BSN number Netherlands 2026: what it is, how to get one, and what you cannot do without it
Find out which registration gets you a BSN, what to bring, and how fast it comes. Includes what to do without an address and how to keep your number safe.
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Rules from Rijksoverheid, RvIG and Netherlands Worldwide · Checked 14 September 2026
Short answer
BSN number Netherlands, in short: you get a citizen service number (burgerservicenummer) when you register in the Personal Records Database (BRP). Staying longer than 4 months? Register in person with your municipality within 5 days of arrival, and the BSN follows. Staying shorter, or living abroad? Register at one of the 19 RNI desks; without a European passport, only Breda and Venlo can register you. The number stays valid for life.
Key facts
- 4 months: stay longer than this and you must register with your municipality.
- 5 days after arrival is the deadline to register in person.
- 19 municipalities have an RNI desk for stays under 4 months.
- 2 RNI desks, Breda and Venlo, register people without a European passport since January 2026.
- €325 is the maximum fine for not registering as the law requires.
- 4 weeks is how long Utrecht says your registration and BSN can take.
This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.
The basics
What a BSN is, and what you need it for
A BSN (citizen service number) is the unique personal number you are registered under in the Personal Records Database (Netherlands Worldwide).
- What for: health insurance, your tax return, your pension and a DigiD login.
- At work: your employer must record it in the payroll (Business.gov.nl).
- For life: you receive it once, and it stays valid even if you move abroad and come back.
- Old name: it replaced the tax and social insurance number (sofinummer).
- Where to find it: on a Dutch passport, driving licence or identity card (Rijksoverheid).
Routes
BSN number Netherlands: two routes to one
How long you stay decides where you register (Netherlands Worldwide).
| Registering as a resident (BRP) | Registering as a non-resident (RNI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | You will live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months | You stay less than 4 months, or live abroad |
| Where | The municipality where you will live | One of the 19 municipalities with an RNI desk |
| When | In person, within 5 days of arrival | In person, when you need a BSN |
| Without a European passport | Any municipality, with a valid residence permit | Only Breda and Venlo, since January 2026 |
| Your BSN | Follows your registration | Given at the desk |
Sources: Netherlands Worldwide, RvIG and The Hague.
- At an RNI desk you can only request a BSN for yourself, or for your child under 16.
- Leaving later? Deregister with your municipality; your details then move to the RNI automatically.
Steps
How to get a BSN, step by step
Five steps take you from arrival to a BSN. Book early: registration can wait on an appointment.
- Choose your routeStaying in the Netherlands for more than 4 months: register as a resident with the municipality where you will live. Staying less than 4 months, or living abroad: register at an RNI desk instead.
- Book an appointmentIn most municipalities you need one, so contact yours well ahead. Amsterdam lets you visit a City Office without an appointment; Utrecht warns that appointments can take longer than usual.
- Gather your documentsYour passport (plus a residence permit if you are not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland), your rental contract or a signed consent form from the main occupant, and your birth certificate and other certificates, legalised or translated where required.
- Register in person within 5 daysGo to the desk yourself; a partner and children who moved with you come along too.
- Receive your BSNAt an RNI desk you get it straight away. After registering with a municipality it follows with the registration, which in Utrecht can take up to 4 weeks.
Registering is free (Rijksoverheid). Need an appointment for your permit too? See our visa appointment guide.
Documents
Documents to bring
Bring original documents that prove your identity, your address and your civil status (City of Amsterdam).
- Identity: a valid passport or identity card if you are from the EU, EEA or Switzerland; otherwise a valid passport and a residence permit for a longer stay.
- Address: your rental or purchase contract, or a consent form signed by the main occupant, with a copy of their ID.
- Certificates: your birth certificate and, where they apply, marriage, divorce or adoption certificates, for your children too.
- Legalisation and translation: foreign certificates may need to be legalised. Utrecht accepts English, German and French documents without a certified translation (City of Utrecht).
Coming on a long-stay visa? Our MVV guide covers the permit you collect first.
Address
No address yet?
Without a home address you can register at a letter-box address, and the municipality decides whether that is allowed (Rijksoverheid).
- Short stay: for less than 4 months you can register at an RNI desk with an address outside the Netherlands, and still get a BSN.
- Contract start: Utrecht does not register you before your rental or purchase contract takes effect.
- Waiting for a residence permit? Then you do not have to register within 5 days.
- Fine: not registering as the law requires can cost up to €325 (articles 2.38 and 4.17 of the Personal Records Database Act).
Work
Working without a BSN
You can start a job, but your employer cannot apply for a BSN for you, and must record yours in the payroll (Business.gov.nl).
