You accept a Dutch job offer and HR asks for a VOG. If you have never heard of it, it sounds ominous, a “certificate of conduct”? In fact it is routine, common for many jobs, and the process is simpler than it looks. Here is what a VOG is, how to request it, what it costs, and how long it takes.
What a VOG is
A VOG (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag) is a certificate of good conduct: an official statement that nothing in your (criminal) past stands in the way of a specific job or purpose. As Justis, the issuing body, explains what a VOG is, it is required by many employers, especially in kinderopvang (childcare), onderwijs (education), healthcare and finance, and for some volunteer roles and other purposes.
It is normal to be asked for one, it is not a sign anyone suspects you of anything.
How to request it (usually via your employer)
The common route is digital, started by your employer. As Justis sets out the online VOG request:
- Your employer sets up the request online (they need eHerkenning).
- You receive an email from Justis with a request code.
- You log in (with DigiD), check your details, and pay.
As the government’s VOG guidance notes, the fee is about 33.85 euros for the online route, or 41.35 euros if you apply in writing via your gemeente (both VAT-exempt). You can also apply yourself in some situations.
Timing and validity
Two practical facts:
- Time: Justis usually decides within 1 to 8 weeks (often quicker for simple cases).
- Validity: a VOG has no fixed validity (it’s a snapshot of one moment), but in practice most employers accept one no more than 3 to 6 months old.
So request it close to when you need it, not years ahead, and don’t panic if a job asks for a “recent” one.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| VOG | certificate of good conduct |
| aanvraag / aanvragen | request / to request |
| Justis | the issuing authority |
| aanvraagcode | request code |
| geldig | valid |
| eHerkenning | business e-ID (employer’s login) |
Where it connects
The VOG is one of the documents that goes with starting work here, alongside your arbeidsovereenkomst (employment contract). It sits in the same world of Dutch officialdom as the IND appointment and the customs charges you should not overpay, all admin that’s smoother once you know the words. (For non-EU and special routes, see also the kennismigrant essentials.)
The bottom line
A VOG is a routine Dutch certificate of good conduct, often needed for a job, especially in childcare, education, healthcare or finance. Usually your employer starts it online, you confirm via a Justis email and pay about 33.85 euros (or 41.35 via the gemeente), and it arrives in 1 to 8 weeks. It has no fixed validity, but request it close to when you need it (employers want one 3 to 6 months old). Learn VOG, aanvraag, and Justis, and the scary-sounding certificate becomes a quick form.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the admin-and-document Dutch you need, VOG, aanvraag, Justis, geldig by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can handle the request and the emails confidently instead of stalling on official Dutch.
Frequently asked questions
What is a VOG?
A VOG (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag) is a Dutch certificate of good conduct, an official statement that your (criminal) past is no obstacle to a particular job or purpose. Many employers require one, especially in childcare, education, healthcare and finance, and it’s needed for some volunteer roles and visa or licence purposes too. It is issued by Justis, part of the Ministry of Justice.
How do I apply for a VOG and what does it cost?
Usually your employer sets up the request online: you then get an email from Justis with a request code, log in to check your details, and pay the fee, about 33.85 euros for the online route (or 41.35 euros if you apply in writing via your gemeente). You can also apply yourself in some cases. Both fees are exempt from VAT. The employer needs eHerkenning to set up the digital request.
How long does a VOG take and how long is it valid?
After you submit, Justis usually decides within 1 to 8 weeks (often faster for straightforward cases). A VOG has no fixed validity period, because it’s a snapshot of one moment, but in practice most employers accept a VOG that is no more than 3 to 6 months old. So request it close to when you actually need it, not years in advance.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for documents and admin like the VOG?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the admin-and-document Dutch you need, VOG, aanvraag, Justis, geldig, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can handle the request and the emails confidently instead of stalling on official Dutch.
