If you have decided to immigrate to the Netherlands as a dentist, you have made the right choice. There are so many benefits and features that make it a perfect destination. From high-quality work, education, a friendly atmosphere for foreigners, and government support, you will have a great life there. You just need to be qualified and meet the eligibility principles. This article will bring you everything.
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ToggleWho is eligible to immigrate and work in the Netherlands as a dentist?
These are the eligibility to immigrate and work in the Netherlands as a dentist:
Have a dental educational certificate
If you have not studied a dental course in the Netherlands, you must have completed one in a foreign country. You have to get all of the certificates and pass the tests to become a licensed dentist in your home country. Then you can apply to immigrate to the Netherlands as a dentist.
Fulfill the language proficiency requirement
One of the most important requirements to immigrate and work in the Netherlands as a dentist is Dutch language proficiency. You need at least a B2 level or higher to become eligible.
Also, you must be fluent in the Dutch language and understand people. It requires you to work on your language proficiency and master it.
It doesn’t matter whether you have studied in the Eu or outside of it. You have to master the language. Also, there is a test for non-EU applicants named AKV. It evaluates your General Knowledge and Skills. It is in Dutch, so you have to take language learning seriously.
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Immigrate to the Netherlands as a Dentist
Registration as a dentist with Dutch officials through the BIG register
There are some healthcare occupations in the Netherlands that are protected. It means you have to register with the officials. The process is called the BIG register, and you must complete it to work as a dentist in the Netherlands.
In case you have received your educational certificate from outside of the EEA and Switzerland, your certificate must be recognized by Dutch officials. The procedure you have to follow as an EEA national land as a non-EEA national is explained in the below section.
Pass the assessment tests
There are some tests and exams during the recognition process that you have to pass of them. It’s mandatory to pass them and get the passing score to become eligible and can immigrate and work in the Netherlands as a dentist.
These tests are in the Dutch language, and you must get a high score to become eligible.
Are dentists among the protected job titles?
First, let’s answer the question what is protected job titles? Foreign nationals who want to work in some of the healthcare professions in the Netherlands need approval and recognition of documents from the Dutch government.
If you work in these job positions without governmental approval, you have broken the law, and it’s illegal. Dentist is on this list, and they must get the recognition before moving to work in the Netherlands. The list of professions that need recognition is as follows:
- Allied medical care professional
- Clinical technologist
- Dentist
- Doctor
- Health psychologist
- Midwife
- Nurse
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Physician Assistant
- Psychotherapist
- Registered dental hygienist (temporary registration)
- Remedial educationalist
Read our comprehensive article to learn how to immigrate to the Netherlands as a doctor.
Benefits of immigration and working in the Netherlands as a dentist
You have entered this page and have come this far. There is no need to explain the benefits of immigrating to the Netherlands as a dentist. But this section brings you some of the benefits, so you will be convinced that you have made the right choice and have picked the best destination.
Huge job opportunities
The Netherlands has suffered a shortage of skilled workers, including dentists. The need is not going to end this soon. EU countries and the Netherlands will have a huge retirement age in the near future and need skilled workers to fill the gap. There are not enough graduates to answer the need of the Dutch graduates.
The government is welcoming foreign dentists, and it’s a good opportunity to build a better future.
The high quality of dentistry
The quality of the healthcare system is high in the Netherlands, and it is true with dentistry. Some of the most famous clinics in the world are located in the Netherlands, which provides the best services in the EU.
You will be busy as a dentist in the Netherlands as people visit you twice a year for check-ups. This is apart from the patients who will visit you for their problems. Don’t worry. You will have an assistant who will help you during the process.
You, as a young dentist, will have the opportunity to work hard and gain excellent work experience. You will progress quickly in your career and can build the life you want sooner. You will have a worldwide reputation as a dentist who has worked in the Netherlands.
Besides having clients in the Netherlands, you might have customers from other countries as well. It could bring more income.
You are respected as a foreign dentist.
The Dutch care about their oral and general health, so they appreciate the visit to dentists. Do not worry that you are a young foreign dentist in a new country. People respect you and appreciate your work.
You just need language proficiency to communicate well and the right work experience and expertise to give them the best treatment. Clients come back with a big smile the next time.
Fair competition in the job market
The prices and dental costs are fixed in the Netherlands. The prices are fixed for everyone in the country, and there is no competition in terms of pricing. So quality and expertise is the determining factor. You can have no worries about working as a young foreign dentist. Provide good service, and people will come back and speak highly about you.
