The last year has been a hell of a ride for all of us, no matter your country of origin. Due to the uncertainty of last year, chances are likely that your plans regarding working abroad got delayed or even cancelled entirely, and that’s a shame. However, instead of looking back in anger, let’s focus on the possibilities of the future.
You probably have a lot of questions about working in the Netherlands during the pandemic. Is it still possible, what is the corona policy in the Netherlands and what to bear in mind when moving to the Netherlands? In this article, we’ll be focusing on what is and what isn’t possible concerning travelling to and working in the Netherlands as a contractor or expat.
Can I travel to the Netherlands if I live or stay in another country?
The advice from the Dutch government is to not travel to the Netherlands until further notice. At the moment, there is a travel ban. However, there are some cases in which the travel ban does not apply but this doesn’t mean that travelling to the Netherlands is a smart thing to do.
Travelling to the Netherlands depends on your situation. More information regarding this subject can be found on this checklist for travel to the Netherlands. However, please always bear in mind that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I don’t have the right to stay in the Netherlands anymore, but I can’t travel back. What should I do?
If your residence document has expired you should try to request an extension, if this is possible. If this isn’t possible, the Dutch government understands that it may be difficult to return, but they do expect you to try if your right of residence expires. If you had the opportunity to leave but didn’t, you can get an entry ban from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee when you leave.
If you’re experiencing trouble whilst returning home, please contact your country’s consulate or embassy in the Netherlands.
Can I apply for a short-stay (Schengen) visa?
This depends on if there is an active entry ban or not. The Netherlands will issue visas again when the entry ban is lifted for one particular country. For example, if there’s an entry ban for France, French citizens can’t apply for a short-stay visa but if there isn’t an entry ban for France, French citizens can apply.
The Dutch government has created a specific webpage for all questions regarding all visa-related matters.
What if my visa is extended to 180 days but expiring soon?
It’s good to know that your total stay with a visa may never exceed a period of 180 days. Therefore, the government expects you to return to your country of origin (or another country). If you don’t return, even though there were opportunities to do so, you’ll receive an entry ban from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee if you leave - unless you can prove that earlier departure wasn’t possible.
If you’re experiencing trouble whilst returning home, please contact your country’s consulate or embassy in the Netherlands.
What if I lost my job in the Netherlands due to the coronavirus?
Sometimes it’s a cruel, cruel world. Chances are that you’ve lost your job due to the coronavirus. Even though you’re not the only one, it might feel like the end of the world nonetheless. However, the Netherlands offers quite reasonable unemployment benefits, which are also available for expats.
Certain benefits can be obtained via the Dutch Institute for Employee Insurance (in Dutch the "UWV"), there are certain requirements to be met and a lot of communication takes place in Dutch, but in most cases, they are happy to help you.
More information regarding unemployment in the Netherlands can be found on the UWV’s website.