# How to register at the municipality in NL Canonical: https://howtoin.nl/register-at-municipality Last reviewed: 2026-09-01 Themes: Moving, Residence, Daily life Time: Varies by municipality; book the appointment as far ahead as you can Source: How to in NL (https://howtoin.nl) ## Summary Register as a resident in the BRP with the municipality where you live if you will stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months. ## Overview Resident registration puts you in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) at your local municipality and gives you a BSN. This guide is for people moving to the Netherlands for more than 4 months. ## Before you start If you will stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register in person with the municipality where you live within 5 days of arriving, and the municipality may fine you if you do not. If you will stay for less than 4 months, you are not required to register as a resident. You can instead use the RNI route. RvIG states that people with a European passport can register at any of the 19 RNI desks; people without a European passport can register only in Breda or Venlo from January 2026. ## Steps ### 1. Find your local municipality Your municipality (gemeente) is based on where you actually live. Each has its own website and appointment system. **Do this:** Identify your municipality and go to its official website. **Source:** [Netherlands Worldwide: When you have to register with a municipality](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/personal-records-database-brp/when-register) Anchor: https://howtoin.nl/register-at-municipality#step-1 ### 2. Book a registration appointment If you will stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register as a resident with the municipality where you live, in person, within 5 days of arriving. You can only be registered as a resident if you are a Dutch national, a national of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, or you hold a valid residence permit. Book early because availability varies. **Do this:** Use the municipality's official website to book resident registration. **Timing:** Appointment availability varies by municipality. **Source:** [Government.nl: When to register as a resident](https://www.government.nl/faq/when-should-i-register-with-the-personal-records-database-as-a-resident) Anchor: https://howtoin.nl/register-at-municipality#step-2 ### 3. Bring your documents Bring valid identification, proof of the address where you live, your residence document if applicable, and any civil-status documents the municipality asks for. **Do this:** Check the municipality's document list before the appointment and bring the originals it requests. **Documents needed:** - Valid ID or passport - Rental contract, contract of sale, or written permission from the property's main occupant with a copy of their ID - Residence permit (if you are not a Dutch, EU, EEA or Swiss national) - Legalised birth/marriage certificates > **Common mistake:** Foreign documents may need legalisation and translation. The exact requirement depends on the document and issuing country. **Source:** [Netherlands Worldwide: Checklist for moving to the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/checklist-relocating-netherlands-immigration) Anchor: https://howtoin.nl/register-at-municipality#step-3 ### 4. Complete registration The municipality records you in the BRP and gives you a BSN if you do not already have one. You are then registered as a resident and Dutch government bodies can use your BRP details. **Do this:** Complete the appointment and confirm your BSN and registration details. **Source:** [Government.nl: Personal Records Database (BRP)](https://www.government.nl/themes/government-and-democracy/personal-data/personal-records-database-brp) Anchor: https://howtoin.nl/register-at-municipality#step-4 ## Documents - Valid ID or passport - Proof of occupancy (rental contract, contract of sale, or written permission from the property's main occupant together with a copy of their ID) - Residence permit (if you are not a Dutch, EU, EEA or Swiss national) - Birth/marriage certificates (legalised and translated if relevant) ## Costs - Registration is usually free - Some municipalities charge a fee for duplicate documents ## Timing You are given a BSN when you register, if you do not already have one. Appointment waiting times vary by municipality and can be longer than usual, so contact the municipality well ahead of your arrival. ## Common mistakes - Not booking an appointment early enough - Assuming a holiday home or a correspondence address will be accepted: the municipality decides, and you have to show you have no other option - Forgetting to legalise foreign documents ## Next steps - Apply for a DigiD - Register with a GP - Arrange health insurance ## Related guides - [get-a-bsn](https://howtoin.nl/get-a-bsn) - [get-a-digid](https://howtoin.nl/get-a-digid) - [change-address-after-moving](https://howtoin.nl/change-address-after-moving) - [find-housing](https://howtoin.nl/find-housing) - [legalise-foreign-documents](https://howtoin.nl/legalise-foreign-documents) ## Official sources - [Government.nl: Personal Records Database (BRP)](https://www.government.nl/themes/government-and-democracy/personal-data/personal-records-database-brp) - [Government.nl: When to register as a resident](https://www.government.nl/faq/when-should-i-register-with-the-personal-records-database-as-a-resident) - [Netherlands Worldwide: When you have to register with a municipality](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/personal-records-database-brp/when-register) - [RvIG: RNI desks: 19 with a European passport; Breda or Venlo without one](https://www.rvig.nl/adressen-rni-loketgemeenten) - [Government.nl: Municipalities, and how to reach your own](https://www.government.nl/themes/government-and-democracy/municipalities) ## About this document This is a machine-readable rendering of https://howtoin.nl/register-at-municipality. Published by How to in NL, part of Flux Forward (https://fluxforward.world). Last reviewed against its official sources on 2026-09-01. Canonical JSON: https://howtoin.nl/content/guides/register-at-municipality.json General guidance only. Rules can change and may depend on your situation; verify important steps with the official source before acting.