Life work balance
You will be paid well as a dentist in the Netherlands. It means you will have a good life and do not have to worry over the costs of living due to the Ukraine war, there has been inflation, and prices have gone up. The EU is no exception, but the increase has been lower in this continent. Also, the government is determined to control the prices and support people.
You do not have to work long hours, and on a normal day, you can have a good income.
Social safety
The government is supportive and helps you during financial trouble or unemployment. If you have children, you will get other social benefits that help you raise them.
Your income will also you to have a good retirement plan, and you won’t need financial aid.
They welcome foreign skilled workers.
The Netherlands had made a name for itself for freedom and for welcoming foreign people. It’s safe, and you are welcome as a foreign person to work there. There is no sexual, religious, or ethnic discrimination. You are respected for who you are.
Strong infrastructure and well-established organization
Name the features of a modern and developed country, and the Netherlands enjoys all of them:
- Safety,
- Good organization,
- Punctuality,
- reliability
- Efficiency
- Economic stability
You will have peace of mind and no worries about the future.
You can get around easily ad public transport is spread to ease traveling for people.
Great nature to enjoy
The Netherlands is a modern urbanized country with a high population. But forget New York and enjoy a jungle city as nature is preserved, and you won’t feel the pressure of modern cities. There is nature to enjoy besides the tulips that amaze you every season.
Forget getting bored
There are several things to do after work, and you will never get bored. Name hobbies and leisure activities and all of the mare available nearby:
- Sport clubs,
- Educational courses,
- Dancing schools,
- Volunteer work,
- Bars,
- Various types of restaurants
- Nature
- Cycling in the city
There are several holidays and festivals to enjoy as well. One of the traditions is that the Dutch dive into cold water for the new year. Wrap up warm.
High quality of education system
You do not have to pay for your children’s education from 4-18. Being free doesn’t mean low or poor quality but one of the best education systems in the world. The government has invested heavily in education and has created a good system to educate children.
Also, there are various school options; English/International schools, regular primary schools, etc.
How to immigrate and work in the Netherlands as a dentist?
You have to follow these steps to immigrate and work in the Netherlands as a dentist as a foreign person:
Moving to the Netherlands as a nurse from the EEA countries and Switzerland.
The below steps explain how to move to the Netherlands as a dentist from the EEA countries and Switzerland.
Step 1. Get all of your educational certificates and diploma.
You must prepare and gather all of the supporting documents of your education. If there is an exam or test that you must pass to become a dentist in your home country, submit proof that you have passed it.
All of your claims must be supported by documents. If you have passed training courses or internships, gather the document as well.
Step 2. Prepare your document for the application.
If you have received your certificate or diploma in the EU or Switzerland, you DO NOT need recognition, and they are valid in the Netherlands. But your diploma must meet the conditions;
- Your certificate must be on the list of approved education centers. Find the list here.
- You have the Dutch language proficiency certificate required in the BIG-Register.
- You have received your diploma from one of the members of the EEA or Switzerland. Your profession is one of these items;
- doctor,
- pharmacist,
- dentist,
- midwife,
- or nurse;
Step 3. Prepare your application.
You must gather the list of supporting documents to submit to the officials. Here is a list of them;
- An authenticated original dental qualification
- Your curriculum
- A copy of a valid identity document
- Proof of language proficiency
- CV
- Certificate(s) of Current Professional Status (CCPS)
- Certificate(s) of Good Conduct (CGC)
- Translation of document into English or Dutch
You might have to submit further documents and it is the Dutch officials’ decision.
Step 4. Completing the digital application form.
You must complete the online application form on the ‘Mijn BIG-register’ website. To do so, you must create an account with DigiD. This link tells you how to get a DigiD.
If you are living abroad, not in the Netherlands, and can not get a DigiD, you can create an account with a BIG login.
Complete the application after logging in, and do not miss any part. Remember that there is a fee you must pay for your application. The average fee is about €85, but you might have to pay more for additional costs.
Step 5. Complete the paper application and send the document.
After you complete the application form, you will receive an email. It contains the application form, which you must print. The email also tells you to submit a list of original supporting documents. You must post them to this address;
Postal address
CIBG
BIG register
P.O. Box 3173
6401 DR Heerlen
The Netherlands
Step 6. Final decision and recognition
It takes up to three months until Dutch officials to assess your application and decide on it. If they refuse it, you cannot work as a dentist in the Netherlands. If you do not agree with their decision, you can object to it. You have six weeks to object to the decision and send your document or request. The Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport website will help you with the objections.
