Registration in the Netherlands (BRP)

If you are moving to the Netherlands, you must register with a municipality. This applies if you plan to stay in the Netherlands for at least 4 months within a 6-month period.

  • Never lived in the Netherlands before? You must complete a first-time registration.
  • Lived in the Netherlands before, but left before October 1994? You must also complete a first-time registration.
  • Staying for less than 4 months? You can register as a non-resident (RNI) and receive a BSN (citizen service number).
  • Did you leave the Netherlands after October 1, 1994? You must register again. Read more on the page Re-register

Who can register? (Requirements)

You can register if:

  • You are a Dutch citizen, OR
  • You have a passport from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, OR
  • You have a valid residence permit
  • You will stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months

Children born in the Netherlands must also be registered, even if their parents are not yet registered.

How to register?

Step 1: Make an appointment

You must visit the municipality in person to register. All family members, including children, must be present.

Call 14 0492 (without area code) to make an appointment at Huis voor de Stad.

Step 2: Bring the required documents

You need:

  • A valid passport or ID (showing your nationality)
  • Proof of address (rental contract, property deed, or a signed declaration from the main occupant)
  • Birth certificate (if born outside the Netherlands)
  • Proof of legal residence (for non-EU/EEA nationals) – Apply via the IND
  • Moving document (for arrivals from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint-Maarten, Bonaire, Sint-Eustatius, or Saba)

Additional documents (if applicable):

  • Marriage or divorce certificate
  • Death certificate (if your spouse passed away)
  • Birth certificates of children
  • Proof of deregistration from your previous country

Important: Foreign documents may need to be legalized. Check the Dutch government website for country-specific requirements.

Do you need a residence permit?

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals need a residence permit.

  • Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals without these nationalities also need a permit.
  • You must show a residence permit card or a TEV statement + MVV sticker at registration.

For residence permit applications, contact the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

When should you register?

You must register within 5 working days after arriving in the Netherlands. If you register late, the municipality may issue a fine.

More information