Go to content
Logo Dutch GovernmentTo the homepage of netherlandsworldwide.nl
NetherlandsWorldwide

Do I have sickness insurance coverage outside the Netherlands?

Whether you have sickness insurance coverage depends on which country you live and work in.

Attention:

Sickness insurance guarantees you an income if you cannot work due to illness. This could be your salary, which your employer continues to pay, or sickness benefit. Sickness insurance does not cover the cost of medical care. For insurance that does cover the cost of medical care, see health insurance outside the Netherlands.

What is your situation?

I live in the Netherlands

If you live in the Netherlands and work in Belgium or Germany, go to Grensinfo.nl to find out where you are insured against loss of income due to illness.

I live outside the Netherlands

If you live in Belgium or Germany and work in the Netherlands, go to Grensinfopunt.nl to find out where you are insured against loss of income due to illness.

If you are in employment and you do not perform a significant part of your work in your country of residence, then you are insured in the country where your employer's head office or company is located. For more information about social security abroad, visit Europa.eu.

If you live and work in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you are insured against loss of income due to illness in the country where you work.

If you live and work in a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements, in most situations you are insured against loss of income due to illness in accordance with the rules of the country where you work.

Exceptions

The following are situations in which you are insured in the Netherlands, even though you work in a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements:

  • You have been working abroad for less than a year.
  • You work abroad, but also in the Netherlands.
  • You are employed in the international transport sector.
  • You work at sea, such as in shipping, in fishing or on an oil rig.
  • You are a civil servant posted to an embassy or consulate.
Attention: If none of these situations apply to you but you’d like to remain insured in the Netherlands, you can apply for an A1 certificate from the Social Insurance Bank (SVB).

If you live and work in a country with which the Netherlands does not have any reciprocal sickness coverage agreements, you may still have Dutch sickness insurance coverage. For example, if you have compulsory insurance through your employer, which is the case if you work for an employer based in the Netherlands. You can also take out optional insurance to guarantee you’ll have an income if you become ill.

If you do not have compulsory or optional insurance in the Netherlands, you may be able to take out insurance in the country where you live and work. Consult the benefits organisation in that country to see what your options are.

Sickness benefit abroad

If you know where you are insured, check whether you qualify for sickness benefit outside the Netherlands.

If you are moving abroad

Contact

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Also useful