Do I qualify for unemployment benefit outside the Netherlands?

I lived in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland while working in the Netherlands

If you travelled at least once a week between the country where you lived and the Netherlands you are considered a cross-border commuter.

If you are a cross-border commuter and become fully unemployed you can apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you live.

If you are still partially employed as a cross-border commuter in the Netherlands you can apply for unemployment benefit in the Netherlands.

If you work/worked in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, where you live is the determining factor.

I still lived in the Netherlands while working abroad

If you lived in the Netherlands while working abroad and you return to the Netherlands immediately after becoming unemployed, you can apply for Dutch unemployment benefit from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). To qualify, you must meet all the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit (in Dutch).

I lived in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland while working abroad

If you lived outside the Netherlands while working abroad, you can apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you lived. You will need an E301/PD U1 form (information in Dutch) from the Netherlands to do this. It details the periods during which you were insured in the Netherlands. You can show this form to the benefits organisation in the country in question and they will include these periods when assessing whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit.

If you work/worked in a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements, whether you return to the Netherlands or remain in the country where you work/worked is the determining factor.

I am returning to the Netherlands

You may be entitled to Dutch unemployment benefit only if you return to the Netherlands. You can apply for Dutch unemployment benefit from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). You should do this within 7 days of returning to the Netherlands. To qualify, you must meet all the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit (in Dutch).

I am still living in the country where I work/worked

If you are still living in the country where you work/worked, you do not qualify for unemployment benefit from the Netherlands. Find out whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit in the country where you work/worked.

If you work/worked in a country other than an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements, whether you return to the Netherlands or remain in the country where you work/worked is the determining factor.

I am returning to the Netherlands

You may be entitled to Dutch unemployment benefit only if you return to the Netherlands. You can apply for Dutch unemployment benefit from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). You should do this within 7 days of returning to the Netherlands. To qualify, you must meet all the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit (in Dutch).

I am staying in the country where I work/worked

If you are staying in the country where you work/worked, you do not qualify for unemployment benefit from the Netherlands. Find out whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit in the country where you work/worked.

Your situation determines which country you should apply for benefit in if you become unemployed.

I am staying in the Netherlands

If you become fully unemployed you can apply for Dutch unemployment benefit from the UWV. You must be a Dutch resident and be available for work.

If you become partially unemployed you can apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you are insured.

I am returning to the country where I am insured

You can apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you are insured.

If you work/worked in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, where you lived and whether you are returning to the Netherlands are determining factors.

I lived in the Netherlands while working abroad

If you travelled at least once a week between the country where you lived and the country where you worked, you are considered a cross-border commuter.

• If you are a cross-border commuter and you become fully unemployed, you can apply for unemployment benefit in the Netherlands. To qualify, you must meet all the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit (in Dutch).
• If you are still partially employed as a cross-border commuter in the country where you work, you can apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you work.

If you travelled less than once a week between the country where you lived and the country where you worked, you can apply for unemployment benefit from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). To qualify, you must meet all the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit (in Dutch).

I am staying in the country where I work/worked

If you are staying in the country where you work/worked and where you are insured, apply for unemployment benefit from the benefits organisation in the country where you work/worked. You should do this as soon as possible. You will need an E301/PD U1 form (information in Dutch) from the Netherlands to do this. It details the periods during which you were insured in the Netherlands. You can show this form to the benefits organisation in the country where you live and they will include these periods when assessing whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit.

I am staying and working part-time or my contract has been temporarily paused

If you are still working abroad part-time or if your employment contract has been temporarily paused due to unforeseen circumstances such as fire, extreme weather or economic recession, apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you work/worked.

I was living outside the Netherlands while working abroad
If you were living outside the Netherlands while working in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland and you were insured in the country where you were working, apply for unemployment benefit in the country where you worked.

If you work/worked in a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements, whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit depends on the specific agreements between the Netherlands and that country.

• If the Netherlands and the country where you work/worked have agreements on unemployment, it may be possible to count the periods you were insured in the Netherlands when assessing whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit. You will need an E301/PD U1 form (information in Dutch) from the Netherlands. By counting the periods you were insured in the Netherlands you may meet the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefit in the country where you work/worked earlier.
• If the Netherlands and the country where you work/worked do not have any agreements on unemployment, the periods you were insured in the Netherlands do not count when assessing whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit. Find out whether you are entitled to unemployment benefit in the country where you work/worked.

If you work/worked in a country other than another EU/EEA country, Switzerland or a country with which the Netherlands has reciprocal agreements, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit in that country. Find out more from the country where you work/worked.

I am returning to the Netherlands

If you are returning to the Netherlands, you can apply for unemployment benefit in the Netherlands only if you have taken out optional unemployment insurance. To qualify, you must meet all the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit (in Dutch).

If you are not entitled to unemployment benefit, you may qualify for social assistance after you return to the Netherlands. You can apply for social assistance from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) or your municipality (in Dutch).