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Netherlands · Registration & BSN · Verified September 20, 2026
If you move to the Netherlands for more than four months, one of your first administrative jobs is registering with the municipality where you live. Government.nl says you must do this within 5 days of arrival. Registration places you in the BRP and gives you a citizen service number, or BSN.
Quick answer
- Staying more than 4 months: register with your municipality within 5 days of arriving.
- The municipality registers you in the Personal Records Database (BRP).
- You receive a BSN, used for government, healthcare and many other official processes.
- Staying no more than 4 months: you normally use non-resident registration instead of normal resident registration.
- Municipal appointment availability and document requirements vary, so check your municipality before arrival where possible.
Why the BSN matters
The BSN is your unique citizen service number. You use it in dealings with Dutch government bodies and it is important for practical newcomer tasks such as healthcare administration, employment and tax matters.
Step 1: book the municipality appointment
Government.nl says resident registration must happen within five days of arrival if you are staying more than four months. In busy cities, appointment availability can be tight, so check the official municipality website before you travel and book as early as that municipality allows.
Step 2: bring the documents your municipality asks for
The exact document checklist is municipal, not identical nationwide. Expect to prove your identity and your address, and be prepared for the municipality to request civil-status documents such as birth or marriage records when relevant. Foreign documents may need legalisation or translation depending on the country and document type.
Use your own municipality’s official checklist rather than copying a list from Amsterdam, Rotterdam or another city if you are registering elsewhere.
Step 3: BRP registration and BSN
When you register as a resident, the municipality adds you to the BRP. Government.nl says the municipality will arrange your BSN as part of that process. Keep the number private but accessible because many Dutch organisations will ask for it when handling official matters.
What if you are staying 4 months or less?
If your stay is no more than four months, Government.nl says you cannot register as a normal municipal resident. Instead, you can register as a non-resident in the BRP through the relevant non-resident registration process. That can still result in a BSN, but it is a different registration route.
What should you do after getting a BSN?
- Apply for DigiD once your BRP address is correct.
- Arrange Dutch health insurance if the compulsory Dutch system applies to you.
- Give the BSN to your employer when required for payroll and tax administration.
- Keep your municipality informed when your registered address changes.
Five common newcomer mistakes
- Waiting weeks to start booking. The resident-registration rule is five days after arrival.
- Using another city’s document checklist. Municipal procedures can differ.
- Confusing BSN with DigiD. BSN is your number; DigiD is your digital login.
- Using resident registration for a short stay. Stays of four months or less use the non-resident route.
- Ignoring civil-document requirements. Legalisation or translation can take time.
Official source checked
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