Moving to NL

Guide

Registering at the municipality and getting a BSN

Who this is for: Anyone moving to the Netherlands — EU/EEA citizens, non-EU nationals with a residence permit, and returning Dutch citizens — who will live here for 4 months or longer, or who needs a citizen service number sooner for work, study or benefits.

In 60 seconds

If you will live in the Netherlands for 4 months or longer, you must register in person with the municipality (gemeente) where you live, within 5 days of arrival. Non-EU/EEA nationals normally do this only after their IND residence permit has come through. Bring a valid passport or ID, proof of your Dutch address, and — for a first-ever registration — your birth certificate (legalised and translated if it is not in Dutch, English, French or German). The municipality registers you in the BRP and automatically issues your citizen service number (BSN), the number you need for a bank account, health insurance, payroll, DigiD and most benefits. Staying under 4 months? You do not have to register, but you may register with one of 19 RNI (non-resident) municipalities if you need a BSN sooner.

Step by step

  1. 1 Work out whether you must register — and where

    Check how long you will live in the Netherlands. 4 months or longer means you must register in the BRP (Personal Records Database) with the municipality where you will live. Under 4 months means BRP registration is not required, but you can still register — and get a BSN — at one of 19 designated RNI (non-resident) municipalities if you need one for work, study or tax purposes.

    Where
    No visit needed for this step — it is a planning decision based on your expected length of stay and, if under 4 months, your nearest RNI municipality.
    How long
    Immediate — this is a self-check, not an appointment.
    Cost
    Free.

    What to bring

    • Your expected Dutch address
    • Your expected length of stay

  2. 2 Get your documents ready (and, if you are from outside the EU/EEA, your residence permit first)

    Gather a valid passport or national ID. Non-EU/EEA nationals normally need their IND residence permit before registering. For your very first registration in the Netherlands, bring your birth certificate; if it is not in Dutch, English, French or German, it must be translated by a sworn translator (some municipalities also require legalisation/apostille). Bring proof you live at the address (rental contract, or a signed consent form from the main tenant/owner), and marriage, divorce or adoption certificates if applicable. Some municipalities require every family member, including children, to attend in person.

    Where
    Prepare documents at home before your visit or appointment; requirements are set per municipality.
    How long
    Preparation time varies — sworn translations and legalisation of a birth certificate can take the longest, so start before you travel if you can.
    Cost
    Registration itself has no municipal fee at The Hague ("Fees: Free" — see claim); a sworn translation or legalisation of your documents is a separate cost you pay yourself, not stated by the sources checked here.

    What to bring

    • Valid passport or (EU/EEA) national ID card
    • IND residence permit, if you are a non-EU/EEA national
    • Proof of your Dutch address (rental contract, or owner/tenant consent form)
    • Birth certificate (translated if not in Dutch/English/French/German; some municipalities require legalisation)
    • Marriage, divorce or adoption certificates, if applicable

  3. 3 Book an appointment if your municipality needs one, and register within 5 days of arrival

    Registration must happen in person, within 5 days of arriving in the Netherlands. Whether you need an appointment depends on your municipality: some city offices accept walk-ins, others require you to book online or by phone first. Do not assume — check your own municipality's process before you go.

    Where
    The public service desk (Publiekszaken / Stadsloket) of the municipality where you will live.
    How long
    You must register within 5 days of arrival; whether you need to book ahead varies by municipality.
    Cost
    Free.

    What to bring

    • All documents from the previous step
    • Your appointment confirmation, if your municipality requires one

  4. 4 Receive your BSN and registration confirmation

    Once your registration is processed, the municipality issues your citizen service number (BSN) automatically — you do not apply for it separately. At The Hague, processing usually takes up to 4 weeks and you receive confirmation of your registration and your BSN by post; timing can differ elsewhere.

    Where
    Sent to you by post by the municipality (no extra visit needed for this step).
    How long
    Up to 4 weeks at The Hague, by post, after your registration appointment; check your own municipality for its own timeline.
    Cost
    Free ("Fees: Free" at The Hague for this registration route).

Common mistakes

  • Waiting past the 5-day window because travel or moving admin got in the way — the deadline is fixed and counts from your date of arrival, not your appointment date.
  • Assuming every municipality works the same way: some accept walk-ins, others (and some specific offices, like Weesp within Amsterdam) require a booked appointment — check first.
  • Turning up with a birth certificate that is not in Dutch, English, French or German and has not been translated by a sworn translator.
  • Non-EU/EEA nationals trying to register before their IND residence permit has come through.
  • Not bringing every family member (including infants) to the appointment where the municipality requires it.

When this does not apply to you

  • You are staying under 4 months and do not need a BSN for work, tax or benefits — you are not required to register at all.
  • You already have a BSN from a previous stay in the Netherlands — you follow a "register again" process instead of a first registration.
  • You are an asylum seeker — registration runs through IND/COA's own procedure, not the general municipal walk-in/appointment process described here.

Not covered here

This guide deliberately says nothing about deregister, emigrate, leaving the netherlands, naturalisation, dutch passport, citizenship. Those are separate procedures with their own rules; guessing about them would do more harm than staying silent.

This guide gives general information, not legal or tax advice. Registration rules and municipal processes can change or vary by municipality — always confirm current requirements with your own gemeente or the IND before you travel.

Facts last checked against their sources on 2026-09-17.