Ask a Dutch friend how they file their tax return, check their allowance or read their health record, and the answer is the same two words every time: log in. DigiD in the Netherlands is the digital key for most public services. You cannot get it before you have a BSN, and nearly everything useful depends on it.
What is DigiD and why do you need it?
DigiD is the login system of the Dutch government. It gets you into your tax account, Mijn Belastingdienst, and the allowance service, Mijn toeslagen. The tax office's immigration checklist lists it as the first thing to get after you register with the municipality, because without it you cannot file your return online or claim allowances for health insurance, rent or childcare.
If you freelance, you also need a DigiD to fill in the KVK form for registering a sole proprietorship.
How do you apply for a DigiD?
First register with your municipality and receive your BSN. Our guide to the BSN number in the Netherlands explains how. Then:
- Apply in the DigiD app or by form on digid.nl.
- Wait for the activation code, which comes by post at the address you registered. DigiD's pages give a delivery time of a few working days (sources differ on whether it is three or five).
- Activate within 21 days. After that the code expires and you have to apply again.
That 21-day window is the single most common mistake among newcomers: the letter arrives while you are away, or goes to a mailbox with the wrong name, and the code lapses. Put your name on the mailbox before you apply.
How do you log in?
DigiD offers several methods. The app is the simplest, and you can choose between a password, an SMS code or an identity-document check for more sensitive data.
Note the practical limit for newcomers: for the identity-document check, DigiD accepts Dutch identity documents. It does not accept foreign IDs or foreign residence documents for that check. If you use a foreign passport only, the SMS method or the password may be your route. If activation fails and you live abroad, you must apply again.
If your letter has not come, your code has expired or you cannot get the app to accept your ID, Moovy can tell you which of DigiD's options still fit your situation, and what to say if you call the helpdesk.
What can you do with DigiD?
- File your tax return. In your first year you file a special return for people who move in or out during the year (the M form). The tax office's immigration checklist explains which return applies to you.
- Request or change allowances (toeslagen): healthcare allowance, rent allowance and childcare allowance.
- Register your bank account with the tax office so refunds reach you.
- Register with the KVK for a sole proprietorship.
- Give someone authority to act for you, for example a tax adviser, through DigiD's authorisation option.
Can you use a foreign e-ID instead?
Sometimes. The Dutch government has opened some services to electronic identification means from other EEA countries (the eIDAS system). For individuals, Mijn Belastingdienst accepts a foreign means of identification of at least substantial assurance level. Businesses that are set up under foreign law can only log in with eHerkenning, the business login.
In practice, this is good enough for a one-off task, such as checking something before you move. If you intend to stay, DigiD is simpler and covers more services.
Can you get a DigiD if you live abroad?
Yes, if you are in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI) and have a BSN. DigiD lists the requirements: a valid passport or ID, a BSN, an RNI registration, a phone that can receive SMS from the Netherlands and an email address. After the online form you get a service-desk code and book a visit to a DigiD service desk, such as a Dutch embassy or consulate-general, within 30 days. Those who receive a Dutch state pension (AOW) can apply through the SVB, and the activation letter goes to their foreign address.
What is the difference between the DigiD app and the other login methods?
DigiD offers several ways to log in, and the right one depends on what you are doing. The DigiD app is the simplest and the one most people use day to day. An SMS code can be added to your username and password. A username and password alone covers lower-risk services. And an identity-document check, done with your phone and an identity document, is used for the most sensitive data. The catch for newcomers is that DigiD accepts Dutch documents for that check, not foreign IDs or foreign residence documents.
The result is that your first DigiD login will usually be by SMS code and password. Once the app is activated, you can use it for everything else. If activation fails and you live abroad, DigiD says you have to apply again, so follow the steps carefully the first time.
What do you need to apply for a DigiD in the Netherlands?
Prepare four things before you apply. A BSN, which comes from your registration with the municipality. A mobile phone number that can receive SMS messages. An email address. And an address where you can receive post for the next few days, with your name on the mailbox, because the activation code arrives as a letter. If you live abroad, the process differs, with a service-desk visit.
When the letter arrives, activate within 21 days. DigiD allows a new code to be requested only once. Do not leave the letter in a pile on the kitchen table. If you are away, ask a neighbour or your landlord to keep an eye out for post.
Should you authorise someone to use DigiD for you?
Sometimes. DigiD has an authorisation function that lets a person act for you in a defined service, for example a tax adviser who prepares your return. It is better than handing over your password, which is personal and should never be shared. If you are filing your first-year return and want help, ask your adviser about authorisation rather than sending your login details.
What does DigiD in the Netherlands mean for your first-year checklist?
Put it near the top. With a DigiD you can register your bank account with the tax office, ask for allowances, and later file your first-year return. Without it, you are waiting on paper forms and letters. So the order is: municipality, BSN, DigiD, health insurance, allowances, return. If you work for yourself, DigiD is also the key to the KVK form.
Remember that DigiD is a personal login linked to your BSN, so treat it like a bank password. Do not use it on a shared computer, and do not give your SMS codes to anyone who calls you.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Waiting for the code too long. It lasts 21 days, and a new one can be requested only once.
- Sharing your login. DigiD is personal. If someone helps you with a return, use the authorisation function instead of handing over your password.
- Applying before you have a BSN. It will not work.
- Using an unofficial site. Apply only at digid.nl or in the app.
Once DigiD works, your remaining steps are health insurance in the Netherlands and the bank. If you are still putting your first weeks in order, start with moving to the Netherlands.