Documents required for rental search in the Netherlands
Updated at:
January 14, 2025
Have Your Documents Ready Before Your Viewing
Your offer needs to be ready before your viewing — let us emphasize that — before the viewing. This way, you can be the first to submit your offer immediately after the viewing. This will increase your chances of being selected for the property.
We categorize documents into two types: Essentials and Standout Documents. Essentials are mandatory for any application, while Standout Documents help you make a stronger impression and stand out from other applicants.
Essential Documents for Rental Search in the Netherlands
Passport / ID / Residence Permit
Income Proof
Working Professionals:
3 recent payslips. If you don’t have payslips yet, that’s fine
Working agreement
If you work in the Netherlands, Employer statement is required. Here are the templates in Dutch and English
Self-employed:
Proof of your company’s registration (in the Netherlands - KvK uittreksel)
Your tax statements for the last 3 years. If you don’t have three years’ worth of tax statements, submit what you have available
Corporate bank statements for the last 3 years. If you don’t have statements covering this period, provide bank statements for the longest period available
Students:
Statement of enrolment
Proof of income for the student or sponsor
Sponsors:
Include the proof of income mentioned above, depending on whether the sponsor is a working professional or self-employed
Sponsor’s Passport / ID / Residence Permit
Guarantee letter from sponsor
Sponsor’s bank statement
Unemployed:
Without a steady income, you'll need to demonstrate financial stability. You can do this through one or more of the following methods: providing a bank statement, offering prepayment, suggesting a higher monthly rent, and so on. The more evidence you can provide, the better.
Bank Statement: Prove the more the better. Don’t include a bank statement if you cannot prove more than 8.000 EUR
Standout Documents for Rental Search
Motivation Letter (1 page A4): Introduce yourself, outline your activities in the Netherlands, and share your future plans. Template 1 and Template 2
Presentable Private Photos: Select a few photos that showcase your personality, interests, or lifestyle. Avoid ‘party-pictures’
Introduction Video (1-4 min): While it's not a common practice and most applicants don't opt for it, those who do tend to get approved with a much higher probability
References from Previous Landlords: If available, even if from abroad, these can boost your credibility. Template 1 and Template 2
Be prepared for additional requests specific to the agency or landlord. Organise Your Documents into a Google Drive folder. Make sure Anyone with the link can view this folder. This allows you to easily share your documents by simply providing the link when requested.
Tenant check
Avoid editing your documents with software like Adobe Acrobat, as it leaves detectable traces. During the tenant check, this could alert the rental agent and potentially flag your submission as suspicious or even harmful.
