Expats and owners abroad
Energy Label for Expats in the Netherlands
You own property in the Netherlands, you do not speak Dutch, or you no longer live here. You can arrange the entire process around an official Dutch energy label in English, without being present at the inspection.
You need the same registered label as any Dutch owner. What differs is the practical side: who lets the assessor in, how documents reach us, and how the result is explained. That is what this page covers.
The short answers
- What do I need?
- The address, a contact person who can give access, and ideally any invoices, drawings or photos of improvements. You do not need any documents to make a request.
- What does it cost?
- It depends on the property type, the usable floor area and the location. Enter your postcode and house number and you see the total price, including 21% VAT, before you commit to anything. See what an energy label costs.
- When can the inspection take place?
- After your request we contact you to agree a time that suits you, or whoever will let the assessor in. Tell us straight away if you need the label by a particular date.
- What happens during the inspection?
- A qualified assessor records the dimensions, insulation, glazing, heating, hot water, ventilation and any solar panels. For an average home this takes about one to two hours. See the inspection explained.
- When will I receive the label?
- After the visit the data is worked out, checked and registered. There is no fixed delivery time for every home; it depends on the planning and on the property. You receive the label digitally as soon as it is registered.
- Is it officially registered?
- Yes. The label is registered in EP-Online, the national register managed by RVO on behalf of the Dutch government. Only a registered label is valid.
Check the total price for your address
Including VAT, the property visit and registration in EP-Online. No obligation and no deposit.
“I own a Dutch property but don't speak Dutch”
That is not a problem. Questions, planning and the explanation of the result are handled in English by e-mail, WhatsApp or phone. For addresses, floor areas and appointment details, written confirmation helps prevent misunderstandings. The registered label itself is an official Dutch document; we explain what it says and what it means for your sale or tenancy.
Dutch terms you will come across, such as EP-Online, BAG, VvE or WWS, are explained in our glossary of Dutch energy label terms.
Does someone need to be present?
Someone has to give the assessor safe and complete access, but it does not have to be you. A tenant, estate agent, partner, family member or other contact person can let the assessor in, as long as this is agreed in advance. The contact person does not need technical knowledge. It helps if they know which renovations were done and where documents are kept.
Access is needed to the loft, meter cupboard, crawl space, boiler or heat pump, ventilation unit and technical areas, and to the outside of the home where needed. If part of the home cannot be reached, tell us before the visit; otherwise a second appointment may be needed.
What documents do I need?
None to make a request. They matter for the result: anything that cannot be seen during the visit and cannot be evidenced must be entered with cautious default values. Send us what you have digitally before the visit, for example invoices for insulation, photographs taken during the work, drawings, and product details of glazing, a heat pump or solar panels. See documents and evidence for a Dutch energy label.
How long does the inspection take?
For an average home, national guidance mentions about one to two hours. Larger homes, extensions and several installations take longer. After the visit the data is worked out, checked and registered in EP-Online. See what happens during the inspection.
What happens afterwards?
Once the label is registered you receive the digital copy. The label is then publicly visible by address in EP-Online, and owners can usually also find the full copy in MijnOverheid. If you do not have a DigiD, simply keep the PDF we send you. There is no fixed delivery time for every home; if you need the label by a certain date, for example for a listing or a new tenant, tell us when you apply.
Official Dutch registration
Every label we issue is drawn up within the BRL 9500 quality scheme and registered in EP-Online. A label registered in EP-Online is the official Dutch energy label used for sale, rental, WWS and relevant financing purposes. A report in English from another country is not a Dutch energy label.
Typical situations
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if I live abroad?
Yes. We agree access with your contact person in the Netherlands and handle everything else in English.
Can my phone number be a foreign number?
Yes. Enter any number on which we can reach you, including the country code.
Will the label be in English?
No. The registered label is an official Dutch document. We explain the result in English.
Do I need a DigiD?
No. You receive the label from us digitally. A DigiD is only needed if you want to look it up yourself in MijnOverheid.
Sources
Official Dutch sources, in Dutch. The facts on this page follow these sources, last reviewed in September 2026. Rules change; the official sources always prevail.
- Rijksoverheid: how do I get an energy label for my home?
- RVO: Energielabel woningen
- Energielabel.nl: frequently asked questions
Ready to arrange your energy label?
Enter your postcode and house number and see the total price for your property, including VAT. No obligation, no deposit.