IND and registration in The Hague (2026): the International Centre, the IND desk and your BSN
Registration in The Hague can happen at the International Centre in City Hall or at a district office, and the IND has its own desk and offices in the city as well. This guide sorts out which applies to you, what to bring, the separate route for embassy and international organisation staff, and when a lawyer helps.
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Rules from the IND, the Municipality of The Hague, The Hague International Centre and RvIG · Checked 15 September 2026
Short answer
Registration in The Hague runs along two routes. Staff of recognised sponsors, international organisations, embassies, universities and schools who will live in The Hague, Delft, Rijswijk or Leidschendam-Voorburg can register at The Hague International Centre in City Hall, Spui 70, where highly skilled migrants are registered during the appointment. Everyone else books an appointment with the city and goes to the Segbroek district office, and the BSN usually follows by post within 4 weeks. The IND desk itself is at Rijnstraat 8.
Key facts for 2026
- Spui 70, the City Hall Atrium, is where The Hague International Centre takes biometrics and issues residence documents.
- Rijnstraat 8 holds the IND desk, by appointment only and through a separate entrance.
- 4 municipalities are served by the International Centre: The Hague, Delft, Rijswijk and Leidschendam-Voorburg.
- 4 weeks is the usual processing time for a registration at a district office, with the BSN sent by post.
- 10 August was the first day of the autumn 2026 student registration slots at the International Centre.
- 3 business days after registering in the BRP, a privileged status holder’s BSN is activated.
- 14070 is the city’s number for booking a registration appointment.
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.
IND in The Hague
The Hague International Centre, the IND desk and the IND offices
The Hague has four addresses where you may meet the IND, and your invitation tells you which one is yours.
| Location | Address | What happens there | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hague International Centre | City Hall (Atrium), Spui 70 | IND biometrics, residence documents and endorsement stickers; registration for eligible newcomers | IND |
| IND desk The Hague | Rijnstraat 8, separate entrance to the right of the main entrance | IND appointments, by appointment only | IND |
| IND office Rijnstraat | Rijnstraat 8 | Only with an appointment with an IND employee | IND |
| IND office Turfmarkt | Turfmarkt 147 | Only with an appointment with an IND employee | IND |
- The International Centre is part of the Municipality of The Hague and sits in the City Hall Atrium; phone +31 (0)70 353 50 43 (IND). Biometrics, a work authorisation sticker or a residence document alone need their own appointment, and general questions need none (The Hague International Centre).
- The IND desk at Rijnstraat 8 works with the online appointment planner and is accessible by wheelchair (IND). Every IND desk in the country is compared in our guide to IND appointments.
- Waiting for a decision? Our IND processing times guide explains the legal deadlines, and the residence permit guide lists every permit type.
Registration
Registration in The Hague: the International Centre or a district office
Whether you register at the International Centre or at the Segbroek district office depends on your employer and your status, and the difference shows in how fast you get your BSN.
- At the International Centre. You qualify if you work for a recognised IND sponsor, a company assisted by The Hague Business Agency or InnovationQuarter, or an international organisation, embassy, NGO, university, school or knowledge institution, and will live in The Hague, Delft, Rijswijk or Leidschendam-Voorburg. Without a permanent address yet, your employer can register you temporarily at a company address. Everyone attends in person (The Hague International Centre).
- Highly skilled migrants and researchers. The city and the IND run a fast-track: you are registered in the BRP during the appointment, free of charge (Municipality of The Hague), and you collect your residence permit in the same visit; you may have to book it yourself (The Hague International Centre). See our highly skilled migrant guide.
- Through the city. From outside the EU, if you will live in The Hague for 4 months or longer, you bring valid ID (not a driving licence), proof of lawful residence such as your residence document, MVV sticker or IND decision letter, and proof of occupancy, and every family member comes along. Book online or on 14070, or on +31 70 353 30 00 from abroad; registration is free and usually processed within 4 weeks, with your burgerservicenummer sent by post (Municipality of The Hague). EU, EEA and Swiss citizens take their documents to the counter at the Segbroek district office (Stadsdeelkantoor Segbroek) (Municipality of The Hague).
- Book it yourself. The city no longer accepts appointments made by intermediaries or companions (Municipality of The Hague).
- Shorter than 4 months? The Hague’s RNI desk is at Spui 70, phone 14 070 (RvIG); for a longer stay you cannot use an RNI desk (Netherlands Worldwide).
Privileged status
International organisations and embassies: the MFA card route
Staff of embassies and international organisations usually live and work in the Netherlands on a treaty-based privileged status, not on an IND permit.
- ProBas and the MFA card. Your employer normally registers you in ProBas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs database of privileged status holders, and you receive an MFA card that is both your ID and your residence permit (The Hague International Centre).
- Your BSN. The ministry gives you a BSN, but it is not active in the BRP. Registering is not required, yet for a longer stay it is advised, possible with an intended stay of at least 4 months, and does not affect your privileged status or tax privileges. The BSN is activated about 3 business days after you register at the International Centre (The Hague International Centre).
- Not privileged? If your type of employment excludes you from the status, you register in the BRP on arrival and may need an IND permit (The Hague International Centre).
