Istanbul at night: Galata Tower and the lights along the water
Guide Turkey → the Netherlands · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Turkey to the Netherlands

A plain checklist: the visa routes, what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in the Netherlands.

Photo: Pexels
First: can you move?

You need a permit to live in the Netherlands

Turkey is not in the EU, so staying in the Netherlands longer than 90 days usually needs an entry visa (MVV) and a residence permit. Short visits need a Schengen visa.

Job
Highly skilled migrantWith a job offer from a recognised sponsor employer (kennismigrant).
Uni
StudyA student permit to study in the Netherlands.
Fam
FamilyJoining a spouse or partner in the Netherlands.

Which route fits you: IND, the Dutch immigration service. We don't give visa advice.

Before you go

Your checklist in Turkey

  1. Your entry visa (MVV) and a valid passport.
  2. Documents in one folder: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas; certified translations where needed.
  3. Money for the start: a deposit (at most 2 months' basic rent), the first rent and a few weeks of living costs.
  4. Somewhere to live: you need an address to register with the town hall.
  5. Set up your home TV before you go, so it works on day one (how to watch Turkish TV in the Netherlands).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in the Netherlands

Home TV, ready when you land

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home, your series and the kids' cartoons in Turkish make the new flat feel like home faster.

How to watch Turkish TV in the Netherlands →
Advertisement: Turkish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in the Netherlands

  1. Register at the town hall (gemeente) within 5 days if you stay longer than 4 months; you get a BSN number.
  2. Collect your residence permit card from the IND.
  3. Health insurance (basisverzekering): compulsory when you live here; take it out within 4 months, with cover from the date your residence permit starts.
  4. DigiD: your login for government services once you have a BSN.
  5. Bank account: with your ID and BSN.
  6. TV fee: the Netherlands has none.
  7. Driving: a Turkish licence can be used for the first 185 days after you move to the Netherlands; check the RDW for what comes next.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to live in the Netherlands?

Usually yes: an entry visa (MVV) and a residence permit. Check your route with the IND.

Do I need a visa to visit the Netherlands?

Yes. Turkish citizens need a Schengen visa for short visits.

When do I register with the town hall?

Within 5 days of arriving, if you stay longer than 4 months.

Is health insurance compulsory?

Yes. If you live in the Netherlands, take out the basic insurance (basisverzekering) within 4 months. With a residence permit, the cover must start on the date the permit starts, and you pay the premium from then.

Can I watch Turkish TV in the Netherlands?

Yes. Our Turkish TV in the Netherlands guide shows every option.

More for Turkish people in the Netherlands

Guides for you

Turkish TV in the NetherlandsThe Turkish channels live, and how the official options compare.The Turkish community in the NetherlandsHow many, where people live, mosques, Turkish lessons and where people meet online.Moving to the NetherlandsThe visa routes, before you go and your first weeks.
Sources