No, she must apply for the visa before she comes, not just masuk on a tourist visa etc. However, since you're getting sponsored (I assume KM/ Skilled Migrant) visa, then she can enter with you (but make sure your company applies for her also lah). If you have the KM visa, she can study for much cheaper (EU fees) than as a non-EU student:)

Economy is lousy here at the moment, but I haven't really started looking for a job yet. I plan to start in June/July but I have a feeling it will take some time.

Yes, I speak Dutch but not good enough to function flawlessly in a Dutch-only company. I can't give an awesome presentation in Dutch for eg. and I make lots of grammatical mistakes. Luckily, there are many large companies here where English is the official language at work (eg. Shell, ING, Unilever, Philips etc. are all Dutch companies where Dutch isn't required).

No, you are not automatically a Dutch citizen then. You don't have to be married and can still be a Dutch citizen. They only require you to live in NL on a legal and permanent (that means work, family etc.) basis for at least 5 years at the time of application and pass the integration exam (not hard). Give you example la.. lets say Ali came to NL in 2007 on a student visa. He graduated in 2011 with a bachelor degree and got a job (means on work visa, not on student visa anymore). In 2012, he can apply for his Dutch citizenship.

However, by applying for Dutch (or whatever) passport, Malaysians will no longer be Malaysians as Malaysia does not allow dual nationality.

I had Dutch lessons once or twice a week (1 hour per class) the first 2 years of college. My level is B1 (I think I can pass B2 though). B2 is when you can attend Dutch university but personally, I think one needs a higher level than that to really be able to write academic papers and such.

Why? Thinking of migrating?

This post has been edited by meiiseenei: Apr 8 2013, 12:52 AM

Depends on the job/field. Some big companies only hire people with masters for certain jobs (i.e. strangely, marketing is one of them) unless you have loads of experience lah.

I am not planning to do a master's. No money lah so I'll just survive with my bachelor lah.

Ah too bad. It's not bad working here (at least compared to Malaysia here). Good work-life balance.

You're right. Sorry to disappoint you. I thought it was possible as I knew a KM's partner who got EU fees. Turns out the reason why they got it is because the KM got his PR. The difference in price is quite large but I suppose compared to many other countries, still relatively cheap.

Good luck!

Very few scholarships are available to Malaysians and also for bachelor level programmes (usually Masters)

The mean salary is 30 000 euro= RM120 000. After taxes, you'll receive around 2000 euro. Once you earn above 57 000 or so, tax rate is 52%.

Yes, don't expect the high salaries like in Australia. However, things are relatively cheaper. It's a different kind of society- it's one based on socialism which means no one is better than another and everyone deserves the same rights to necessities like healthcare etc.

So pay is low-ish but you also get state pension, healthcare, free education, welfare (if needed) and the crime rate is very low since no one is starving/desperate.

Also, 30 000 euro is the mean but if you are are mid-management in an international company, you could earn around 60k or more. In general, many people are very well qualified. One of the mistakes Asian expats make (eg.) is to look down on the secretary. More often that not, the secretary has a bachelor and sometimes even a Masters from a good uni. More importantly, the Dutch do not look kindly on people who have no respect for other human beings;) (society with very little hierarchy).

Yes and no.

There are programmes in English but if you want to study Medicine etc., you need Dutch.

Many of the headquarters of large companies are situated in NL. You don't need Dutch if you work for these companies and if you work in a certain field (so la, for eg. if you want to work as a customer service agent or what, of course you have to speak Dutch) but by learning Dutch, obviously you have so many more options.

After studying, you have 1 year to look for a job (but of course need to have enough money to support yourself during this time).

There's a minimum income you'd have to earn to get your work visa, can't remember what but it's a realistic one lah.

Nah am not going back. Not that I don't like Malaysia, it's just I have responsibilities and obligations here so I will live here so yep, settling here permanently.

Yes, the 30% ruling does certainly help. The thing is (this is not directed at you but just anyone reading this board), don't expect it to be some kind of utopia. Don't think like "Wah, Europe. Everyone's rich, I also rich etc.". Is my quality of life better? Yes and no. No because in Malaysia, I lived with my parents so whatever money I had was used for fun things like going out for dinner, holidays, buying stuff etc. Yes, because I think if we as a couple, were fully financially responsible in Malaysia (like now), we're definitely better off here. Plus, the work-life balance is great. I have cousins who have good jobs in Malaysia, working 9am-8p.m. (and those who are auditors/accountants sometimes even work til 2am gilaness). I mean, seriously, who wants to do that? It's more like no choice so have to lor. Here, family is very important so most people work 8.30-5.45p.m. (these hours are a bit longer than 8.5 hours because I'm talking about more challenging jobs here). Never on weekends. Part-time work is common too.

