How to register at the municipality in NL
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.
- Who it's for
- Anyone moving to the Netherlands for more than 4 months
- Time
- Varies by municipality; book the appointment as far ahead as you can
- Steps
- 4 steps
- Last reviewed
- 1 September 2026
“Last reviewed” means this guide was checked against its official sources on that date.
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Overview
What you're trying to do
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.
Prerequisites
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.
Step by step
Your recipe
- 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.
- 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.
Processing timeAppointment availability varies by municipality.
Official source
Government.nl · When to register as a resident - 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.
- 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.
Official source
Government.nl · Personal Records Database (BRP)
Checklist
Documents you may need
- 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)
What you might pay
Costs
- Registration is usually free
- Some municipalities charge a fee for duplicate documents
How long it takes
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.
Verify before you act
Official sources
Requirements depend on your situation. Check the latest requirements with the relevant authority.
Practical
Useful tools for this
Services people use for this in practice. We say who runs each one. See all apps and tools.
Avoid these
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
After this
What happens next
- Apply for a DigiD
- Register with a GP
- Arrange health insurance
Where to go next
Need help beyond this guide?
Browse organisations across the Netherlands that support internationals with settling in, work, housing, health and study. Listing is not endorsement.
Keep going
Related how-tos
How to get a BSN in NL
Get your Burgerservicenummer (citizen service number), the unique number you need to work, study, open a bank account and use Dutch government services.
How to get a DigiD in NL
Apply for and activate DigiD, the login for Dutch government, tax and healthcare services. The route differs depending on whether you are registered with a municipality (BRP) or in the RNI.
How to change your address after moving in NL
Report a move inside the Netherlands to your municipality so the Personal Records Database (BRP) is correct, any time from 4 weeks before your moving date to 5 days after it. Moving abroad is deregistration and follows different rules.
How to find housing in NL
Prepare for a private rental search in the Netherlands, compare listings, check the tenancy terms and know the basic rules before you pay.
How to legalise a foreign document in NL
Legalisation, or an apostille, is what makes a document issued abroad usable by a Dutch authority. The route depends entirely on the country that issued it, and EU public documents are exempt. Check which applies before you pay.
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