Before you move
What to do before moving to Groningen?
When you want to move to Groningen, there are a couple of things that you need to arrange before you move. Below you can find the most important things to pay attention to.
Visa requirements
If you plan on staying in the Netherlands for less than three months, you might need to get a visa. Information about whether you need a visa to travel to the Netherlands can be found on the government website Netherlands Worldwide. On the website itself, you can fill in the Schengen Visa Advisor to determine if you need a visa.
If you plan on staying in the Netherlands for longer than three months, this is no longer considered a tourist stay. That means that you might need to apply for a provisional residence permit, depending on your country of residence.
After arriving in the Netherlands, you will need to apply for a residence permit. If you also plan on working in the Netherlands, you can also find relevant visa information on Netherlands Worldwide.
Visa and permits for students
When you are coming to Groningen to study, you might need a visa. You can use this very useful tool developed by Nuffic to see if you need a visa.
Check out the websites of the University of Groningen and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen to find more information about visa and residence permits.
When you are studying in Groningen, you might also be interested in getting a job. On the website of the International Welcome Center North you can read more about the possibilities of working during a study or an internship with a study permit.
Permits
When coming to live or work in Groningen, you might need to apply for a certain type of permit. The International Welcome Centre North can help you to find the right permit and help you with the procedures. You can find information about different permits below:
- Permit for non-EU citizens
- Permit for scientific researchers
- Start-up permit, a permit specially designed to help ambitious entrepreneurs from non-EU countries in the Netherlands.
- Permit for Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICTs), who work for a company established outside the European Union (EU) and will be transferred to a branch in the Netherlands.
- 'Orientation year highly-educated persons' residence permit allows talented, highly-educated foreigners to apply for a one year permit within 3 years of completing a study or research project
- The European Blue Card is intended to facilitate the residence of employees who carry out highly qualified tasks within the EU
- Family permits
- Travelling with a residence permit
Find a house
Whether you are only moving to Groningen for a short-stay or planning to stay here for a long time, it is important to find a house on time. Take a look at our 'Finding a House' page to read more about renting, buying, student accommodation and the lovely neighbourhoods of Groningen.
FAQ
Groningen’s weather is similar to the rest of the Netherlands (it’s a small country, after all). It’s pretty rainy (average: 700 millimetres/28 in.) because it’s a coastal country, but that also means that the temperature range is fairly moderate, so it doesn’t get extremely hot or extremely cold, usually (the average range is 2 to 6. But there are some regional differences: during the winter, temperatures in the north tend to be a little bit colder. I Am Expat has a great overview of what to expect in every season of the year.
If your baggage is shipped separately and you’re not travelling with much luggage then the train is the cheapest and easiest way to come to Groningen. There is a direct connection from Schiphol. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, you might want to rent a van. A taxi from Schiphol to Groningen will cost you between €170 and €250 and can be booked online beforehand.
Groningen is a popular destination for students and young professionals, and the housing market is quite competitive. Check out this moving guide if you are still preparing for your move to the city.
Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, start with Funda. For extra house hunt help, the International Welcome Center North (IWCN) has service partners specialising in housing for internationals.
For students, there’s At Home in Groningen: a regularly updated list of (short stay, max. 12 months) rooms for rent in Groningen.