If they approve your application, your qualification will be recognized, and you will be added to the BIG register. Dutch officials will publish your name, professional, and related details on the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport website. Anyone can find your information to know you are a registered nurse.
Now you can move to the Netherlands and find a job to work as a dentist. You will not need a visa or work permit to work in the Netherlands as an EEA national.
Immigration to the Netherlands as a dentist from a non-EEA country.
This section tells you how to immigrate to the Netherlands as a dentist in a non-EEA country. The procedure is different for them from the EEA members:
Step 1. Prepare your application
Before you begin the application process, you would better prepare your document and find out information about the process to speed it up. If not, it could take a long time, and you might get refused.
You must prepare your language proficiency certificate first things first. It is essential to your application and must prove you meet the language requirements.
There are two tests that you must pass. You would better find more information and prepare yourself for them. Remember that the tests are not available every time and the dates and seats are limited.
There is also a list of supporting documents that you have to submit. Here is a sample of them;
- An authenticated original dental qualification
- Your curriculum
- A copy of a valid identity document
- Proof of language proficiency
- CV
- Certificate(s) of Current Professional Status (CCPS)
- Certificate(s) of Good Conduct (CGC)
- Translation of document into English or Dutch
On page 9 of the application form, you will get a complete list of supporting documents. You must submit everything. You would better know the list and gather everything, as it could take time.
Step 2. Complete the application form and submit the documents.
There is a general application form you must complete and one Annex for your profession if needed. You need to complete the annex for dentists. You can find the forms at this link. You must download the form named “Dental Hygienist” and complete it.
The form tells you the list of supporting documents you must gather. Collect all of them and post everything to this address:
CIBG
Erkenning buitenlandse diploma’s
PO 16114
2500 BC The Hague
The Netherlands
Note; you must create an account on the “My BIG register”. It is to receive all of the messages sent by the Dutch officials.
You must complete the online application form on the ‘Mijn BIG-register’ website. To do so, you must create an account with DigiD. This link tells you how to get a DigiD.
If you are living abroad, not in the Netherlands, and can not get a DigiD, you can create an account with a BIG login.
Step 3. Assessment of application
Dutch officials will assess your application to determine whether you are qualified or not. If they approve you, they will require the original copy of your document. They will notify you through the BIG- register to whom to send the document.
Nuffic is the responsible center for evaluating your documents, and you will receive a notification in your account to send them the documents.
Step 4. Pass the AKV test
Everyone who wants to work in the Dutch healthcare system must pass the AKV test. It is a general knowledge and language test. Being fluent in Dutch is the most important requirement to pass this test.
You must pass the test so your application assessment can continue. You can take this test through in-person visits or a digital test.
You could ask for an online meeting to get more information about the test. The information is provided on this page. Remember that there the tests cost you €530 for registration.
Step 5. Take the BI test.
Doctors, nurses, and dentists who want to immigrate to the Netherlands must take another test which gets called the BI test. You have to pay €400 to register for the test. You could also ask for an online meeting to get more information about it. The link provided in the above section helps you to arrange the online meeting.
Step 6. Assessment by the Dutch government.
The Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates (CBGV) will evaluate your application, documents, and test results to know if you are appropriate to work as a dentist in the Netherlands or not.
If your application is not approved, they will tell you. It means you can not work as a dentist in the Netherlands. If you do not agree with the decision, you have the option of lodging an objection. You have 6 weeks to do this. The Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport website help you to object.
The officials might invite you to an online meeting to assess your conditions and explain that you need additional courses.
If you have received a positive decision, this will be your certificate of competence. You can work as a dentist in the Netherlands.
Step 7. The final decision on your application
After the Dutch authorities receive the response from the Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates, they will send you a message and inform you of the result. This decision is called the intended decision.
Remember that you have two weeks to respond and approve it. You can object if the answer is negative, as explained in the previous section. In case you do not respond, you will receive a definite response in two weeks.
When the answer is positive, you will receive the certificate of competence through the post to your address.
Step 8. Apply for BIG-Register.
Now you are eligible to apply for BIG-Register to work as a dentist in the Netherlands. This is a separate application, and you must begin everything from scratch.
You must complete the application form, collect the supporting documents and send them to the postal address of the BIG register (CIBG) in Heerlen. This link helps you with the BIG-Register.
