IND and registration in Leiden (2026): the city, Leiden International Centre and the IND desk
Your registration in Leiden runs through the city or Leiden International Centre, while the IND sits elsewhere. This guide explains which appointment fits you, what to bring, where to go for the IND, and when a lawyer helps.
FindLawyer gives practical initial guidance, prepares your case and matches you with a suitable independent lawyer. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.
Rules from the City of Leiden, the IND, Leiden International Centre and RvIG · Checked 15 September 2026
Short answer
Registration in Leiden happens at the City of Leiden: make an appointment within 5 working days of moving and register in person, for free, if you will live in the Netherlands for at least 4 months. Highly skilled migrants, researchers and some other newcomers can book a paid fast-track appointment at Leiden International Centre instead. Neither offers IND services: the IND office in Leiden cannot be visited, so biometrics and permit collection happen at an IND desk such as the one in The Hague.
Key facts for 2026
- 5 working days after moving to Leiden is the deadline to have your registration appointment.
- 4 months or more in the Netherlands means you register with the city, not the RNI.
- €75 is Leiden International Centre’s fee for a fast-track BSN appointment; the city’s is free.
- 3 months is how long LIC clients may register at their employer’s address while house-hunting.
- Bargelaan 190 houses the Leiden RNI desk for stays of 4 months or less.
- €5,942 gross a month is the 2026 highly skilled migrant threshold from age 30.
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.
Registration
Registration in Leiden: the city appointment and what to bring
Anyone moving to Leiden from abroad for at least 4 months registers in person with the city, with an appointment within 5 working days of the move.
- The conditions. You will live in the Netherlands for at least 4 months over the next 6 months, you have a valid residence permit or EEA or Swiss nationality, and family members moving with you come along to the appointment (City of Leiden).
- What to bring. Valid ID, a copy of your rental or purchase contract in your name, or a signed permission form from the main resident with a copy of their ID. Moving to the Netherlands for the first time? Add your birth, marriage or divorce certificate, which may need to be legalised (City of Leiden).
- Cost and time. Registering is free and takes at least 5 working days to process; questions go to 14 071, or +31 71 51 65 165 from abroad (City of Leiden). Your registration gives you your citizen service number (burgerservicenummer, BSN); see our BSN guide.
- Short stays. For 4 months or less, register in the RNI: Leiden’s RNI desk is at Bargelaan 190 (RvIG), and for a longer stay an RNI desk is not an option (Netherlands Worldwide).
- No address yet? Our renting in Leiden guide covers the local rules and the free Huurteam.
Expat centre
Leiden International Centre: the fast-track BSN appointment
Leiden International Centre is a non-profit that sells faster registration appointments with extra help, while its other services are free.
- Who runs it. Founded in 2016 as Expat Centre Leiden, it supports international newcomers and their employers in the Leiden region (LIC).
- What you get. Appointments usually within the next week, a welcome bag, a 30-minute helpdesk session and, without a home yet, registration at your employer’s address. The fee is €75 for the first family member, €45 for a second and €25 per child, including VAT, while a city appointment is free (LIC).
- Who may book. Highly skilled migrants, intra-corporate transferees, scientific researchers, entrepreneurs and recent graduates who have already moved, will stay more than 4 months and never had a BSN; not international students. Your address, or your employer, must be in Leiden, Leiderdorp or Voorschoten, and at an employer’s address you may register temporarily for 3 months (LIC).
- When. BSN registrations are by appointment only, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 09:00 to 12:00, in the LEVEL building next to Leiden Centraal (LIC).
| Where you book | Cost | Who can book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Leiden | Free | Anyone moving to Leiden from abroad for at least 4 months | City of Leiden |
| Leiden International Centre | €75 first family member, €45 second, €25 per child | Highly skilled migrants, intra-corporate transferees, researchers, entrepreneurs, recent graduates | LIC |
The IND
Where the IND is for Leiden: no counter in the city
Leiden has no IND counter open to the public, so your biometrics and residence card are handled at an IND desk elsewhere.
- The Leiden office. The IND lists an office in Leiden and states that it is not possible to visit it (IND).
- No IND services at LIC. Leiden International Centre says the closest IND location is in The Hague, 15 minutes away by train (LIC). The IND desk The Hague at Rijnstraat 8 is by appointment only, through a separate entrance to the right of the main entrance (IND). Our IND appointments guide lists every desk.
- Naturalisation. Living in Leiden or Noordwijk, you apply to become Dutch directly with the IND (City of Leiden); see our Dutch citizenship guide.
- Register and receive your BSN With the City of Leiden or through Leiden International Centre.
