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.
Municipality of Emmen: Registering with the municipality
You must inform us of your move to the Netherlands in person. For a first registration, you always need an appointment that you must make by telephone (when calling from abroad: +31 591 689 000). When talking to you on the telephone, we will ask you various questions in preparation for the interview. We will also explain which documents to bring to your appointment at the town hall.
All family members who wish to be registered must come to the appointment with you. This includes babies, young children and elderly people.
This is how to register in the Netherlands for the first time:
- Visit the town hall in Emmen in person.
- Take the following documentation with you:
- your valid ID (showing your nationality);
- documentary evidence of accommodation, such as a rental contract or title deed;
- if you were born outside the Netherlands: your birth certificate;
- if you do not have a European nationality: documentary evidence of approval of your stay by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND);
- if you are from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius or Saba: a change of address;
- possibly the following documents:
- a marriage or divorce certificate;
- a death certificate of your partner (as documentary evidence that the marriage was dissolved by death);
- the birth certificates of your children;
- Do you have proof of de-registration from your previous country of residence? Please take that with you as well.
- All persons moving with you must come along personally.
Registration is free of charge. You must pay the costs of translating or legalising official documents that you may need to take with you.
After your arrival in the Netherlands, you must register within 5 working days.
The municipality will register you in the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP (Personal Records Database) during the actual appointment. You will receive a confirmation letter. The municipality will send your citizen service number (BSN) by post within 3 weeks.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Emmen
Visiting address
Raadhuisplein 1
7811AP Emmen
| Monday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Thursday | 08:30 - 19:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 16:30 |
| Saturday | 08:30 - 12:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |