Bank account and insurance
Source: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/become-a-tue-student/bank-account-and-insurance Parent: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/bachelor-college
for international students
Bank account and insurance
Why open a Dutch bank account
We advise you to open a Dutch bank account in the Netherlands for several reasons:
- Having a Dutch bank account (which includes the possibility of internet banking) enables you to manage transactions online to easily pay for your accommodation, insurance, telephone and other bills using internet banking. And in the Netherlands, the iDeal payment system allows you to easily purchase goods online and to make small payments quickly in canteens, vending machines and printing facilities (on campus and outside)
- For students from outside Europe the remainder of the guarantee fee payment and the proof of financial means can only be refunded to your Dutch bank account.
- You can easily deposit and receive money from your home country.
There are a number of large, traditional banks in the Netherlands.
- ABN AMRO (offers information in English and doesn’t require a BSN)
- ING
- Rabobank
- SNS Bank
- ASN Bank
- Triodos
There are also a number of online banks (also called mobile banks or neobanks) available in the Netherlands (all offering information in English):
- Bunq (free for international students, no BSN required, with budgeting tools and joint accounts)
- N26
- Revolut
- Monese
How to open a bank account at a traditional bank in the Netherlands\ To open a regular bank account in the Netherlands you can make an appointment online or simply walk into the nearest branch. You will need to fill in an application form for the account and most banks require the following documents:
- A valid form of ID (passport or identity card)
- BSN*
- Proof of enrollment**
- For Non-EER students: approval letter IND*** or your Dutch residence permit card (if already received)
- Proof of address (i.e. a rental contract)
* BSN (Burger Service Nummer = Social Security Number). You will receive your BSN by post a few days after you have registered at the city hall.
**Can be downloaded from OSIRIS after you have received an e-mail that your enrollment has been finalized.
*** You will receive this letter from TU/e by email when your residence permit has been approved by the IND
How to open an online bank account \ You can sign up with an online bank by downloading your chosen bank’s app onto your smartphone. You will need your personal details, mobile phone number, email address, you need to be able to prove your identity, some banks require an address and you may need to deposit funds into your account to activate the account. Then, your bank account will be created and once all the details have been processed, you will have to wait a few minutes until your account is approved and your bank card is sent out to you (which may take up to 10 working days).
Some things to keep in mind when opening a bank account
Please be advised that this is not an exhaustive list and you will need to research which option is best for your personal situation.
Traditional banks:
- Most traditional banks charge a yearly fee for having an account
- They have physical branches with personal contact to go to if you need help or information
- A bank account is available for all passport holders
- You will have access to your bank account once you have submitted all the paperwork described above. Usually you will receive confirmation of your bank account within 2 weeks.
Online banks
- You do not always require a BSN to open the account. This means that you can open an account before you have registered at city hall.
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Check that a Meastro debit card is the card you receive from the online bank
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Most online banks do not charge a fee for opening an account, but may charge a fee if you withdraw cash more than a certain number of times or more than a certain amount of money
- Some online banks charge a fee for the bank card, certainly for an upgraded account
- Some online banks provide you with a prepaid credit card (on which you must deposit money before you can pay with it) and it seems that not all (web)shops accept the card
- Most online banks are cheaper with fewer fees for travelling and foreign currency fees
- Most online banks have no physical branches and are fully controlled through your mobile phone or web app
- Digital banks do not accept all passports when you try to open a bank account
- Most online banks do not offer services such as saving, borrowing or taking out insurance (however, this may change in the (near) future)
Registering at city hall
All international students who are staying in Eindhoven for more than four months must register at the city hall.
TU/e will arrange for you an opportunity to register at the city hall. During the Bachelor Introduction Week or Master Kick-off you will receive a link to the self-service portal of the city hall. This portal is especially for students for scheduling an appointment for registration at the city hall. This way you will be able to arrange an appointment yourself at a day and time that is suitable to you. These appointments will be prioritized.
