BSN: what it is, why you need it, and how to get one

What is a BSN?

A 9-digit number that stays with you for life. Your employer, bank, health insurer, GP (huisarts) and the tax office (Belastingdienst) all ask for it. Without it, most other steps wait.

What it unlocks:

• Salary at the normal tax rate. Without your BSN, your employer has to withhold tax at a higher rate.
• DigiD, the login for government websites. You cannot apply without a BSN.
• Health insurance, a bank account, a GP and school registration for your children.

Who registers where?

How to apply (more than 4 months)

1. Book an appointment with your gemeente as soon as you have an address. Popular cities can be booked out for weeks. Book before you land if you can.
2. Bring your documents. Check your gemeente's own list. Usually:
   • Passport or ID card
   • Proof of address: rental contract, or written permission from the main occupant plus a copy of their ID
   • Birth certificate, and a marriage certificate if it applies. Many gemeenten ask for these to be legalised or apostilled and sometimes translated. Arrange this in your home country; it takes time.
3. Go to the appointment together if your partner and children move with you. Every person gets their own BSN.
4. Receive your BSN. Some municipalities give it at the desk, others send it by post a few days later.

Moving for work with an IND-recognised employer? You may be able to register at an expat centre in your region (for example The Hague International Centre or IN Amsterdam), which is often faster.

Common mistakes

• Waiting for a permanent home. You register at the address where you actually live. A temporary address is fine; you update it when you move.
• Missing legalised certificates. This is the most common reason an appointment ends without a registration.
• Using an address you cannot register at. Some landlords forbid registration. Ask before you sign.
• Assuming the RNI gives you everything. An RNI registration gives a BSN, but it is not a residence registration. If you stay longer than 4 months, you still have to register in the BRP.

Your checklist

I arrive in the next 30 days

• Get birth (and marriage) certificates legalised or apostilled
• Book the gemeente appointment for your first week
• Ask your landlord in writing whether you may register at the address

I am already here

• Book the appointment now; you are expected to register within 5 days
• Give your BSN to your employer as soon as you receive it

I have a child

• Bring each child's birth certificate
• Your child needs a BSN for school registration and health insurance

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FAQ

How long does it take to get a BSN?

It depends on how quickly you can get a gemeente appointment. Many municipalities give the number at the appointment or send it within days. The wait for an appointment is usually the slow part.

Can I get a BSN before I have a house?

If you stay less than 4 months, you can register at an RNI desk without a Dutch address. If you stay longer, you need an address where you actually live, even if it is temporary.

Do I need a BSN to start work?

You can start, but your employer has to withhold tax at a higher rate until you provide your BSN.

Can I apply for DigiD without a BSN?

No. DigiD requires a BSN and a registered address. See our DigiD guide.

Official sources

• https://sdg.government.nl/government-services-in-the-netherlands/registering-with-the-municipality-in-the-netherlands
• https://www.denhaag.nl/en/moving-and-immigration/bsn-and-registration-as-a-non-resident-of-the-netherlands-rni.htm