How to register with your municipality
Sources checked on · Launch candidate pending human review · Translated from the Spanish original
If you will live in the Netherlands for more than four months, you must register in the population register (BRP) of the municipality where you live. It is the step that gives you access to a BSN, DigiD, health insurance and almost every other procedure.
Who this is for
Anyone who will live in the Netherlands for more than four months. For shorter stays, see the BSN guide (RNI register).
What you need
- A right of residence in the Netherlands.
- A valid identity document.
- An address where you really live. In specific cases, the municipality accepts a correspondence address.
- The documents your municipality asks for, such as your tenancy agreement or permission from the person you live with.
Steps
- Before renting, ask whether you will be able to register at that address. If the answer is no, look for another option.
- When you arrive, book an appointment with your municipality. You must register within five days of arriving.
- Gather what the municipality asks for. If you came with your partner or children, they must come with you.
- At the appointment you are registered in the BRP and given your BSN.
- If you move to another municipality, register with the new one: the old one deregisters you. A move within the same municipality must also be reported.
- If your BRP details are wrong, you can ask for them to be corrected.
Relevant exceptions
- Without a permanent address, a correspondence address is accepted in specific cases (Government of the Netherlands).
- Less than four months: non-residents register (RNI).
- Outside the EU: you may first need a residence permit.
Common mistakes
- Registering at an address where you do not live. The government treats address fraud as a problem in its own right.
- Letting the five days pass because you do not have the final tenancy agreement yet: ask the municipality what to do.
- Not reporting a move: letters from the tax office or your insurer may not reach you.
The five-day deadline and the four-month rule come from the official source cited. Always check what your municipality asks for.
Official sources
- Government of the Netherlands: when to register as a resident in the BRP
- WorkinNL: new to the Netherlands
- Government of the Netherlands: personal data and address fraud
Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.
Frequently asked questions
What if my accommodation does not allow registration?
Raise it with the municipality and look for guidance. Living without being registered cuts you off from many procedures.
Can I register at a friend's home?
Only if you really live there. The municipality will tell you which document you need from the person who holds the contract.
Do I have to deregister when I leave the country?
Yes, you have to report it. Ask your municipality how.
Related
How to get your BSN
What the BSN is, where to get it (municipality or RNI desk), what to bring and the official deadlines when you arrive in the Netherlands.
DigiD: what it is and how to apply
What you need to apply for DigiD, how long the activation letter takes and how to authorise someone without giving them your login.
Your first 30 days in the Netherlands
A step-by-step plan for your first month in the Netherlands: registration, BSN, bank account, health insurance, DigiD and first payslip, with official deadlines.
Does your case not fit? Read about personal guidance. This is general information, not legal, employment or tax advice.