Where I Can Live
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Europe · Dutch · updated 2026-10

Moving to the Netherlands: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,100 a month to live in Amsterdam, and a family of four about $6,600, including rent. The Netherlands usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is limited. You can move here without a job offer through the Orientation year.

Monthly budget
$3,100
High cost
Safety
77
Very safe
Stability
69
Stable
Family
82
Excellent
Main city
Amsterdam
Language
Dutch
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Limited
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in the Netherlands?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Netherlands, per month in US$

One person
$3,100
Family of four
$6,600
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Amsterdam centre
$1,800
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$3,350
Estimate
Price level
87
US = 100
Income per person
$5,711
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
77
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.69
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.71
Rule of law+0.81
Control of corruption+0.86
Government effectiveness+0.75
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (69/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
82
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.79
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.9
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$6,845
per person / year
Education spending
5.2%
of GDP

Partners can work freely. A 30% tax ruling (falling to 27% from 2027) helps recruited specialists. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Job seeker
Orientation year1 year to find work after graduating from a top-200 or Dutch university.
Job offer
Highly Skilled MigrantRecognised sponsor; €5,942/month (€4,357 under 30, €3,122 for recent graduates) in 2026.
Job offer
EU Blue Card€5,942/month, or €4,754 for recent graduates (2026).
Investment
Start-up visaWith a recognised facilitator.

Some passports also get: Dutch-American Friendship Treaty; Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty; Working holiday programme for young people.

Who gets easier access to the Netherlands

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (1 nationality)

Dutch-American Friendship Treaty: self-employment residence with a €4,500 business investment.

Flag of the United StatesUnited States

Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty (1 nationality)

Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty: self-employment residence on easier terms.

Flag of JapanJapan

Working holiday programme for young people (9 nationalities)

Working holiday programme for young people.

Flag of ArgentinaArgentinaFlag of AustraliaAustraliaFlag of CanadaCanadaFlag of Hong KongHong KongFlag of JapanJapanFlag of New ZealandNew ZealandFlag of South KoreaSouth KoreaFlag of TaiwanTaiwanFlag of UruguayUruguay

Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
A 10-year proposal stalled in 2026; 5 years still applies
Dual citizenship
Limited

You usually must give up your original nationality to naturalise.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: ind.nl/en

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in the Netherlands?

About $3,100 a month for one person and $6,600 for a family of four in Amsterdam, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,800 a month and a 3-bedroom around $3,350. Prices are 87% of US levels. The Netherlands is the 66th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is the Netherlands safe to live in?

The Netherlands scores 77/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 18th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.69 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is the Netherlands politically stable?

The Netherlands scores 69/100 for stability (stable), ranking 31st of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is the Netherlands good for families?

The Netherlands scores 82/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 13th of 76. Life expectancy is 82 years and under-5 mortality is 3.9 per 1,000 births. Partners can work freely. A 30% tax ruling (falling to 27% from 2027) helps recruited specialists. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in the Netherlands?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of the Netherlands?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. A 10-year proposal stalled in 2026; 5 years still applies. Dual citizenship: limited.

Can I move to the Netherlands without a job offer?

Yes. Orientation year: 1 year to find work after graduating from a top-200 or Dutch university.

Who can live and work in the Netherlands without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of the Netherlands can move