Living undocumented in the Netherlands

What are my rights?

If you live without documents in the Netherlands, below you can find your rights:

In the Netherlands, everyone has the right to ‘medically necessary care’, this includes most of the care covered in the basic health insurance package. 

You can always ask your doctor for a copy of your medical information or permission to take a photo. This is free of charge. Explain that you want to save it in your HealthEmove account.

This means that doctors cannot share any personal information about you without your consent, not even with the government.

If the police, other government authorities or other people ask for your medical information, please know that you can always refuse. Medical information is sensitive and should only be shared with doctors. 

Where do I find care?

Are you in a life-threatening situation? Please call 112. Explain the situation and explain your legal situation.  

In the Netherlands, your first point of contact for medical questions is a General Practitioner (Huisarts). You cannot get specialist care in the hospital without a referral letter from a General Practitioner. In the Netherlands, everyone should find a General Practitioner in their neighborhood

How do you find a General Practitioner? 
Please find on Google Maps a General Practitioner in your postal code, subscribe as a new patient online or call the practice. Explain your living and financial situation.

Do you live undocumented in the Netherlands? The information may help you:

Yes, even if you live without valid Dutch papers, you have the right to healthcare. Doctors cannot  refuse you if you do not have an insurance or resident permit. They are only allowed to refuse you if the practice of the doctor is full. For more information on finding a GP, go to ‘Where do I find care’ page.

Everyone needs to pay for the doctor. But the doctor cannot refuse you if you do not have the money to pay. In that case, they can askthe CAK to pay for you. Always be honest about your financial situation. 

Yes, choose a CAK-contracted pharmacy. Ask your doctor to send you to the CAK-contracted pharmacy, and remind the doctor to write down ‘CAK’, ‘Your country of origin’ and your ‘date of birth’ on your recipe. At the CAK-contracted pharmacy, you have to pay € 5 per medication. If you cannot afford this, explain this to your healthcare provider and the pharmacy. Show this list of CAK-contracted pharmacies to your doctor: https://www.hetcak.nl/zakelijk/onverzekerbare-vreemdelingen/overige-informatie/#hc41d00eb-cd57-4210-ac5d-96b004eaf813_7 

Yes, discuss this with your general practitioner (huisarts). 

Yes, but if you are older than 18 years, you have to pay for it. If you cannot pay for it, contact Doctors of the World.: mondzorg@doktersvandewereld.org. To help you as quickly as possible, please include the following details in your email: your name, date of birth, address, phone number, residence status/permit, country of origin, health insurance (including any additional dental coverage), a description of your complaints, and your financial situation (why you are unable to afford dental care). 

Yes, but you have to pay for this. Only if you need more than 20 treatments, the physiotherapist can ask the CAK to pay for you. 

Contact a midwife, you can contact any midwife in your neighborhood. If you cannot afford the care, explain this to your midwife, they can ask the CAK to pay for your treatment. For more information, contact the helpdesk of Doctors of the World: 020-7653801. Or send an email to zorgrecht@doktersvandewereld.org   

Discuss this with your doctor. If you are under 21 years old, the CAK can reimburse the money for anticonception ‘de pil’. If you are older than 21 years old, you have to pay for it yourself.  

Do you want to end your pregnancy? Talk to your doctor. This is possible until 24 weeks.If you don’t have a doctor or your doctor cannot help, visit the Kruispost in Amsterdam. For more information on their opening times visit https://kruispost.nl/  

Yes, this is free and important. 

Some doctors do not know about your rights. Inform the doctor and show the doctor the website of the CAK https://www.hetcak.nl/zakelijk/onverzekerbare-vreemdelingen/ 

Or show them the text below. 

Dear healthcare provider, colleague, 

In the Netherlands, all people – including people without legal residence documents – have the right to medically necessary care. This includes nearly all care covered by basic health insurance (e.g. GP care, hospital care, maternity care, mental health care, and medically necessary medication). 

If your patient cannot pay for the consultation or treatment, you can request reimbursement from the CAK. More information:
www.hetcak.nl/zakelijk/regelingen/onverzekerbare-vreemdelingen

Medication  

Some pharmacies have a contract with the CAK. At these pharmacies, patients pay a €5 contribution for medication; the remainder is reimbursed by the CAK. Please find contracted pharmacies here: https://www.hetcak.nl/zakelijk/onverzekerbare-vreemdelingen/overige-informatie/#item_15340  

On the prescription please always include: “CAK,” “the healthcare providers (your) initials” and “country of origin of the patient” And “date of birth of the patient”.  

Amsterdam only: If your patient cannot pay the €5 contribution, please write “Noodfonds Amsterdam” on the prescription. 

Questions about the CAK ? Please contact Doctors of the World 020 7653801. Or send an email to zorgrecht@doktersvandewereld.org 

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How do I get care?

In the Netherlands, you can go to a general GP (huisarts in Dutch). The GP is your first point of contact if you need healthcare. You cannot visit a hospital, without a referral from your GP.   

  1. Search a “huisarts” (general practitioner, GP) on Google Maps close to the postal code where you are staying. 
  2. Visit the website of the GP and call the GP if you can become a patient at their practice. Be honest about your status and explain that you have the right to a GP in Amsterdam. 
  3. Sometimes you have to fill out an online form at the website of the GP.
  4. Sometimes the GP is full, this means you cannot become a patient at this practice. Try another practice.  

Do you need help finding a GP? Or do you need help filling out the online form?

Contact the helpdesk of Doctors of the World:  

  • Call: 085-1094800 from Monday to Thursday (09:30 AM to 12:00 PM), outside these ours leave a voicemail.  

Visit the Kruispost in Amsterdam online at https://kruispost.nl   

Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 129 A, 1012EP Amsterdam 

Openingtimes:   

Maandag t/m donderdag 
10:00 – 12:00 uur 
19:00 – 21:00 uur 

Vrijdag 
10:00 – 12:00 uur 
16:00 – 18:00 uur 

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