- Book the IND desk if the IND asks for biometrics The IND office in Leiden cannot be visited (IND), and LIC suggests the desk in The Hague (LIC).
- Apply for DigiD Once you are in the Personal Records Database (Netherlands Worldwide).
- Arrange your basic health insurance The Dutch government sets the latest moment at 4 months after you arrive (Government.nl).
Routes
Studying and working in Leiden: sponsors and routes
Universiteit Leiden, the LUMC and the Hogeschool Leiden are all recognised sponsors on the IND register for work.
They appear as Universiteit Leiden, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC) and Stichting Hogeschool Leiden (IND register). In 2026 a highly skilled migrant earns at least €5,942 gross a month from age 30, €4,357 under 30, or €3,122 after an orientation year (IND). Search the register with our sponsorship jobs guide.
- Work: the highly skilled migrant guide and working in Leiden.
- Study: the student visa guide, then the orientation year.
- Family and visits: the partner and family guide and the Schengen visa guide.
Legal help
When you need an immigration lawyer in Leiden
Registration rarely needs a lawyer, but a refusal, a long wait or a lost job on a permit does, and FindLawyer is based in Leiden.
- Refused: the objection deadline is short; read our IND refusal guide the day the letter arrives.
- Waiting: our IND processing times guide explains the legal decision periods.
- Lost your job on a permit: see what happens to your permit.
- A free first consultation: FindLawyer, based in Leiden, starts with a free 15-minute call; on a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid.
Refused, delayed or worried about your permit? Talk to an immigration lawyer
Need help with this? We match you with an English-speaking Dutch immigration lawyer. Free 15-minute matching call first. Lawyer fees are paid to the firm and explained before you proceed.
Keep reading
Related guides
More of our guides for arriving in Leiden.
IND appointments and desks
Every IND desk and expat centre.
AdminBSN number
BRP or RNI, and what to bring.
HousingRenting in Leiden
Local permits, deposits, the Huurteam.
WorkWorking in Leiden
Contracts and dismissal help.
EntryMVV entry visa
Who needs it before arriving.
VisasNetherlands visa guide
Every route side by side.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I register in Leiden after moving from abroad?
If you will live in the Netherlands for at least 4 months in the next 6, have your appointment with the City of Leiden within 5 working days of moving and go in person, with family members who move with you. Bring valid ID and a copy of your rental or purchase contract in your name. Registration is free and takes at least 5 working days to process.
What is the difference between the city and Leiden International Centre?
Both register you in the Personal Records Database. A city appointment is free. Leiden International Centre, a non-profit, charges €75 for a fast-track appointment that includes a 30-minute helpdesk session, a welcome bag and the option to register at your employer’s address for 3 months. It does not register international students.
Is there an IND desk in Leiden?
No counter you can visit: the IND lists an office in Leiden but says it is not possible to visit it, and Leiden International Centre offers no IND services. For biometrics or collecting a residence permit, book an appointment at an IND desk; LIC points Leiden residents to the desk at Rijnstraat 8 in The Hague.
I am staying in Leiden for less than 4 months. How do I get a BSN?
Register in the Non-residents Records Database, the RNI, which also gives you a BSN. Leiden is one of the RNI municipalities, with its desk at Bargelaan 190. If you will stay for more than 4 months, you cannot use an RNI desk and must register with the city as a resident.
Is there a free immigration lawyer consultation in Leiden?
FindLawyer, which is based in Leiden, starts with a free 15-minute call and then matches you with an English-speaking Dutch immigration lawyer, explaining the fees before you proceed. On a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid, and Leiden International Centre’s helpdesk answers practical questions free of charge.
Can I apply to become Dutch in Leiden?
If you live in Leiden or Noordwijk, you apply for naturalisation directly with the IND, which the City of Leiden says is faster than a request through the municipality. Our Dutch citizenship guide explains the conditions, such as the years of residence and the integration exam, before you apply.
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Official sources, checked 15 September 2026
- City of Leiden: moving to Leiden from abroad (in Dutch)
- RvIG: addresses of the RNI municipalities (in Dutch)
- Netherlands Worldwide: registering in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI)
- Leiden International Centre: about us
- Leiden International Centre: BSN registration in Leiden
- Leiden International Centre: appointment for registration
- Leiden International Centre: contact and opening hours
- IND: IND desks and locations
- Leiden International Centre: frequently asked questions
- Netherlands Worldwide: checklist for moving to the Netherlands
- Government.nl: when to take out health insurance if you come to live in the Netherlands
- City of Leiden: information in English
- IND: public register of recognised sponsors, work
- IND: required amounts and income requirements
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 registering and the IND in Leiden, 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.