The student's official place of residence is examined in the case of students aged 30 and above. The following will be assessed:
- whether the stay abroad is temporary;
- whether you regularly return to or take holidays in the Netherlands;
- whether you intend to return to the Netherlands;
- whether you have a legal, economic and social connection to the Netherlands;
- whether you are recorded in the municipal registry (GBA) in the Netherlands (see the bottom of this page).
If you continue to be officially resident in the Netherlands, the following applies:
- You will be abroad for no more than one year: You are required to retain Dutch national health insurance;
- You will be abroad for one to three years: You are required to retain Dutch national health insurance in the first year. After the first year, the Dutch national health insurance will generally lapse. If you wish to retain it after that point, you can do so on request. You must, however, still demonstrate that you are still a resident of the Netherlands;
- You will be abroad for more than three years: After the third year, the Dutch national health insurance will lapse in any event.
The original date of departure is assumed in determining these periods.
Working during your studies
If you engage in paid work in addition to your studies and the country where you are residing deducts social security premiums, you will no longer be entitled to Dutch national health insurance. The legislation of the country where you are residing will apply to you. If the country does not provide (compulsory) health insurance, you must arrange for your own.
Municipal records
One of the factors determining whether you reside in the Netherlands is whether you are recorded in the municipal registry (GBA). Being registered in the Netherlands does not automatically mean that you are considered resident in the Netherlands as well.
Even if you have de-registered yourself from the GBA, you may still be officially resident in the Netherlands. It is the Social Security Bank that ultimately determines whether someone is or is not resident in the Netherlands.
