So You Think You Should Move to Europe...

I have been contacted by several friends and colleagues asking me how I went about making the transition from living in the USA to now living in Amsterdam. To try and help you avoid making the same mistakes I have made, I decided to write this blog. Below, you will see some of the recommendations I am suggesting to hopefully make this new and exciting time in your life a little less stressful. 

I hope you find this guide useful. And whether or not you decide, like I did, to finally make the move I had always dreamed of, and move overseas, I hope you or someone you know will find this guide a handy guide for wherever you end up!

‘Veel geluk’ (Dutch for ‘Good Luck’) in your search for a new home abroad!

Step 1: DO YOUR RESEARCH! 

•  While moving can be fun and exciting, it is also full of challenges, and if you are not prepared, it will make the process longer and more stressful
•  Obtain an official copy of your birth certificate, and have it apostatized. This means you will need to contact the Secretary of State in which you were born and order an official copy of your birth certificate and pay for them to apostatize it for you. This is a process which I had never heard of, and I had no idea where to start. However, with a quick Google search I quickly discovered that due to the Schengen Treaty which was signed by many countries around the world, including the US, having your document apostatized is an added check in ensuring your document is legitimate. It MUST have the official embossed stamp, as well as a sticker or some other form of identification which shows the government you are trying to obtain residency from that this a true and legitimate copy of your certificate.

Step 2: Obtain any divorce decrees or marriage certificates 

   •Before moving, contact the appropriate agencies of the state where you                were married/divorced. Usually, these documents do not need to be apostatized; however, check with the local officials from your jurisdiction.  

Step 3: START THE PROCESS EARLY! 

•  In most cases, you can start the process of obtaining your required visa or residency permit while living abroad. Again, check with the local jurisdiction for your region; however, the sooner you can start the process the better! As someone from the US who has never had to deal with visas and/or immigration issues, I had no idea how slow and frustrating the process of obtaining the legal right to live and work in a new country can be. Take it from me… do NOT wait to get started!
•  Many times there you can apply for an interview in the US while you wait on a decision regarding your application. For Holland, there is an office they work with in Miami to process paperwork and handle the biometrics and other requirements needed for your residency permit. The letter shown in the picture is the cover letter, and is attached by their official sticker.

Step 4: Start to learn the language 

• The earlier you start to learn the basics of the language for the country for which you are trying to move will save you stress down the road. While this seems like a basic idea, and even though 99% of the residents of the country you are trying to move to may speak English, many of the official documents you will receive will be in the ‘native’ language of that country. Having a basic understanding of the language will help you tremendously as you make your way through the application and interview process.

Step 5: Find a place to Live. While this sounds like a ‘no brainer’, it is harder than you might think…

•  Just as in many big (and even small) cities around the US, there is a housing shortage (affordable) in most European cities. Many of the countries in Europe are Socialist governments, meaning that there is a lot of assistance from the government to help residents find and pay for housing costs. This means you will be competing against the local residents, who in many cases, will rank higher than non-residents for the limited available housing.
•  Seek out organizations like https://www.iamexpat.nl/ who specialize in helping expats wanting to move to a particular country with things like housing, taxes, find a job, education and much more! While it will cost you money to hire an estate agent, these professionals will be worth the money in the amount of time and frustration they will save you by guiding you through the often complicated world of renting/buying property overseas. Just make sure you know upfront what all of YOUR costs will be and when you will be required to pay them. Do you only pay if they find you a suitable home, or do they work for a fee regardless of the outcome. Unlike in the US where the owner/seller often pays the real estate agent’s fee, this is usually the responsibility of the renter/purchaser to cover.

Step 6: Register with the local government as soon as possible once you arrive and have secured housing. Check with your local government to see how long you have to accomplish this goal.

•  You will probably need a rental or sales contract to submit, along with your application. 
•  BEFORE signing a rental agreement, ensure you are able to register the address with the local government to establish residency.

Step 7: Obtain your citizen service number once you register with the local government. In Holland, this is called your BSN number, or burgerservicenummer. 

Once you receive this number, much like a social security number, you will keep this number forever. The government uses your citizen service number (BSN) to 

process your personal data. You can use your BSN for any government service in the Netherlands. You do not have to provide your data to each different government organization – they can find it using your BSN. You will need this number to do almost everything, in the Netherlands at least.

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(From the Government of the Netherlands Immigration website)

•  BSN in healthcare - The citizen service number (BSN) allows you to identify yourself if you need care. Recognized care providers like general practice doctors and health insurance companies have to use the BSN.
•  BSN in education - The BSN is also used in education, where it is called the personal identification number (PGN) or education number. The PGN is the same number as the BSN. Schools must use the PGN in their records.
•  BSN for childcare benefit, housing benefit and healthcare benefit - Childcare ....organizations must ask for your and your child’s BSNs. The Benefits Office of the Tax and Customs Administration checks the number of childcare hours you report against the hours in the childcare organization’s records. The same applies for landlords and the housing benefit, and healthcare insurers and the healthcare benefit.
•  BSN to prevent identity fraud - The BSN’s main purpose is to help with contacts between different government ....organizations, and between individuals and government. Non-government ....organizations – like general practice doctors and other healthcare providers, pharmacies and healthcare insurers – can only use the BSN if the law requires it. The BSN makes it easier for government ....organizations to exchange personal details without making errors. Each organization must make sure that you are using your own BSN.

