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.
Moving from abroad
You have to inform us of your move from abroad in person. For this you will need an appointment.
- All family members who wish to be registered must come to the appointment with you. This includes babies, young children and elderly people.
- Please register within 5 days of your arrival. If you do not register within 5 days, you can be fined by the municipality.
Does the 5th day fall on a day on which the municipality is not open, for example on a weekend or a public holiday? Then the 5th day will be the next day on which the municipality is open.
- A valid passport or identitycard of everyone who is going to register (this cannot be a driver's license).
- Rental or purchase contract of your home. Or permission from the resident with whom you are going to live.
- If you are going to live with someone, a copy of the resident's identity card or passport with his signature.
- Proof of deregistration if you come from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius.
If you were born, married or divorced abroad, please also bring the following original documents:
- your birth certificate;
- the birth certificates of your partner and/or your children;
- your marriage certificate or proof of registered partnership;
- divorce papers;
- adoption papers and/or a death certificate of your partner or child(ren).
Sometimes your document needs legalization and/or translation. You can view this per country on the website of the central government. Enter the country where your document was issued.
Call us at +31 24 329 90 00 to make an appointment.
Registration is free of charge. You must pay the costs of translating or legalising official documents that you may need to take with you.
We will register you in the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP ('Personal Records Database') during the actual appointment. You will receive your BSN ('citizen service number') immediately after your appointment.
In some cases your registration cannot be completed during your appointment. Then you will receive your BSN later in a confirmation lettre.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Nijmegen
Visiting address
Mariënburg 30
6511PS Nijmegen
| Monday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 -20:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |