Address registration

If you live abroad and come to the Netherlands to study or work, you will need to register at the local municipality. You will need a Citizen Service Number (Burgerservicenummer, BSN) for your dealings with the Dutch authorities. Without a BSN you are not able to open a bank account, obtain health insurance (if required), receive a salary (if applicable), apply for benefits (if applicable) and file an income tax report (if applicable). The BSN is a unique personal number issued to everyone (both Dutch and international) registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP).

You will be issued this number when you register in the municipality in which you live. The BRP contains the personal details of everyone who lives in the Netherlands. It is required to register in the BRP within 5 days after arriving from abroad, if:

• You will spend at least 4 out of the next 6 months in the Netherlands.
• You are Dutch or you are a national of another member of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) or of Switzerland; or
• You have another nationality and you have a valid residence permit or a proof (sticker or letter) from the Immigration- and Naturalisation Service (IND) you have applied for one.

The following link will provide all the information on how to register yourself. This includes rules and regulations aswell as making an appoinment at the local municipality in Groningen.

https://gemeente.groningen.nl/en/student-registration-or-deregistration

All foreigners who need to be registered, including children, must go to the Municipality in person. If you would like to avoid a long waiting queue we recommend to make an appoinment.

Adress: Kreupelstraat 1, 9712 HW, Groningen

• A valid passport or country-identity card.
• If relevant: a valid residence permit or proof you have applied for one (sticker or letter IND).
• A rental agreement or deed of conveyance or written lodgings agreement (pdf 176 kB) with a copy of the proof of identity of the owner/main occupant of the house.
• A proof of deregistration with the PIVA if you are moving to the Netherlands from Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten

If you are staying for more than 6 months:

• A birth certificate, translated and legalised (if applicable) if you have not already shown this for the BRP (the personal records Database).
• If relevant: foreign marriage certificate, certificate of registered partnership, divorce certificate, divorce decree or death certificate partner, if you have not already shown this for the BRP, all to be translated and legalised (if applicable).