How do I register at the municipality?
As a tenant, you have a legal obligation to be registered with the municipality of your home address. You must therefore be registered at the address where you actually live. The municipality can check whether you still live at the address where you are registered.
You must register with the municipality:
- At your permanent home address;
- At a correspondence address, if you don’t have a permanent home address. For example, if you work as inland waterways crew or are staying in an institution (prison, psychiatric institution or women’s refuge).
You must register within 5 days of arriving in the Netherlands. If your partner and/or children have also come to live in the Netherlands, they must come with you to the municipality. You will be given a citizen service number (BSN) when you register. You will need this number when you contact the government, for example to ask for care or pay taxes.
Landlords are not allowed to offer advertisements where registration is not possible:
1. Living somewhere without a registration.
It is forbidden to offer an available home without the tenant being able or allowed to register with the municipality at this address.
2. Register somewhere without living there.
It is forbidden to offer a residential address for which it is not the intention to live, but the tenant may / can register at this address with the municipality.
If you do not register with your new municipality, it can decide to impose an administrative fine.
When is a registration not obligated?
If you will be living in the Netherlands for less than 4 months, it is not obligated to register as a resident with the Personal Records Database (BRP).
If you do not live in the Netherlands or will be staying for less than 4 months, you can register as a non-resident in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI) using your address abroad. You will be given a BSN, which you will usually need when you contact the government, for example to ask for care or pay taxes.
I am not yet registered with the municipality, how can I do this?
You can register with the municipality by going to the Civil Affairs and Municipal Tax Service at your local municipality.
You can find out how to make an appointment on the website of your local municipality, often online. If you want to register via the internet, you need your DigiD code and you must send a copy of your lease.
If you visit the Civil Affairs and Municipal Taxes (Dienst Burgerzaken en Gemeentebelastingen) in person, bring your passport and your rental contract.
More information can be found on the site of the municipality where you are going to live.
You can report the change in your living situation to the Executive Education Service, or DUO, by logging in with your DigiD on their website or by printing out or sending the form.
Source: Government.nl
