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

Your (future) place of residence falls under:

Municipality of Groningen

Here is some information from your municipality.

Moving to the Netherlands

You must inform us of your move from abroad in person. You must make an appointment to do this.

All foreigners who need to be registered, including children, must go to the desk in person.

Please bring

Rental - or purchase agreement.
If you don’t have a rental agreement: Permission form (pdf 53 kB) by the owner or one of the adult residents.
Copy of a valid ID of the person who gives permission.
A valid passport or identity card.
A birth certificate (if it hasn't been registered before).

Please bring if relevant

A valid residence permit or proof you have applied for one (sticker or letter IND).
If you have previously lived in the Netherlands: Citizen service number (BSN), formerly known as 'social security number'.
Foreign marriage certificate, certificate of registered partnerschip, divorce certificate, divorce decree, death certificate partner, birth certificate child, another nationality: if you have not already shown this for the BRP.
A proof of deregistration with the PIVA if you are moving to the Netherlands from Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

Appointment

You can only visit loket Groningen Centrum (Kreupelstraat 1) by appointment.
Are you coming with several people? Then you can indicate the number of people when making the appointment.

Make an appointment