Insurance under the Dutch child benefit scheme if you are studying or doing an internship
If you are an international student in the Netherlands, you will probably not be insured under the child benefit scheme.
If you live in the Netherlands and you are going to start studying outside the Netherlands, you will remain insured under the Dutch child benefit scheme.
Your insurance position may change if you start working in paid employment or doing a paid internship.
If you are doing paid work or a paid internship
If you start doing paid work in the country where you are studying, or a paid internship, your insurance under the child benefit scheme may change.
I am studying in the Netherlands
If you have come to the Netherlands as an international student, you will not be insured under the child benefit scheme, even if you are registered as living at an address in the Netherlands.
What is meant by ‘studying’
By ‘studying’, we mean that you are doing a course of study or training which:
- is provided under expert guidance and supervision
- prepares you for a final exam, for which a diploma is awarded
- ensures that you are able to work in the occupation you are being educated or trained for
In addition, we check whether you spend at least 19 hours a week on your course of study or training. This includes practical classes and optional course activities, time spent in class and doing homework, and travelling time to and from your place of study.
If you do paid work while studying in the Netherlands
If you are studying and you start doing paid work, a paid internship or paid volunteer work, you will probably become insured under the child benefit scheme.
You may also become insured under other national insurance schemes, such as the Wlz scheme. In that case, you will be required to take out Dutch health insurance.
I am studying outside the Netherlands
If you are going to study outside the Netherlands, you will remain insured under the child benefit scheme while you are away. This is true whether or not you are still registered as living at an address in the Netherlands.
If you do paid work outside the Netherlands
If you are going to study outside the Netherlands and you start doing paid work, your insurance under the child benefit scheme and other national insurance schemes, such as the Wlz scheme, may change. This could also have consequences for your health insurance.
Help if you are going to study or do an internship outside the Netherlands
If you would like to know what you need arrange if you are going to study outside the Netherlands, answer the questions on the Rijksoverheid website and get a useful summary of what you need to arrange.