- The employers. The Netherlands hosts, among others, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, Eurojust, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (Government.nl). Working for one of them? Read our working in The Hague guide.
First weeks
Your first weeks in The Hague: BSN, DigiD, bank, insurance
Almost every next step in The Hague waits for your BSN, so book your registration before anything else.
International students of a higher education institution who will live in The Hague get special registration days: for the second half of 2026 booking opened on 6 July at 11:00 and the first slots were from 10 August (The Hague International Centre). Our student visa guide covers the permit.
- Register and receive your BSN At the International Centre or through the city; students at the International Centre receive it during the appointment rather than after up to 4 to 5 weeks at Segbroek (The Hague International Centre).
- Apply for DigiD Possible once you are in the Personal Records Database (Netherlands Worldwide).
- Open a bank account A Dutch bank will ask for your BSN (Netherlands Worldwide).
- Arrange health insurance within 4 months Basic Dutch health insurance is compulsory if you live or work here (Government.nl).
Routes
Studying and working in The Hague: sponsors and routes
Several Hague institutions are on the IND register of recognised sponsors under their own name, among them De Haagse Hogeschool, Hogeschool der Kunsten Den Haag, Hotelschool The Hague and Stichting American School of The Hague.
The register gives each sponsor with its Chamber of Commerce number (IND register); our sponsorship jobs guide shows how to search it. Your route:
- Work: the work visa guide.
- After graduating: the orientation year.
- Family: the partner and family guide; for short visits, the Schengen visa guide.
- Staying for good: Dutch citizenship. Looking for a home? See renting in The Hague or renting in Delft.
Legal help
When you need an immigration lawyer in The Hague
Registration rarely needs a lawyer, but a refused permit, a decision that is overdue or a lost job on a permit do.
- Refused: the objection deadline is short; start with our IND refusal guide.
- Job ended on a highly skilled migrant permit: read what happens to your permit.
- Arriving from outside the EU: check whether you need an MVV entry visa before you travel.
- Cost: FindLawyer’s first call is a free 15 minutes, and on a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid.
Permit refused or stuck at the IND? 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 The Hague.
IND appointments and desks
Every IND desk and expat centre.
AdminBSN number
BRP or RNI, and what to bring.
HousingRenting in The Hague
Rents, permits and your deposit.
WorkWorking in The Hague
International organisations and dismissal.
StudyStudent visa
Studying in the Netherlands.
VisasNetherlands visa guide
Every route side by side.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where do I register in The Hague when I arrive from abroad?
It depends on who you are. Highly skilled migrants, recognised researchers and privileged status holders book at The Hague International Centre in City Hall. EU citizens and non-EU residents with another permit book through the city, on 14070 or online, and bring their documents to the Segbroek district office. Book the appointment yourself: the city refuses bookings made by intermediaries.
Who can use The Hague International Centre?
Employees, and their family members, of a company on the IND sponsor register or backed by The Hague Business Agency or InnovationQuarter, or of an international organisation, embassy, NGO, university, school or knowledge institution. The employee must live in The Hague, Delft, Rijswijk or Leidschendam-Voorburg. Check with your employer or relocator first.
Is the IND desk in The Hague the same as the International Centre?
No. The International Centre in City Hall at Spui 70 is run by the municipality and handles biometrics, residence documents and registration for eligible newcomers. The IND desk at Rijnstraat 8 is the IND’s own, open by appointment only. The IND also has offices at Rijnstraat 8 and Turfmarkt 147 that you visit only for an appointment with an IND employee.
I work for an international organisation. Do I need to register in the BRP?
Not necessarily. With privileged status your employer usually arranges your ProBas registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and your MFA card serves as ID and residence permit. The ministry gives you a BSN, but it is only active in the BRP once you register, which the International Centre advises for longer stays of at least 4 months.
How do international students register in The Hague?
Students of a higher education institution who will live in The Hague for 4 months or longer book one of the special registration days at the International Centre. For the second half of 2026 booking opened on 6 July and the first slots were from 10 August. The BSN comes at the appointment, instead of after up to 4 to 5 weeks at Segbroek.
Can I get a free first consultation with an immigration lawyer in The Hague?
FindLawyer offers a free 15-minute call first and then matches you with an English-speaking Dutch immigration lawyer, who explains the fees before you decide. On a low income you may qualify for subsidised legal aid. For registration questions, the International Centre itself answers general questions without an appointment.
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Official sources, checked 15 September 2026
- IND: IND desks and locations
- The Hague International Centre: registration for highly skilled migrants
- The Hague International Centre: make an appointment for registration
- Municipality of The Hague: registration for highly skilled migrants and researchers (in Dutch)
- Municipality of The Hague: first registration with a residence permit (in Dutch)
- Municipality of The Hague: first registration for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens (in Dutch)
- RvIG: addresses of the RNI municipalities (in Dutch)
- Netherlands Worldwide: registering in the Non-residents Records Database (RNI)
- The Hague International Centre: registration for privileged status holders
- Government.nl: list of international organisations in the Netherlands
- The Hague International Centre: registration for students
- Netherlands Worldwide: checklist for moving to the Netherlands
- Government.nl: when to take out health insurance if you come to live in the Netherlands
- IND: public register of recognised sponsors, work
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 The Hague, 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.