Living in the Netherlands

Are you coming to live in the Netherlands for more than 4 months? Then you have to register with the municipality in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). This applies to everyone. After this registration, the municipality will issue a Citizen Service Number for you (in Dutch: Burgerservicenummer or BSN). Go to Rijksoverheid.nl for more information on the BRP. 

Legalised and translated birth certificate

A legalised and translated birth certificate is necessary to register with the municipality. Bring your birth certificate with you to the Netherlands. Ask the municipality which other documents are needed for registration. Find out more about the translation and legalisation of documents.

Have you indicated in the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment at the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:

Everyone who lives in the Netherlands must register for healthcare insurance. Do this within 4 months after your arrival in the Netherlands. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl for more information on healthcare insurance. 
 

Residence permit for study, Working Holiday (WHP/WHS) or cultural exchange

Do you have a residence permit for study, Working Holiday (WHS/WHP) or cultural exchange? Then  your foreign healthcare insurance is enough if it includes the Netherlands. Do you have a residence permit for study, WHS/WHP or cultural exchange but you will work in the Netherlands? Then you have to register for Dutch healthcare insurance. 

In the Netherlands, children from 5 to 16 years have to complete compulsory education. This means that they must go to school. Does this apply to your child? Then register the child at a school. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl for more information on the obligation to attend school. 

Did you get a residence permit? In certain situations, you are required to learn the Dutch language and to learn about Dutch society and its labour market. This is called civic integration. Not everyone is required to integrate. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl for more information about civic integration. 
 

Civic integration if applying for permanent residence permit or naturalisation

Do you want to become a Dutch citizen via naturalisation? Or are you going to apply for a permanent residence permit or a residence permit on ‘humanitarian non-temporary grounds after residing with a family member or relative for 5 years'? Then you must prove that you are civically integrated. Even if you were not initially required to take the civic integration examination. Read more about the civic integration examination as a requirement for a different residence permit or naturalisation. 

If you have a Dutch residence permit, your main residence must be in the Netherlands. This means that you live in the Netherlands and spend most of your time here. Will you go abroad for a longer period of time? Then the IND can decide to withdraw or to not extend your residence permit. Read more about main residence in the Netherlands.

Do you have a residence permit? Read more about a foreign national’s obligation to provide information.
 

Legal sponsor’s obligations

Is someone coming to live with you in the Netherlands? Then you are their sponsor. A sponsor has an obligation to provide information and an obligation to keep and maintain records. If you are a recognised sponsor then you also have a duty of care. Read more about the legal sponsor´s obligations on the page Obligations of sponsor and recognised sponsor. And on the page Obligations foreign national and sponsor of family member.

Are you permanently leaving the Netherlands? Then you need to arrange certain matters before you leave. Read more about Leaving the Netherlands.