Registering with the municipality in the Netherlands
Do you intend to live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months? Then you must register in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP). You can do this at the municipality where you intend to live.
You must register in the BRP at the municipality where your intended address is located. There is no charge for this.
If you have no fixed address, you must register your postal address. For example, if you are a ship’s captain, or where the institution that you are in, such as a prison or psychiatric facility, is located.
Are you moving from one municipality to another municipality in the Netherlands? Then you must notify the new municipality of your change of address.
You must register with the municipality within 5 days of arriving in the Netherlands. You can do this at your municipality. Are your partner and/or children are coming with you to the Netherlands? They must come with you to the municipality.
Once you register in the BRP, you will receive a citizen service number (Burgerservicenummer – BSN). You will need this number for any contact with the Government of the Netherlands, such as when managing your taxes.
Exceptions
In some situations you can register later or in a different way:
- You are going to be living in the Netherlands for less than 4 months. Then you can register in the BRP as a non-resident. For this you can use an address outside the Netherlands. You will still receive a BSN.
- You do not have valid residence status, and to be allowed to stay in the Netherlands, you need a residence permit (verblijfsvergunning). If you are waiting for your residence permit to arrive, you do not have to register within 5 days.
- You are unable to prove your identity. This may require additional investigation. Registering with the municipality can then wait until the outcome of this investigation. After that, you will have to register.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
First registration in the Netherlands
You must report your move from abroad to the municipality in person. You must first fill in an online form. Please do so within 5 days of arriving in the Netherlands. Fill in a separate registration form for each family member moving with you.
Identity check at the municipal service desk
After receiving your online registration form, we will invite you for an appointment at the GemeenteLoket (municipal service desk). You will receive an e-mail containing an appointment for yourself and any partner and/or child(ren) moving with you. Please bring a valid form of identification (ID) and any other required documents with you to the appointment.
All family members who wish to be registered must come to the appointment with you. This includes babies, young children and older people.
Bring the documents below with you to the municipal service desk:
- a valid form of ID
- proof that you have accommodation. For example, a rental or purchase contract (printed and signed by both parties) or written permission from the main tenant
- your birth certificate if you were not born in the Netherlands
- proof from the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (Immigration and Naturalisation Service, IND) that you have lawful residence in the Netherlands / you may stay in the Netherlands if you do not hold citizenship of one of the European Union (EU) Member States
- a verhuisbericht (proof of deregistration) if you come from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint-Maarten, Bonaire, Sint-Eustatius or Saba
If the following events took place during your stay outside of the Netherlands:
- a marriage: the huwelijksakte (marriage certificate)
- a civil partnership: the akte van het geregistreerd partnerschap (civil partnership certificate)
- a divorce: the echtscheidingsakte (divorce certificate)
- the death of a partner: the overlijdensakte (death certificate)
- the birth of your children: the geboorteakte (birth certificate) and/or erkenningsakte (acknowledgement of parenthood certificate)
Registration is free of charge. You must pay the costs of translating or legalising official documents that you may need to take with you.
During the appointment, we will check whether you can be registered. If so, you will be registered in the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP (Personal Records Database). You will receive a confirmation letter. The municipality will send you your Burgerservicenummer – BSN (citizen service number) by post within 4 weeks.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Maastricht
Visiting address
Mosae Forum 10
6211DW Maastricht
| Monday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 12:30 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |