. Decision on application open minus

You will get a decision immediately at your appointment. Do you meet the requirements for cross-border work? Then the staff member will place the cross-border worker residence endorsement sticker in your passport.

Does your employer need a TWV for you? Then it will say on the sticker that you are only allowed to work with a TWV.