Requirements 

If you come to live in the Netherlands for at least 4 months (within six months), you must register with the municipality. This applies even if you have lived in the Netherlands before. 

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

Your stay is lawful in the following cases. 

• You hold one of the nationalities:
  - Dutch nationality;
  - or a nationality from an EU country;
  - or the nationality of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland

• all other nationalities:
  - you have a valid residence permit
  - or you may await the decision on your residence permit in the Netherlands. 

Make an appointment

Registration from abroad must be done in person, within 5 days of arriving in the Netherlands.

To do so, make an appointment with the municipality by calling +31 40 2631 631.

Bring 

During your appointment to register in the Netherlands, the following documents are required: 

• your valid ID
• A passport or identity card showing your nationality
• documents of life events from your time abroad (birth certificate, marriage certificate, acknowledgement certificate, divorce certificate)
• if your children/partner are traveling with you, they must also come to the appointment in person 

• Are you going to live with someone: consent form from this person (ask for this when making an appointment)
• Coming from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius or St. Maarten: proof of deregistration required 

Registration deadline

The municipality has 4 weeks to complete your registration, but we do it as soon as possible. Usually your registration is completed within 1 to 2 weeks. 

When your registration is complete, you will be notified by letter. This letter contains your citizen service number (BSN). You will need this number for contact with the government. 

 Then you can arrange the following: 

• Register health insurer
  You cannot register with a health insurer until you are registered at a current residential address and have a citizen service number (BSN). 
• Importing your car
  After you are registered, you can buy an extract from the municipality. This will allow you to prove to customs that you live in the Netherlands and import your car.