Take the following documents with you to your appointment:
- valid passport
- housing contract (must have started at the time of your appointment)
- birth certificate (legalized and/or verified)
- if you are (temporarily) staying with someone; letter of consent and a copy from a valid identity document of the owner/main tenant
- documents of your marriage or birth of child
- For Non-EER students; approval letter IND* or your Dutch residence permit card (if already received)
*You will receive this letter from TU/e by email when your residence permit has been approved by the IND.
BSN
Within a few days after your registration you will receive a letter from the city hall at your address in Eindhoven including your BSN (BSN: Burger Service Nummer = Social Security Number). The BSN is an important, personal number for contact with the Dutch government. For example, for healthcare or taxes but also for opening an account at a Dutch bank.
They will all be in Dutch. Just check your personal details. If they are correct, you do not need to do anything. If they are incorrect, you should contact the city hall to have it changed.
Important to take into account:
- If you are not going to live in Eindhoven, you do not have to register at the city hall in Eindhoven. You should then register in the city you will be living.
- Please make an appointment for a date after the start of your rental agreement/hotel reservation. If your rental agreement has not yet started, the city hall will not be able to register you.
- Note that you are able to register if you are staying at a temporary address/hotel/Airbnb. Make sure you bring the confirmation of the booking in that case. Please inform the city hall as soon as you move to your permanent address.
- If you change your address during your stay in the Netherlands, you have to inform the city hall yourself.
- Please make sure you do not forget to de-register from the city hall before you leave the Netherlands.
Please be advised that the above information is based on registration in Eindhoven. If you register at another municipality, the procedures and regulations might be different.
Health and liability insurance
Since sufficient health and liability insurance are mandatory in the Netherlands, it is important that you arrange insurance either before you leave your country or immediately upon arrival in the Netherlands.
EU STUDENTS \ Check your insurance in your home country to see if it covers your stay in the Netherlands for both health and liability. The Netherlands has health insurance agreements with the following countries: all EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Morocco, most countries of the former Yugoslavia, Tunisia, the Cape Verde Islands and Australia.
Arrange your Insurance\ Make sure that before you arrive in the Netherlands for your exchange or full degree program you have sufficient insurance. So take it out before arriving in the Netherlands. Having insurance during your stay at TU/e is mandatory.\ \ Our preferred supplier Aon Student Insurance offers you several packages for your stay in the Netherlands.\ \ Aon Student Insurance always covers pre-existing conditions or worsening of a pre-existing conditions. They make no difference between EU & Non-EU students and offer inclusive insurance for all students.\ When arranging your (health) insurance, you must make sure the following is covered:
- All medical costs: for both physical and mental healthcare, including hospitalization;
- HIV coverage
- Repatriation costs minimum of €500.000
- Third-party liability insurance
- Fire and home furnishing insurance
- Approved for Schengen Visa’s
Aon Student Insurance Packages for EU/ EEA & Non-EU/ EEA Students\ Aon offers you the insurance that is based on your activity in the Netherlands, they have packages for:
- Exchange students
- Full degree students (bachelors, masters and PhD’s)
- Partners/children of students
- Search year students
The packages cover:
- Health including cover for pre-existing medical and psychological conditions,
- Repatriation,
- Private liability,
- Accidents
- Travel luggage
- Home contents
- Legal Assistance
Different than other student insurances, Aon offers full coverage with no deductible,no out of pocket payment or reduction in reimbursement when your stay is shorter than a year:
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Full coverage for pre-existing conditions or worsening of a pre-existing medical and psychological conditions
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Coverage for pre-existing pregnancy up to 12 weeks at policy inception
- Coverage for HIV
- No deductibles or co-payments
- Standard premium discount of 5 days per year
- Cancellable at any time without administrative fees, penalties or deductions and with refund of excess premium paid
- Easy change between Aon Student Insurance and basic health insurance (if you start a parttime job)
EU STUDENTS & European Health Insurance Card\ If you are insured under a national health service in your own country and you are going abroad, then your own health insurance provider can provide you withEuropean Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that is valid in the Netherlands and other EU countries. Please note you will have to apply for this at your national health insurance provider.\ \ We highly recommend EU/EEA Students to take out additional insurance because the EHIC only covers emergencies and does not cover enough if you are going to be in the Netherlands for a longer period of time. The EHIC does not include liability insurance, household/ luggage and repatriation. If you have an EHIC than you get a discount on the premium of the Aon Student Insurance. Apply for additional insurance via our preferred supplier Aon.
