Starting as a doctor
Your visa
Your visa: the first step towards your official certification
After you have obtained your master's degree, you will automatically receive a provisional doctor's visa from the FPS Public Health. You need this for your registration with the Order of Physicians, which you can easily do online. Before you start, make sure you have the following documents ready on your computer:
- your diploma
- your doctor's visa
- the extract from the criminal record (maximum three months old)
Your application for certification
Your application for certification: but first an internship
Would you like to start as a GP or specialise? If so, a second route awaits you after obtaining your master's degree and registering with the Dutch Order of Physicians:
- Option 1: you work for two years in a GP practice as a GP in training (HAIO)
- Option 2: you follow further vocational training including an apprenticeship of four to six years.
You must submit an application for certification to the Healthcare Agency at least three months before and no later than three months after the end of your training. Their decision will follow within 30 days of your request.
Your NIHDI number
Your NIHDI number: indispensable
In most cases your NIHDI number is assigned automatically. This is a unique number that you must include on all official paperwork. You need this number to declare your services and patients can claim back part of their costs from the health insurance fund thanks to this number.
Obligations
Obligations for self-employed doctors
Are you starting your own practice as a self-employed physician? Then you still have an independent profession, but you also have to register in the CBC Register of the Crossroads Bank for Companies (KBO) and you receive a company number.
But what is a company number? This is also a unique number that allows government agencies, suppliers and patients to identify your company. This is not the same as a VAT number. As a doctor you are not liable for VAT and you only have to apply for a VAT number in certain cases, for example as an aesthetic doctor. In addition, we will activate your VAT number for you free of charge.
Finally, you are legally obliged to join a recognised social insurance fund such as Acerta. Every quarter you pay social security contributions, which we calculate for you and pass on to the government. As an independent doctor, you are thus in order with your social security and you build up rights for child benefit and your pension, for example. You pay an administrative fee for the management to your social insurance fund, and at Acerta this is the lowest on the market.
Be prepared for any change in your life
Be prepared for any change in your life
Are you ill for a long time or has an accident temporarily prevented you from working? Create an extra safety net for yourself through an insurance guaranteed income. But why? You pay social security contributions so that you can receive benefits from the health insurance fund, don't you? True, but this is often not enough to cover all your ongoing costs. Thanks to guaranteed income insurance, you will receive an extra payment every month.
It is also a good idea to make some extra provision for retirement . Unfortunately, the statutory pension is not enough to maintain the standard of living you have built up as a doctor. With the Life Pension Plan - NIHDI you can use your NIHDI allowance to finance your additional pension. But a (Social) VSPSS (Voluntary Supplementary Pension Scheme for the Self-Employed) is also a good idea for self-employed doctors. This free supplementary pension for the self-employed offers both social and tax advantages.
Finally, a professional liability insurance is a must. This insurance covers the costs for errors inherent to your profession. This insurance also includes civil liability: this covers any damage you might cause to third parties during the exercise of your profession.