Frequently Asked Questions

In the Netherlands, you are required to have health insurance, which covers essential services such as doctor visits, hospital care and medications. Health insurance costs about €150 per month. Employ IR offers independent experts to help you choose a health insurer, and the government ensures that all insurers offer the same basic coverage. There is an annual deductible, but most basic care is covered. For a referral to a specialist, you first visit your family doctor. Additional insurance is also available for extras such as dentistry or physical therapy. The system is accessible and guarantees quality care for everyone.

Yes, if you have applied for the 30% ruling, you can use your South African driver's license for the first six months. It is important that you convert your South African driver's license to a Dutch driver's license at your municipality after your 30% ruling has been approved. If you do not convert your driving license within the first six months, it will become invalid and you will have to take a driving test again in the Netherlands.

Yes, taking Dutch lessons is mandatory in principle, unless other agreements have been made. The lessons are specially developed for Afrikaans-speaking technicians and engineers, in collaboration with a specialized partner. They are provided online and the class schedule is aligned with your work schedule. Employ IR fully covers the costs of the lessons.

Employ IR actively guides you in finding suitable housing and pays for a rental agent for this purpose. Employ IR always searches in consultation with you, within your wishes and budget, for a home that suits you. As an employee, you pay the rent of the home yourself and the costs depend on the type of home and the region where you will be working.

As an employee, you take out insurance such as your health insurance, liability insurance and any contents insurance yourself. Employ IR is happy to advise and guide you in this, for example by putting you in touch with independent experts so that you can make a good choice.

After you sign your contract with Employ IR, the process usually takes about 6-8 weeks before you are in the Netherlands. However, this depends on factors beyond our control, such as the workload at the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

Everyone participating in the relocation process needs a passport and an unabridged birth certificate (with apostille). If you are married and want to bring your partner to the Netherlands, you also need a marriage certificate (with apostille). If you are in a long-term relationship but not married, you and your partner must both provide a declaration of marital impediment (with apostille). The unabridged birth certificates, marriage certificates and declarations of impediment to marriage can be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs. Apostilles can be obtained from DIRCO.

Employ IR arranges the entire visa application for you. Officially, the IND has 90 days for this, with a possible extension of another 90 days through the UWV, but in practice a visa is usually approved within 2 to 3 weeks. This maximum term almost never occurs. For the entire relocation process, including visa, housing and practical matters, count on 6 to 8 weeks from the moment you sign your contract. Do you have a partner and children? Employ IR also arranges the application for them and guides you in collecting the right documents.

In short, very little.

More comprehensive: Employ IR covers all costs related to your move, except for expenses incurred in South Africa, such as for your personal documents and other personal items.

The 30% ruling is a tax benefit for employees who come to work in the Netherlands from abroad. If you qualify, the Tax and Customs Administration pays part of your salary tax-free, which increases your net income. Employ IR guides the entire process, but the actual application is submitted by a specialized tax advisor. The costs for this are borne by Employ IR. Employ IR assesses this against the applicable legal conditions and automatically applies for the ruling when you qualify.