# NL Customs VAT

> Reclaim Dutch VAT on goods purchased in the Netherlands for export outside the EU. (iPhone/iPad app by Belastingdienst.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nl-customs-vat/id1592523001 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Belastingdienst](https://appshunter.io/developer/562870506)
- Category: Travel, Finance
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 22 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 106 MB
- Languages: American English, Arabic, Dutch, Indonesian, Japanese, European Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish, Turkish
- Released: 2021-11-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nl-customs-vat/id1592523001/reviews.md

## What is NL Customs VAT?

You can use this app if you depart from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Rotterdam-The Hague Airport, the ferry locations Rotterdam P&O, Hoek van Holland Stena Line, Ijmuiden DFDS and if you make use of the cruise terminals of Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Do you live outside the EU and do you take goods back home in your travel luggage from the Netherlands? Then you can reclaim the VAT on goods that you have purchased from companies in the Netherlands. To reclaim the VAT, you need an export validation by Dutch Customs, which you can request with this app.
 
How does this app work?
To use the app, you need to scan your passport. After scanning, the transactions which you have made in the Netherlands at shops that participate are shown. You start a validation request, select the transactions and enter your details about your journey outside the EU.
When you have arrived at the airport or port, this app will direct you to a specific location. There you can submit the validation request via the app. Dutch Customs will then check your validation request. There are 2 follow-up options. Either you will immediately receive an export validation, or you will be asked to have your purchases checked manually at the Customs office.
 
Do you have transactions from outside the Netherlands? Then you can present the paper version at the Customs office.
 
Note: transactions of purchases bought in 2025 can still be stamped at the paper version.

## Key features

- VAT reclaim for non-EU residents
- Departure from major Dutch airports and ports
- Passport scanning for transaction retrieval
- Initiate export validation requests
- Guidance to customs validation points

## Recent user reviews (10 of 22)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nl-customs-vat/id1592523001/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Horrible app…

*2026-06-05, version 3.0.11*

Cannot get past scanning or inputting my passport. Keep getting the error message “If your details are correct, the app won’t be able to find any registrations for you.” 

It doesn’t allow you to move forward. Very confusing, very difficult to understand.  Development needs to go back to re-design and relaunch! I would give it zero stars if I could.

### 1/5 — Useless garbage

*2026-06-02, version 3.0.11*

Useless garbage

### 1/5 — Xx

*2026-05-31, version 3.0.11*

It doesn’t work

### 1/5 — Remove this Useless App

*2026-05-29, version 3.0.11*

App doesn’t even work!

### 1/5 — Not worth trying

*2026-04-22, version 3.0.11*

This app doesn’t work at all

### 1/5 — SCAM

*2026-04-18, version 3.0.11*

The tax refund app NL Customs VAT does not work, and will not even let me register my purchase despite inputting the correct travel details and passport information. I was told during my purchase to use the designated app that ‘everybody uses’ but it still does not work. It only registered one purchase. This is shameful because when I raised this issue as a potential misunderstanding at the customs desk at Shiphol Departures 3, I was told by the male staff to ‘go home and do it via the app’ despite repeatedly noting the malfunction of the app. I hope that the Dutch authorities can be made aware of this issue soon, as I am sure that this will be an issue raised by plenty other customers like myself, if the digital problem isn’t resolved within 3 months of the purchase, which is the time limit for which we have in order to make a successful tax refund registration. The Netherlands has a good reputation for service and efficiency, however this is a case that makes a tarnishing exception.

### 4/5 — Not working

*2026-03-29, version 3.0.11*

It dosent work

### 1/5 — Doesn’t do anything

*2026-03-21, version 3.0.11*

This app is worthless and should be removed. It’s a waste of time to even attempt to use it.

### 1/5 — Rubbish

*2026-03-02, version 3.0.11*

Claims remote customs validation but I already left the country. It didn’t tell me first that I had to be near a customs office. So stupid. The Norwegian version checks that you’ve left Norway so you can validate at home.

### 1/5 — Can’t authenticate

*2026-02-22, version 3.0.11*

Authentication doesnt work…

## Frequently asked questions about NL Customs VAT

### What airports and ports does NL Customs VAT support?

NL Customs VAT supports departures from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Rotterdam-The Hague Airport, and ferry locations in Rotterdam (P&O), Hoek van Holland (Stena Line), and Ijmuiden (DFDS). It also covers cruise terminals in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

### Can I use NL Customs VAT if I live in an EU country?

No, this app is specifically for individuals who live outside the EU and are taking goods back home in their travel luggage from the Netherlands.

### How does NL Customs VAT help me reclaim VAT?

The app allows you to scan your passport to see eligible transactions from participating shops. You then start a validation request, provide your travel details, and the app guides you to a customs point for validation.

### What happens after I submit a validation request in NL Customs VAT?

Dutch Customs will check your request. You may receive an immediate export validation, or you might be asked to have your purchases checked manually at the Customs office.

### Does NL Customs VAT have ads?

No, NL Customs VAT does not contain advertisements.

### What devices is NL Customs VAT available on?

NL Customs VAT is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

### When was NL Customs VAT last updated?

The latest version of NL Customs VAT was updated on February 9, 2026.

### What is the age rating for NL Customs VAT?

NL Customs VAT has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.11 — 2026-02-09

Severall bug fixes for better performance.

### 3.0.9 — 2026-01-18

Minor bug fixes, for a better user experience.

### 3.0.1 — 2025-11-16

The ability to use the app in landscape mode is possible again.

### 3.0.0 — 2025-11-07

This update provides several improvements which makes the performance and usability of this app better. Digital validation is obligated for transactions made in the Netherlands from 1 January 2026 and which leave the EU through the Netherlands.

### 2.1.6 — 2025-08-22

Technical update

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## More apps by Belastingdienst

- [Customs NL inSight](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customs-nl-insight/id1117829147)
- [Meldpunt Accijnsfraude](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meldpunt-accijnsfraude/id1357032977)
- [NLJUG](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nljug/id1367411277)
- [Trends4FI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trends4fi/id1444882266)
- [Welkom@](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/welkom/id1464703811)
- [Toeslagen](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/toeslagen/id1483034525)

All apps by Belastingdienst: https://appshunter.io/developer/562870506

## Related topics

[nl customs vat](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nl-customs-vat) · [netherlands vat](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/netherlands-vat)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*