How to open and use a DEGIRO account as an expat in the Netherlands (2026)

Table of contents

What DEGIRO actually is (and is not)

Short profile

DEGIRO is a European online broker that lets private investors buy and sell ETFs, stocks, bonds and other instruments on more than 50 exchanges worldwide.

• • EU-regulated: supervised by BaFin (Germany) and the AFM/DNB (Netherlands), with client assets held separately from DEGIRO's own funds.
• • Low-cost: known for relatively low trading commissions and no mandatory minimum deposit (you can start with very small amounts).
• • Wide product access: many European and international ETFs and stocks; no direct access to most US-domiciled ETFs due to EU PRIIPs rules.
• • Digital-only: account opening and support are fully online.

DEGIRO is not a bank, not a robo-advisor, and not a tax advisor. You remain responsible for your own investment decisions and tax filings.

Who typically uses DEGIRO

From Reddit and expat forums, typical DEGIRO users include:

• • Dutch and expat investors who want to build a simple ETF portfolio at low cost.
• • People comfortable placing their own buy/sell orders.
• • Long-term investors who prefer to avoid expensive bank-based investing platforms (see our Dutch banking comparison).

Can you open a DEGIRO account as an expat in NL?

Residency and country eligibility

DEGIRO only accepts clients who:

• • Legally reside in one of the countries it supports; and
• • Have a bank account in their own name in a compatible country/currency.

DEGIRO operates across around 30 countries, including the Netherlands and most EU/EEA states.

Always check the latest list on DEGIRO's own site before applying.

Identification and tax requirements

To open an account you typically need:

• • A valid passport or ID card.
• • A bank account in your name in a supported country (for a Dutch resident, a Dutch or other SEPA account in your base currency).
• • Your tax identification number(s) - Dutch BSN and possibly a foreign tax ID if you are also tax resident elsewhere.

You also complete an appropriateness test and investment profile questionnaire to show that you understand basic investment risks.

Step-by-step: opening your DEGIRO account from the Netherlands

1. 1

   Step 1 - Go to the correct DEGIRO country site

   Start from the DEGIRO country page matching your current residence. For a Dutch-resident expat, that is usually the Netherlands site (degiro.nl) or the appropriate EU site for your registered address. The country site determines your account's base currency, the primary regulator and the default language.

2. 2

   Step 2 - Start registration

   On the DEGIRO homepage, choose 'Open an account' and enter your email address, a username and a strong password. You then confirm your email and proceed to fill out your profile.

3. 3

   Step 3 - Enter personal and tax details

   DEGIRO will ask for your full legal name, date of birth and address; country of residence and nationality; and tax identification numbers (Dutch BSN and, if relevant, other countries' tax IDs). Some nationalities (e.g. Italian citizens living abroad) report needing to enter their home-country tax ID as well.

4. 4

   Step 4 - Link and verify your bank account

   You must link a bank account in your name that matches the base currency of your DEGIRO account. Verification often requires sending a small transfer (e.g. €0.01) from your bank to DEGIRO, proving you control the account and the name matches. The linked account becomes your reference account for deposits and withdrawals.

5. 5

   Step 5 - Upload ID and complete checks

   You upload a scan or photo of your passport or ID card through the platform. DEGIRO uses this together with your bank verification to complete KYC/AML checks. According to independent reviews, accounts are typically verified within one business day if documentation is complete.

6. 6

   Step 6 - Choose your account type

   DEGIRO offers several account types: Basic, Custody, Active, Trader and Day Trader (details vary by country). Basic / Custody have no or limited leverage and are suitable for buy-and-hold investors. Active / Trader / Day Trader allow leverage and more complex products with higher risk and possible extra fees. For most expat long-term ETF investors, a Basic-style account without leverage is sufficient and safer.

7. 7

   Step 7 - Fund your account

   Once your account is approved and your bank is linked, you can transfer money. Many users start with a small test transfer (€10-€50) to confirm everything works. There is no formal minimum deposit. Deposits are normally via SEPA bank transfer from your linked account; third-party or neobank accounts may or may not be accepted depending on DEGIRO's current policies.

