How to Register at a Dutch Municipality: BRP and RNI Guide for Newcomers (2026)

Within days of arriving in the Netherlands, you need to register your address with the local government. This is not a formality you can delay — you are legally required to register within five days of moving into your Dutch address, and failing to do so can result in a fine. The registration also triggers the issue of your BSN (Burgerservicenummer), without which you cannot work, open a bank account, or arrange health insurance.

This guide explains the two registration routes available — BRP for long-term residents and RNI for short-term arrivals — and walks you through the process step by step.

The Basisregistratie Personen (BRP)

The BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) is the national personal records database that holds the address and personal details of all residents in the Netherlands. When you register at your municipality, your details are entered into the BRP and you receive a BSN.

BRP registration is for anyone who intends to stay in the Netherlands for more than four months. It links you to a specific Dutch address and makes you a formal resident of that municipality.

The RNI Registration (For Stays Under 4 Months)

If you will be in the Netherlands for less than four months — for example as a seasonal worker, short-term contract employee, or for a project assignment — you register at one of the nineteen designated Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen (RNI) locations instead.

RNI registration gives you a BSN without registering a permanent Dutch address. It is specifically designed for people who have income or administrative ties to the Netherlands but are not long-term residents. Available RNI municipalities include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Breda, and others.

Documents Required for First Registration

Prepare the following documents before your appointment. Missing even one document typically means you cannot complete your registration on the day.

For EU/EEA citizens:

• Valid passport or EU identity card
• Proof of Dutch address (rental contract, purchase agreement, or a signed declaration from the address holder)
• Original apostilled or legalised birth certificate
• Marriage certificate if applicable (also apostilled)

For non-EU/EEA citizens:

• Valid passport
• Dutch residence permit (MVV entry visa or IND residence sticker)
• Proof of Dutch address
• Original birth certificate with apostille or legalisation
• Marriage or partnership certificate if applicable

If your documents are in a language that Dutch officials cannot read (for example Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Japanese), you will need a certified Dutch translation by a sworn translator.

Proof of Address: What Is Accepted

Newcomers often struggle with this requirement, especially if staying temporarily. Accepted proofs of address include:

• A signed rental contract in your name
• A purchase (sale) agreement for a property you own
• A verklaring van inwoning — a written declaration signed by the main tenant or owner confirming you are living at their address. This must usually be accompanied by a copy of their ID.

Your employer's address or a hotel address is generally not accepted for BRP registration.

How to Book an Appointment

All municipalities require an in-person appointment for a first BRP registration. You cannot walk in without one. Booking methods vary by municipality:

• Amsterdam — book online at amsterdam.nl. Waiting times in 2026 are typically six to eight weeks.
• Rotterdam — online via rotterdam.nl. Usually two to four weeks' wait.
• Eindhoven — online via eindhoven.nl. Often available within one to two weeks.
• The Hague — online via denhaag.nl, with an international newcomers counter that is faster for highly skilled migrants.

Book your appointment as early as possible — ideally before you even arrive in the Netherlands, if you already have your address confirmed.

International Newcomers Centres

Several cities operate dedicated services for highly skilled migrants, knowledge workers, and their families. These International Newcomers Centres (expat centres) process registrations faster than standard municipal queues, often within days. They also provide services in English. Major ones include:

• Expat Centre Amsterdam (ECA) — serves Amsterdam and surrounding municipalities
• Expat Centre Eindhoven — serves the Brainport technology region
• Rotterdam Expat Centre — combined services including DigiD and banking
• IND Knowledge Migrants Desk — The Hague, for IND-related matters

To use these centres, your employer usually needs to be an IND-recognised sponsor.

What Happens at the Appointment

The appointment typically takes twenty to forty minutes. A municipal officer will review your original documents, enter your details into the BRP system, and confirm your registration address. If everything is in order, you will receive your BSN number on the same day at an expat centre, or by post within five to ten working days at a standard gemeente desk.

Keep this BSN safe — you will use it constantly. Write it down somewhere secure and share it only with trusted institutions like your employer, insurer, or bank.

After Registration: What Changes

Once you are in the BRP, several important things become accessible. You can:

• Apply for your DigiD (digital identity)
• Open a Dutch bank account
• Take out obligatory health insurance
• Sign an employment contract and receive your Dutch salary
• Apply for government allowances like zorgtoeslag and huurtoeslag
• Enrol your children in Dutch schools

Deregistering When You Leave

When you leave the Netherlands permanently, you must deregister from the BRP at your municipality. If you do not, you may continue to receive letters, tax bills, and other correspondence at your old address, and you could face complications if you return to the Netherlands in the future.

Registration is not just a legal requirement — it is the foundation of everything you will do in the Netherlands. Get it done early and everything else becomes easier.

WelkomNL: Your Registration Companion

The WelkomNL app guides you through the BRP and RNI registration process with a step-by-step checklist, appointment reminders, and document checklists personalised to your situation. Available in multiple languages, it is designed to make your first weeks in the Netherlands as smooth as possible.