Anyway to get back to maldini's questions, it is not usual to negotiate (certainly not on prices or something for apartments) but I guess you can try. The problem is because house prices are unstable now, the rental market is pretty hot. I wanted to rent a house a few months ago and I tried to reserve a viewing about 3 hours after the advertisement was published but too late, habis already;) I did get a house eventually but the only reason why I got it was because the estate agent's advertisement was so bloody lousy (no picture, no description etc.). Try looking on Funda and if possible, try to avoid those rental companies which require you to pay crazy amounts of agency fees.

I would say the average is around 150-500 euro admin/agency costs and 1-2 months deposit (this one you can negotiate, depending on their policy). Furthermore, do not forget that most rentals here come with absolutely nothing- no floors, no paint (have la but ugly/dirty so must repaint), no lights etc. So you'll have to DIY. You can also choose to pay a premium for it. Prices also exclude gas/water/electricity/ council taxes (around 350 euro per year), water taxes (not sure, I think 100+ per year) etc. Also, just make sure that it's a place which can be rented legally (so that you can register yourself at that address. As a foreigner, you cannot take the risk of having unregistered property).

I think it will be a little difficult to negotiate from here, simply because the rental companies don't have to (unless you are willing to rent sight unseen). They have enough customers here at the moment. One month is a bit tricky. It IS possible, it depends on your luck (i.e. is the house already empty etc.). To give you an example, I contacted the agency of my current house for a viewing in mid-February and secured a viewing at the end of Feb. Viewing cancelled because the renters had not moved out. Viewing postponed to first week of March. Cancelled. Agent ill. Postponed to mid-March. Almost got cancelled (it's 2 hours away from where I lived and when she called, I was already in that city), so called back and said "don't you dare cancel". She said "OK, fine, but will be 1 houe late". Saw the house, liked it, sent the application to the company who actually owns the house(proof of income, declaration that we are good renters, work contract etc.) and it was only last week that we both (us and company) signed the contract. Now, granted, the agent in my case is flaky la but it's always possible.

Isn't your company going to help you with relocation (at least with advice or some suggestions of companies)?

Fully furnished apartments are difficult to come by (and usually what they mean by fully furnished is that your tenant rights are less protected so if the owner wants the house back, he can take it). Also furnished apartments are more expensive (more expensive than if you buy the furniture yourself).

Depending how long you want to live here (ie. 1 year, then rent a furnished place, if it's more like 5 years, better to buy the furniture),it might be better to get an apartment which has floors,lights, curtains and paint (gestoffeerd in Dutch), and buy cheap furniture yourself from Ikea. hope you know how to put those things together haha. When you're done with NL, just sell the things online.

Anyway, a small (60-70 sqm) furnished (cheap furniture) 2-bedroom apartment in a lousy area will be at least 800 euro (excl. utilities) per month. Utilities will depend on the size of your place. My gas and electricity bill at my apartment (70sqm) was 167 euro per month, was quoted 230 euro per month for the new place (140sqm). Water is neglible.

Feel free to load me with questions, if you have them.

This post has been edited by meiiseenei: Apr 19 2013, 10:24 PM

Even The Netherlands is limiting the possible reasons one can have dual nationality but in my case, I can still get la;) It is true that Malaysia does not allow it. Initially, I said NEVER! I will never give up my Malaysian nationality but precisely because one cannot have 2 passports, I might have no choice but to apply for a Dutch passport. The reason is, it's just so much easier to travel (esp business trips), I can live anywhere in the EU and so that I can have a say (vote). It makes sense since I do live here now but it's not something I am ready to do just yet as I do not speak Dutch fluently (therefore personally feel like I can consider myself 'Dutch') and because I can never get the Malaysian passport back. I mean, say la..what if I get divorced in the future and want to go back to Malaysia to take care of my parents?

Nursing is good but you'll have to study in Dutch but perhaps that's good since you plan on living there and nursing jobs require good Dutch (as you'll be dealing with local patients). It'll probably take you at least a year (intensive Dutch lessons) to speak Dutch well enough to obtain a nursing job.

Hi,

My replies are in red:

University of Amsterdam is a wonderful university. I'm sure he'll enjoy it+ get a good education:)

It's been a while since I've been online.

I graduated some time back, and am still in NL. Life is busy but good.

Let me know if anyone has questions.