How can I apply for a passport or ID card at a border municipality in the Netherlands?
If you live abroad and will be visiting the Netherlands soon to see family or on holiday, or live close to the Dutch border, you can apply for a Dutch passport or ID card at one of the 15 border municipalities. The exact application process varies by municipality.
Step 1: Collect your documents
You will need certain documents for your application. Exactly which documents you need depends on your situation and your country of residence. Create a personal checklist to see which documents you need.
Select your country and create your personal checklist
Step 2: Make an appointment or upload your documents
Some border municipalities allow you to make an appointment via the website before submitting your documents. Your documents will be checked during the appointment. Other border municipalities require you to first upload your documents. The municipality will then check whether your documents are complete. You will not be invited to make an appointment until your documents are complete.
Find out how to make an appointment and select your border municipality
Step 3: Plan your trip to the Netherlands
Take the processing time into account
You need to be in the Netherlands for your appointment and to collect your new passport or ID card. You should therefore take the border municipality’s waiting and processing times into account when planning your travel.
When to plan your travel
If you’re applying at a border municipality where you can make an appointment directly, check the website to see how long it will take before your new passport or ID card is ready. You can plan your travel as soon as you have made your appointment.
If you’re applying to a border municipality where you have to first upload your documents, take the waiting time for checking your documents into account. You will not be able to plan your appointment and know exactly when you need to be in the Netherlands until your documents have been checked. See the border municipality’s website to find out how long it will take before your new passport or ID card is ready.
Check the waiting and processing times for each border municipality (information in Dutch)
Step 4: Go to your appointment
You will need to appear at your appointment in person. Bring your original documents with you. Your fingerprints will be taken and you will have to pay for your new passport or ID card.
Check what a passport or ID card costs at a border municipality
Step 5: Collect your document or have it sent to you
Processing times vary by municipality. Check the processing time on the website of the border municipality where you submitted your application. The website will also tell you if your new document can be sent to you, or if you have to collect it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Find out where you can get an appointment the soonest (information in Dutch). After your appointment it can take a few days to a few weeks before your new passport or ID card is ready. This varies from municipality to municipality. Find out on the border municipality’s website how long it will take.
No, border municipalities do not fast track passport or ID card applications or issue emergency documents.
Find out where to apply for an emergency passport on Government.nl.
Sometimes it can be quicker to apply at a Dutch embassy or consulate-general. This varies by location and depends on appointment availability. The embassy and consulate-general will not check your documents in advance. They do this after your appointment. This often means you can get an appointment sooner. Remember to take processing times into account.
Find out how to make an appointment at an embassy or consulate-general in your country
You’ll pay less for your passport or ID card if you apply at a Dutch border municipality than if you apply at an embassy or consulate-general. This is because your application will be processed in the Netherlands, which is simpler and costs less than processing abroad.