Public services and online portals

Key authorities

• Gemeente (municipality): BRP registration, BSN, civil status, identity card for Dutch nationals, local taxes, help with school enrolment (see NL-SEJOUR-TOUS-001 and NL-NIF-TOUS-001).
• RNI (register of non-residents): for those who stay less than 4 months or live abroad; also gives a BSN; free registration, in person, at one of the 19 municipalities that have an RNI desk.
• IND: residence of foreigners; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have neither a residence permit to apply for nor any registration to make with the IND, unless the IND ended a stay they previously had (see NL-SEJOUR-TOUS-001).
• Belastingdienst: income tax (see NL-IMPOTS-TOUS-001), allowances (toeslagen: health, rent, childcare), vehicle import (tax).
• UWV: employee insurance, unemployment, job search (werk.nl).
• SVB: family allowances (kinderbijslag) and State pension (AOW).
• CAK: monitoring of the health insurance obligation (letter, fine, and insurance taken out for you if you are not insured); health insurance for those who live abroad with a Dutch pension or benefit (see NL-SANTE-TOUS-001).
• RDW: registration and Dutch plate for an imported vehicle; driving licences. An EU or EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) licence remains valid for 15 years after issue for the motorbike and car categories (AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE) and 5 years for lorry and bus, as long as it has not expired; if it was issued more than 15 years ago without having expired, you can still drive 2 years after you move; after that you need a Dutch licence, obtained by exchange at your municipality. A non-EU/EFTA licence can be used for 185 days after you move, then only a Dutch licence is allowed; exchange is only possible in certain cases (the RDW gives the list), otherwise theory and practical exams at the CBR. Request the exchange in time: the RDW allows at least 15 working days, and once the period has passed you can no longer drive, even if your application is in progress. Fees vary by municipality; your foreign licence is handed to the municipality and is not returned to you (RDW).
• KVK: commercial register (see NL-ENTREPRISE-TOUS-001).

Online services

• DigiD: application in the DigiD app or by form on digid.nl, then activation with the code received by post (letter within 5 working days, sent to your BRP address). You then log in with the DigiD app (the simplest), with username and password plus an SMS check code (the Belastingdienst no longer accepts username and password alone), or, for the most sensitive data, with an identity card issued after 13 March 2021 (clarification from the Belastingdienst). You can also give a power of attorney (for example for your taxes). People who live abroad or in the Caribbean Netherlands can also apply for one.
• Mijn Belastingdienst / Mijn toeslagen: tax return and allowances, with DigiD.
• European login: if you do not yet have a DigiD, several Dutch bodies accept your country's electronic login means (European login, eIDAS): the Belastingdienst (Mijn Belastingdienst), the SVB, the UWV and DUO are among them, as well as some municipalities, but a BSN is generally required. Example given by Rijksoverheid: the Belgian itsme means on the SVB or Belastingdienst website.
• What cannot be done online at first: BRP registration is done in person at the municipality; setting up a business generally requires an appointment at the KVK.

Steps

1. Book an appointment at the municipality and register in the BRP within 5 days of your arrival (if you stay more than 4 months). Bring your ID and, depending on your municipality, your civil status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate), translated if necessary. A public document issued by another EU country does not need to be legalised (European regulation on public documents); outside the EU, an apostille is enough for countries party to the Hague Convention (apostilles from Bangladesh and Pakistan are not recognised in the Netherlands), otherwise legalisation is generally done in two steps; ask your municipality for the exact list. Additional identity checks can take time.
2. Receive your BSN, then apply for your DigiD.
3. Take out the compulsory health insurance (see NL-SANTE-TOUS-001) and give your bank account number to the Belastingdienst for your refunds.
4. Check your entitlement to toeslagen if you have health insurance, rent or children.
5. Car: declare your imported vehicle to the RDW to obtain a Dutch plate.

Common pitfalls

• Waiting to register with the municipality. The 5-day period runs from your arrival: book an appointment at the municipality as soon as possible.
• Going to the municipality alone. Your partner and children must come with you.
• Not activating your DigiD in time: the activation code is valid for 21 days, after which you must request DigiD again (digid.nl).
• Caribbean Netherlands: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba have their own rules, not described here (DigiD is possible there, according to digid.nl).

What changes by country of origin

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: no residence permit, direct registration in the BRP.
• British nationals (including Scots): IND residence permit first, which may delay registration.