Moving to the Netherlands

If you come to live in the Netherlands for at least 4 months within a 6-month period, you must register with the municipality.

You can register with the municipality if you are in the Netherlands legally. This is called lawful residence. Your residence is lawful in the following cases:

• You have the Dutch nationality.
• You have the nationality of another European Union country.
• You are a national of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland.
• You have a valid residence permit.
• You may wait for the decision on your application for a residence permit in the Netherlands.

• Go to the municipality in person to register. Do this within 5 days after you arrive in the Netherlands.
• Register at your permanent residential address.
• If your partner has also come to the Netherlands, your partner must come with you to the municipality.
• If your children have also come to the Netherlands, they must come with you to the municipality.
• After your registration, you will receive a citizen service number (BSN). You need this number for contact with the government. For example, to apply for benefits.

You live in the Netherlands for less than 4 months

If you live in the Netherlands for less than 4 months, you do not have to register with the municipality. You then register as a non-resident in the BRP. You do this with your address abroad. This is called the Non-Resident Registration (RNI).

• Your valid ID.
• A travel document or other document proving your nationality.
• Documents proving that you live here. For example, a rental contract, proof of ownership or statement from the main occupant of the property.
• Official documents from your time abroad. For example, a birth certificate, marriage certificate, acknowledgement certificate or divorce certificate. Please note that if these documents are not in Dutch, English, German or French, they must first be translated and legalized. Do this before coming to the Netherlands.
• If you are moving in with someone or you are moving in together, you need written permission from the primary occupant of that address.
• If you are coming to the Netherlands from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius or Sint Maarten, you will need proof of deregistration.
• If applicable: your valid residence permit or proof that it has been applied for.

The municipality will register you as soon as possible. This takes a maximum of 4 weeks.

Share your information first via a pre-registration (in English). At the end of your pre-registration you will receive an e-mail. With that you can make a personal Make an appointment appointment to complete your registration. After your personal appointment, you will receive a citizen service number (BSN). We will send your BSN by mail as soon as possible.

If you re-enter the Netherlands from abroad after October 1, 1994, you must re-register in the Netherlands. We call this resettlement from abroad. 

Pre-registration

Prefer not to pre-register? Then make a regular appointment.

Make an appointment

*It may take longer for you to be seen. 

Are you an asylum seeker or status holder? Then you cannot register with us. You must register at a "BRP." COA will tell you where and when you can register. More information is on COA's website.

Make a personal appointment to re-enroll.

Note! Were you registered in the Netherlands before 1994? And have you not lived in the Netherlands since then? Then we consider your registration as a first registration. Press "I have never lived in the Netherlands before" to find out how to arrange your registration.

Make an appointment resettlement from abroad

For further information or documents to be supplied for your application, please use the e-mail address vestigingen@kerkrade.nl.

If you do not have a permanent residential address, first apply for a letter address with the municipality. For example, if you are a bargee or staying in an institution.