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As you can see, obtaining some sort of citizen service number, you will not be able to get much accomplished. Depending on how long you are planning on moving to your new country, you may qualify for a Temporary Citizen Service Number. 

**Personal Opinion** I recommend applying for a Temporary BSN. The process that I have described so far has taken me 6 months, and I am still not completely finished yet (more on that to come). To do anything here in Holland, you have to make an appointment. The waiting time to finally find an opening can be a week to a few months between appointments. And, while in the US we are known for our efficient mindset and multitasking and such; while here, it will take you several appointments for this process. And no one is in as big of a hurry as you are! Americans can travel to most of the European Union (EU) without a tourist visa for 90 or less, and Europeans the same to the US; obtaining all of your required documents to obtain your residency will take MUCH longer than 90 days. You will need your BSN number to set up all of your utilities, and even with a Temporary Residency Permit, you will be given the ‘golden egg’, a BSN number you will keep as long as you live in that country! Win-Win! 

Step 8: Set up service for your mail/post

      • Most banks, investment firms and government agencies will require you to have a US based address on-file. While they may allow you list your physical address as your new city in your new country, they will still require a US mailing address. To accomplish this, you will need to find an official mail service which is sanctioned by the United States Postal Service (USPS). I personally use iPostal (https://ipostal1.com) which allows me to choose the frequency with which they will bulk send my mail and/or packages. Each piece of mail gets scanned and I am able to see what is in my post box. I can then have them scan the contents, which is especially helpful when dealing with a time crunch, as it can take a long time for mail to be delivered overseas, even when you pay for expedited shipping. They will also shred and toss mail I do not need or is not important. 

To set this service up, you will be required to complete a form and have it notarized (they have an online notary for a fee) in order to act as your mail agent in the US. I pay $9.95/month, and have found their service to be very useful.

Step 9: Find a bank and open an account. 

   • You will need your citizen service number, possibly your lease and your passport. If you think you will be moving money (US Dollars) to your new bank on a regular basis, you will want to find a bank which also allows deposits in foreign currency. While it sounds simple enough, the process, like everything else when moving to a new country, can take longer than you think it should and can be more frustrating than it needs to be. But you will need an ATM card, called a PIN card in most of Europe, in order to shop at many of the local stores, including grocery stores/supermarkets. Many stores still do not accept Visa/Master Card and even fewer accept American Express. You will even need a PIN card to buy a mobile phone (which is another whole can of worms!) So, you will want to accomplish this task as soon as possible. 

Step 10: Explore! 

Congratulations! You have found a place to live, applied for your residency permit, you’ve opened a bank account and finally purchased a mobile phone and now have a local number… Now it is time to ENJOY all of your hard work. Part of the reason you moved to your new country as for the adventure of trying something new and outside of your comfort zone (possibly). You now need to make sure you are taking advantage of the benefits of living in a foreign country, especially if you are in Europe. You are now closer than ever to the history, great food and art found throughout the continent. Make sure you are making the most out of your time. Unlike in the US, train service is efficient and reliable (unless there is a transportation strike, which is also common…) and you are just a few hours away from all of the great European capital cities. Travel like a local, which means travel light and be open to new experiences. 

And remember, you are NO LONGER IN THE USA! Things WILL BE different. But hey, that’s why you moved, remember?!? Along with your belongings, pack your patience and realize that not every where in the world is in as big of a hurry as in the US. Take your time and enjoy. Visit a cafe and sit and enjoy an afternoon coffee/tea or cocktail. Meet your neighbors and other expats. Join local groups on Facebook to meet other people with similar interests or to learn about a certain area you would like to explore. If you allow yourself to lower your guard a bit and live like a local, you will discover the joy that comes along with moving to a new country!

About the Author

Eric in Athens, Greece 

Eric Reeves

Eric currently lives in Amsterdam with his husband, Nhad, and their cat Jesse. Eric is a flight attendant with a major US airline and has been in aviation for over 25 years. On top of that, together with his husband, have started a boutique travel agency, Eric Knows Travel, an independently owned and operated Fora Travel Agency. Eric and Nhad travel as often as possible, when Eric is not already traveling for work. They have also been hard at work negotiating the complicated world of Visas and Immigration. Let’s just say, besides your luggage, pack your patience! It is a “hurry up and wait” game. Contact them at https://www.ericknowstravel.com for more information or to book your next dream holiday!