Opening a Bank Account as an Expat: What You Need to Know

New job. New city. New routines. When you’re settling into life abroad, the last thing you want is paperwork. With bunq, you can open your account in five minutes, all from your phone. No forms. No appointments. Just a smooth start to your next adventure.

bunq makes life easy.

Open a Bank Account as an expat in 5 minutes, right from your phone. No paperwork. No appointments. Just a few taps and you’re ready to go.

Why Having a Local Bank Account Changes Everything

Once you land, a local Bank Account isn’t just helpful. It’s essential.

• Get paid on time by your employer or freelance clients

• Avoid international transfer fees and bad exchange rates

• Pay rent and bills in the local currency

• Track your money without doing conversion math in your head

With bunq, you get a local IBAN, full access to your money, and all the features of modern banking, without having to set foot in a branch.

Why Expats Choose bunq

We built bunq with expats in mind. Whether you’re moving for work, school, or something in between, you can open your account from anywhere in the EU with just a few essentials:

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you sign up.

All you need is:

• A valid passport or EU/EEA ID

• A selfie for identity verification

• An address in the EU or EEA (your home address might work depending on your account type)

You don’t need a tax ID or proof of residence straight away. We give you up to 90 days to get that sorted.

Do Everything from Your Phone

Your account lives in the app. That means no paperwork, no phone calls, and no in-person appointments.

• Get real-time notifications every time you spend

• Track your money with clear insights and smart categories

• Use Auto Round Up to round up purchases and grow your savings

• Earn up to 2.01% interest on your savings

• Spend in multiple currencies with Digital Cards

Everything you need, in one place, always up to date.

Conclusion

There’s enough to figure out when you move countries. Your banking should just work.

With bunq, you can open your account in 5 minutes, manage everything from your phone, and feel financially settled no matter where you are.

Just download the app, sign up, and start spending like a local!