How to Register Your Address in the Netherlands

🏠 Why address registration is important

If you’re planning to live and work in the Netherlands for longer than 4 months, you are legally required to register your address with the BRP – the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen).

Without this registration, you can’t:

• Get full access to Dutch healthcare
• Apply for housing or allowances (like huurtoeslag)
• Get a DigiD or receive official letters
• Be seen as a legal resident of the Netherlands

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📍 What is the BRP?

The BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) is the Dutch national database where all residents are registered, including EU citizens living in the Netherlands.

When you register in the BRP, you are officially listed at a Dutch address and you receive:

• Full residency status
• A BSN (if you don’t already have one)
• Access to essential public services

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✅ Who must register?

You must register if:

• You plan to stay in the Netherlands for 4 months or longer, either continuously or within 6 months
• You work and live here on your own, with friends, or in employer-arranged housing
• You already have a BSN via RNI but are now living at a permanent address

📌 Even EU citizens must register — your nationality does not remove this obligation.

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🗂️ What documents do you need?

To register in the BRP at your local gemeente (municipality), you must bring:

Document	Notes
Valid ID or passport	Must be from EU/EEA or Swiss country
Rental contract or housing agreement	Name must match yours OR be accompanied by written permission
Written permission from the main resident (if not in your name)	Plus a copy of their ID
Work contract (sometimes optional)	Some municipalities request this for verification
Birth certificate (rare, but possible)	Some cities ask for legalized translations for full registration

Always check your gemeente’s website or call ahead. Each city may have different rules.

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🕐 When and where to register

• You must register within 5 days after moving to your new address
• Make an appointment with your local gemeentehuis (city hall) – many cities allow online bookings
• Registration is free

Popular municipalities for migrant workers include:

• Rotterdam
• The Hague
• Eindhoven
• Tilburg
• Almere
• Goes

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🛏️ What if you’re living in shared or employer housing?

You can still register your address if:

• You have a housing contract or proof of residence
• The main resident or housing manager gives written permission

If your employer arranged your housing:

• Ask them to confirm in writing that you live there
• Bring that letter with your documents to city hall

🛑 Without address registration, you may not be eligible for allowances (like zorgtoeslag or huurtoeslag).

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🔄 Already registered via RNI?

If you already got your BSN through the RNI (non-residents register) and you now live at a Dutch address, you must switch to full BRP registration.

Steps:

1. Contact your local gemeente
2. Request “conversion from RNI to BRP”
3. Bring your documents (see above)
4. You’ll keep the same BSN

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🧾 What happens after registration?

You’ll receive:

• A confirmation of registration
• Updates from the Dutch tax office (Belastingdienst)
• Official mail from the government
• Access to DigiD registration

Your employer may also need proof of registration to comply with legal obligations.

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❓ FAQ

Can I register without a rental contract?

Yes, but you’ll need written permission from the person listed at the address + a copy of their ID.

What if I move later?

You must update your address with the gemeente within 5 days of moving.

Can I register with a friend or family member?

Yes, as long as they give written permission and live at the address.

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✅ Summary: BRP Registration Checklist

Step	Action
1	Make an appointment with your gemeente
2	Bring valid ID and proof of address
3	Register within 5 days of moving
4	Ask for written permission if needed
5	Update gemeente if you move again