If you are in possession of a European or Swiss diploma and you have a profession for which BIG registration is required, you can work (provide services) temporarily and occasionally in another Member State under a condition and with permission due to a European directive without the need for recognition of the diploma (professional qualification).
Last updated on the 27th of July 2022
Applying for the temporary and occasional provision of services
The provision of services is temporary and occasional if you wish to conduct your profession in the Netherlands (wish to perform services) for a period of:
less than a fifth of the full-time working hours (a maximum of 8 hours per week), OR;
less than 3 months per year.
The temporary and occasional nature of the work is assessed at the time of the application. You must demonstrate this with supporting documents.
If you would like to work in your profession in the Netherlands for more or longer than the aforementioned periods, you must have your qualification recognised and apply for BIG registration. You can use the Advice Wizard to check which procedure then applies to you.
It is important that you properly prepare your application to ensure that your application is processed quickly. You should therefore read the information about the documents you need to submit carefully so that you know which ones you have to submit. Make sure you have obtained the necessary documents before you submit the application.
Submit the application form along with the required documents (evidence). You can submit certain documents by e-mail.
In the clarifying notes you can see for which documents this is possible. Documents which you are not allowed to submit digitally, must be sent by post to:
CIBG
BIG register
P.O. Box 3173
6401 DR Heerlen
The Netherlands
You will be notified if any documents are missing.
Once your application and the required documents have been received, we will assess your application. You will be notified of the (intended) decision about your application within four weeks.
Depending on your choice, you will receive notification that your application has been accepted or rejected by post or e-mail. You can indicate your choice on the application form.
If your application is rejected and you do not agree, you can object to this. You can find more information about how you can object on this website and in the decision.
If you have received permission to work temporarily and occasionally in the Netherlands, from that point in time this means that you:
are allowed to work in your profession in the Netherlands for 1 year, but for no longer than the maximum term (see also step 1);
are allowed to use your professional title in the Netherlands;
are allowed to independently carry out the activities that are specific to your profession;
are covered by Dutch disciplinary law.
Important! You are obliged to notify us of any changes to your situation and, if necessary, you must provide new documents. Consider, for example, the following situation: you will work more hours whereby the services are no longer seen as temporary and occasional according to the condition, you are no longer registered in the country you came from, or you have been prohibited from exercising your profession.
Work is, in principle, regarded as temporary and occasional for three successive years. This only applies for the first three years. You still have to apply for a renewal each year.
A renewal application involves an assessment of whether you meet the condition in the coming year. Does the work no longer appear to be temporary and occasional? Permission will not be granted again for the temporary and occasional provision of services. In that case, you can submit a regular application for recognition of your diploma and BIG registration.
Important to know!
As long as your application is being processed and you have not yet received permission, you cannot start working.
You will not be registered in the BIG register. This means that you will not receive a registration number and patients will not be able to look you up in the BIG register. Patients may ask you about this, and you should bear this in mind when communicating with them.
You may not work as a supervisor in the context of the recognition of qualifications.
If you start working as a healthcare professional in the Netherlands as a self-employed person, even if this is only temporary, you are obliged to take out professional liability Insurance. You can discuss the options with your employer.
You can always request a BIG registration. This way you can be sure that you can work in the Netherlands for a longer period of time. Depending on your personal situation, you can immediately apply for registration in the BIG register, or you must first apply for a certificate of competence or recognition of professional qualifications. You can also find more information about these procedures on this website.
The work experience you gain during the period in which you have permission to provide temporary and incidental services, is independently gained and may therefore count as work experience when applying for registration with a diploma older than five years.