Step 8. Apply for a job offer and work visa.
At this stage, you must apply for a job offer in the Netherlands. You can search through the websites that advertise job positions. You can find a list of them in the below section. Also, you can apply for a Netherlands tourist visa and enter the country to look for a job. But you may not convert it to a work visa.
After you get the offer, you must sign an employment contract with a Dutch employer so he/she can apply for a work permit. When the work permit is issued, you, as the dentist, can apply for a work visa to the Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country.
You can find more information about the work visa from the left sidebar or watch its video on the YouTube page.
How to find a job as a dentist in the Netherlands?
There are various ways you can find a job as a dentist in the Netherlands. As explained, you need a job offer, so the employer can apply for a work permit, and then you can apply for a work visa. It’s mandatory to find a job as you have no permission to work inside the Netherlands without a work permit.
One way is to look for a job through the Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT) website. It is the professional association for dentists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists in the Netherlands.
It holds a wide and various range of dental job positions in the Netherlands. You can find a job there.
Also, you can post your resume in the Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT) CV bank. Employers have access to it and can find you easily.
There are also employment agencies that can help you find a job as a dentist in the Netherlands. Some of them are as follows;
There are also websites that advertise different types of job positions in the Netherlands. You can look for a dentistry position with them;
- Expatica jobs
- &Work
- Good Company
- Jouw ICT Vacature
- ExpatJobs
- College Life
- European Employment Services
- Stepstone
- Top Language Jobs
- Careerjet
- AngelList
- Honeypot
- Werk.nl
- Nationale Vacaturebank
- Intermediair
- Mundialz
- Monsterboard.nl
- Indeed.nl
- Glassdoor
Remember that these websites advertise various job positions, and you might have to spend more time finding a teaching position.
How to learn Dutch to immigrate to the Netherlands as a dentist?
You might be wondering how to learn Dutch and have no idea about language learning. The way you should learn a language is up to your conditions and learning style. But the below courses are some of the most famous ones you can use to learn Dutch. You could research them to know which one is appropriate for you and which teaching style is appropriate:
- Linguaphone Dutch
- Michel Thomas Dutch
- Hugo Dutch in 3 months
- Pimsleur Dutch
- Assimil Dutch
- Colloquial Dutch 1 and 2
- De Delftse Methode Nederlands Voor Buitenlanders
- Dutch Linguaphone
- Hugo Advanced Courses – Taking Dutch Further
- In-Flight Dutch
- Intensive Dutch
- Teach Yourself Beginner’s Dutch
Dentist salary in the Netherlands
According to Salary explorer, the average salary of a dentist in the Netherlands is about 11,300 EUR per month. Your salary begins from 5,860 EUR, which is the lowest payment and goes up to 17,200 EUR, which is the highest salary.
This is while, according to the Salary expert website, the average salary of a dentist in the Netherlands is about € 117.243 per year.
Can you work as a foreign dentist in the Netherlands?
Yes, you can immigrate and work as a foreign dentist in the Netherlands, but you have to pass the recognition process and pass the exams. There are also requirements like language proficiency, job offer, work permit, and work visa. You can find out more about them in the above section. It describes the procedure to become a dentist in the Netherlands completely. You must find out whether you can do it or not and meet the eligibility principles.
Is the Netherlands a good country to immigrate to as a dentist?
The answer is yes. It is one of the first options to immigrate to a European country. There are so many benefits that you can find some of them in the above section.
Also, the country needs skilled dentists and welcomes them.
You just need to meet the principles and pass the recognition process.
Do you need IELTS to immigrate and work as a dentist in the Netherlands?
The answer is no. It’s good to know English, and it helps you along the way, but you need Dutch language proficiency to become eligible to work as a dentist in the Netherlands.
Also, your exams during the recognition process are in Dutch, and fluency is a must.
Let’s sum up…
You found out how to immigrate to the Netherlands as a dentist in this article. You got familiar with the recognition process and what you should do as an EEA and non-EEA national.
The entire recognition and application process is explained, and you got answers to most of your questions.
If you have further questions, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will answer them.
Frequently asked questions about immigration to the Netherlands as a dentist.
Yes, they are needed, and there is a gap in the job market that is not going to be filled soon. The government welcomes them if they pass the recognition process.
Your salary is about 11,200 EUR per month, but it is up to several factors.
Yes, but they must pass the recognition, and their certificate must be recognized.
- Published by
- Max-B.
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