STUDENTS FROM OUTSIDE THE EU
Students from a country outside the EU/EEA, need to be insured for:
- All medical costs: for both physical and mental healthcare, including hospitalization;
- HIV coverage
- Repatriation costs minimum of €500.000
- Third-party liability insurance;
- Fire and home furnishing insurance
- Approved for Schengen Visa’s
If you already have insurance in your home country it should cover the above in the Netherlands.\ Does your insurance not or insufficiently covers your stay in the Netherlands then take out Aon Student Insurance. Aon is our preferred supplier,\ Healthcare costs in the Netherlands are high, make sure your insurance covers this.\ \ Treaty countries\ Check your insurance in your home country to see if it covers your stay in the Netherlands for both health and liability. The Netherlands has health insurance agreements with the following countries: all EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Morocco, most countries of the former Yugoslavia, Tunisia, the Cape Verde Islands and Australia. Check https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/zorgverzekering-buitenland/verdragslanden
STUDENTS WITH A (PART-TIME) JOB OR PAID INTERNSHIP
If you have a (part-time) job or paid traineeship in the Netherlands and you earn at least the Dutch minimum wage, you are obliged to be insured under the Health Insurance Act. This means that you are legally obliged to take out a Dutch basic insurance. If the internship wage is lower than this minimum wage, you are not allowed to take out a Dutch basic insurance. In that case, you can keep your Aon student insurance or other student insurance you have taken out yourself.\ You can use the following website to find the minimum wage.
If you are a student from the EU and/or one of the treaty countries and you start an internship for which at least one employee insurance is arranged (you can check with the internship company), you are also obliged to have a Dutch basic insurance since 1st of September 2025, even if you do not earn the minimum wage.
LETTER FROM CAK
During your study period at the TU/e, you will receive a letter from the Central Administration Office (CAK). When you receive this letter, you must always respond!\ Instructions on how to respond to this letter can be found on the website studyinholland.
Tuberculosis (TB) test
Some non-EU/EEA students are required to take a tuberculosis test as part of their residence permit formalities. If this applies to you, you will be asked to undergo a TBC X-ray at the Municipal Health Service (in Dutch GGD) shortly after your arrival in the Netherlands. The International Office will arrange an appointment for you with the GGD. You can use this list of nationalities to find out if you are required to undergo a TB test after arrival.
More information
- [### Education guide
Information for international students at TU/e
Read more](https://educationguide.tue.nl/practical-info/information-for-international-students) - [### Nuffic
The Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education
Read more](https://www.nuffic.nl/en/) - [### Netherlands worldwide
All you need to know about living, working, travelling and doing business abroad
Read more](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/)
Interesting links
- [### Working in the Netherlands
Read more](https://www.werk.nl/werkzoekenden/eu/working-netherlands/) - [### Working while studying
Read more](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/become-a-tue-student/visa-residence-permit)
Interesting links
- [### Health insurance
Read more](https://www.studyinnl.org/plan-your-stay/healthcare-insurance) - [### AON insurance company
Read more](https://www.aonstudentinsurance.com/students/en/)
downloads
- [### [pdf] Working while studying in the Netherlands
74 KB](https://assets.w3.tue.nl/w/fileadmin/content/Education/4_BecomeTUeStudent/Immigration%20matters/Flyer_Working_while_studying_inthe_Netherlands.pdf)