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I am going to live or work outside the Netherlands

Useful to know

As a rule, everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is covered by Dutch national insurance. That way, you build up rights to an AOW pension and qualify for child benefit and survivor benefits. However, if you start living or working outside the Netherlands, you will cease to be covered by the Dutch national insurance system.

This means that:

  • you will not be able to build up a full AOW pension
  • you will not be able to claim Dutch child benefit
  • if you pass away, your survivors will not get an Anw survivor benefit, or they will get a reduced amount.

On this page, you can find out how you can still stay insured in some cases.

If you work outside the Netherlands for a Netherlands-based employer

If you are sent to work outside the Netherlands temporarily, it may be possible for you to remain covered by social insurance in the Netherlands.

Living or working outside the Netherlands for longer than a certain period

If you are going to live or work outside the Netherlands permanently or for longer than a certain period, you can take out voluntary AOW and/or Anw insurance.

Returning to your country of origin

If you are going to return to your country of origin, or to the country your parents are from, you may be able to get a one-off relocation grant and a monthly benefit to help cover your living expenses in your new country of residence. This is provided for under the Remigration Act. 

If you get a pension or benefit from the SVB

If you start living or working outside the Netherlands, this could affect the amount of your pension or benefit. You should therefore inform us of your new address outside the Netherlands as soon as possible so that we can make sure that you receive the correct amount on time.

Old age pension (AOW pension)

If you start living outside the Netherlands, the amount of your AOW pension could change, as payments of AOW pension to people living in certain countries are restricted under Dutch law.

Survivor benefit (Anw)

We are not authorised to pay Anw benefit to people living in certain countries. This means your Anw survivor benefit may be discontinued if you start living outside the Netherlands.

Child benefit and TOG care allowance

If you start living in another country but continue to work in the Netherlands, you can usually keep your child benefit or TOG care allowance. If you start working outside the Netherlands, however, your child benefit and TOG care allowance will usually stop.

AIO supplement

If you receive an AIO supplement, this will stop if you start living outside the Netherlands. If you start working outside the Netherlands, however, you can keep the AIO supplement. Your income from work will be deducted from your AIO supplement.

Belgium and Germany

If you start living or working in Belgium or Germany, this could affect your health insurance, child benefit, pension or benefit. You can obtain more information about this from the Bureau for Belgian Affairs or the Bureau for German Affairs.