Using DEGIRO day-to-day as an expat

Placing your first trade (ETF example)

A typical first trade for an expat might be buying a broad, EU-domiciled ETF. General steps (exact screens may change):

1. Use the search bar to find the ETF ticker or ISIN.
2. Check key details: exchange, currency, management fee (TER), and whether the ETF is accumulating or distributing.
3. Choose Buy, select your order type (often a limit order for beginners), and the number of units.
4. Review the estimated total cost including commission and any FX fee, then confirm.

Because EU PRIIPs rules limit direct access to many US-domiciled ETFs, DEGIRO will usually only show ETFs approved for EU retail investors.

Understanding fees in practice

DEGIRO's fee schedule can change, but broadly you encounter:

• • Trading commissions per order, varying by exchange and product.
• • Currency conversion fees when trading assets in a currency different from your account's base currency.
• • Possible connectivity or exchange fees for certain markets.

Always refer to DEGIRO's official pricing page for your country for up-to-date numbers. For expats who invest monthly in a small number of ETFs, the main optimisation is to avoid placing many tiny trades that eat a high percentage of the investment in fees.

Cash management and idle funds

Money you transfer to DEGIRO typically sits as cash balance until you invest it. Points to note:

• • Check whether DEGIRO pays any interest on uninvested cash in your region (this has varied over time and by currency).
• • Be aware of negative interest or sweep arrangements if applicable.
• • Details change, so rely on DEGIRO's own documentation for the current treatment of cash.

How DEGIRO interacts with Dutch taxes (Box 3)

Using DEGIRO statements for Box 3 reporting

As a Dutch-resident expat, you typically use DEGIRO's annual statement to help complete your Box 3 section.

• • DEGIRO reports the value of your positions at year-end.
• • You use the total portfolio value on 31 December (converted to euros if needed) to calculate your Box 3 wealth.
• • You also add other assets (savings, other brokers, foreign property) and subtract eligible debts, then apply the Box 3 rules.

Our Box 3 wealth tax guide contains detailed thresholds and examples for 2026.

Withholding taxes on dividends

Many ETFs and stocks distribute dividends. Depending on where the underlying assets are located, withholding tax may be taken before dividends reach your DEGIRO account.

• • US companies pay US withholding tax; EU-domiciled ETFs often handle this inside the fund.
• • Some double-taxation treaties allow Dutch residents to claim back part of foreign withholding tax under conditions.
• • DEGIRO's annual tax report and your broker statements can help your tax advisor determine what, if anything, can be reclaimed.

DEGIRO and the 30% ruling

If you have the 30% ruling, remember that since 2025 foreign assets are no longer Box 3-exempt. Your worldwide assets, including DEGIRO, fall under normal Box 3 rules. DEGIRO itself does not handle any special 30%-ruling logic; it simply reports your statements.

What happens if you move to another country?

Moving within the EU/EEA

• • If you move from one supported DEGIRO country to another, you can often update your address and tax residency details and continue using the same account, as long as your new country is on DEGIRO's eligible-countries list.
• • You may need a new reference bank account in your new country/currency; the base currency of the account usually cannot be changed.
• • Implementation details vary by region and over time. Some users report needing to open a new account under the new country site rather than changing an existing one, especially when moving to or from Switzerland.
• • For international transfers between EU accounts, see our SEPA & SWIFT transfers guide.

Moving outside DEGIRO's supported countries

If you move to a country that DEGIRO does not support, policies can include:

• • Being requested to close your account and sell or transfer your assets.
• • Losing the ability to change your address to a non-supported jurisdiction.
• • Some users try to keep their account technically registered at a European address when travelling long-term, but this can conflict with both broker terms and local tax rules; it is not a risk-free workaround.

Before moving, always check DEGIRO's latest terms for your origin and destination countries, and discuss with a tax advisor how to manage capital gains tax in your new country.

Multiple DEGIRO accounts

Forums suggest that it is technically possible to have more than one DEGIRO account (for example one in Switzerland, one in Germany), but the systems for different country instances are separate and transfers between them may incur fees. This setup is niche and not necessary for most expat investors.

Risk management and safety

How safe is DEGIRO as a platform?

• • DEGIRO is regulated in the EU, including by BaFin (Germany) and the AFM/DNB (Netherlands), which monitor its operations and client-protection standards.
• • Clients' assets are held in segregated structures separate from DEGIRO's own assets. If DEGIRO were to fail, client securities should remain protected and separate from bankruptcy proceedings.
• • This does not eliminate market risk - your investments can still lose value.

Practical risk-reduction steps

Frequently asked questions