- Anonymous rate: if your name, address or BSN are missing before you start, the employer must withhold tax at the anonymous rate (Belastingdienst knowledge group).
- Getting it back: you can settle that higher tax through your income tax return, because the assessment uses the normal rate.
- Sponsored work: a residence or work permit may be needed too; see our Netherlands visa guide. Our salary calculator shows your normal net pay.
Safety
Protect your BSN
Organisations outside the government may only use your BSN when the law allows it (Rijksoverheid), for example healthcare providers and health insurers.
- Checked against you: an organisation that uses your BSN must check that you and the number belong together.
- Copies of your ID: use the government’s KopieID app, and strike out details the receiver does not need (RvIG).
- Housing scams: criminals collect ID details through fake rental websites and ads.
- Misused? Tell your bank, report it to the police and report it to the Central Identity Fraud Desk (CMI) (Rijksoverheid).
Keep reading
Related guides
More guides on moving to the Netherlands.
Netherlands visa
Every route to living and working in the Netherlands.
VisaVisa appointment
How to book your embassy or IND appointment.
VisaMVV visa
The long-stay entry visa and how to collect it.
PayNetherlands salary calculator
Your net pay for 2026 from any gross salary.
CityImmigration in Amsterdam
Local help with permits and registration.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a BSN number in the Netherlands?
Register in the Personal Records Database. If you will live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, register in person with your municipality within 5 days of arrival and you receive a BSN. For a shorter stay, register at one of the 19 RNI desks with your passport or identity card. Without a European passport, only Breda and Venlo can register you.
How long does it take to get a BSN?
At an RNI desk you receive your BSN at the appointment. After registering with a municipality it comes with your registration; Utrecht, for example, says that can take up to 4 weeks. Getting an appointment can take time too, so contact the municipality before you arrive. Amsterdam lets you register at a City Office without an appointment.
Can I get a BSN without an address in the Netherlands?
If you have no home address, the law lets you register at a letter-box address (briefadres) instead, and the municipality decides whether that is allowed. For a stay under 4 months you can register at an RNI desk with an address outside the Netherlands. Utrecht does not register you before your rental contract takes effect.
Can I work in the Netherlands without a BSN?
Your employer must record your BSN in the payroll and cannot apply for one on your behalf. If your name, address or BSN are missing before you start, the employer must withhold tax at the anonymous rate, which is much higher. You can settle that extra tax through your income tax return, but it is better to register first.
Can I apply for a BSN from abroad?
Not remotely: you register at an RNI desk in person, so staff can check your identity. You can fill in the registration form online first and take the QR code with you. Anyone else you register, including children, must come along. Registration in the RNI is free of charge.
Which RNI desks can I use without a European passport?
Since January 2026 only the RNI desks in Breda and Venlo register people who do not have a European passport. People with Dutch nationality or the nationality of another EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland can choose any of the 19 desks. In every case you need a valid passport or identity card.
Does my BSN change if I leave the Netherlands?
No. You receive a citizen service number once, and it stays valid and unchanged, even if you move abroad and later return. If you move away, deregister with your municipality; your details then move to the Non-residents Records Database automatically, under the same number.
Is it safe to share my BSN?
Share it only where it is needed. Organisations outside the government may only use your BSN when the law allows it, as for employers, healthcare providers and health insurers. When you must hand over a copy of your passport, use the KopieID app to strike out details the receiver does not need. Report misuse to the police and the CMI.
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Official sources, checked 14 September 2026
- Netherlands Worldwide: what is a citizen service number?
- Business.gov.nl (KVK): citizen service number (BSN)
- Rijksoverheid: how do I get a citizen service number? (in Dutch)
- Netherlands Worldwide: when do I have to register with a Dutch municipality?
- Netherlands Worldwide: how can I register in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI)?
- RvIG: addresses of the RNI municipalities (in Dutch)
- The Hague: BSN and registration for non-residents (RNI)
- Rijksoverheid: when must I register in the BRP as a resident? (in Dutch)
- City of Amsterdam: moving from abroad
- City of Utrecht: registering from abroad
- Wetten.nl: Personal Records Database Act, articles 2.38 and 4.17 (in Dutch)
- Belastingdienst knowledge group: applying the anonymous tax rate (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: the citizen service number (in Dutch)
- RvIG: Central Identity Fraud Desk (CMI) (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: I am a victim of identity fraud, what can I do? (in Dutch)
Final notes and legal disclaimer
- This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
- It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
- Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
- No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
- No rights can be derived from this article.
- For decisions about your BSN, registration or residence permit, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.
FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.