Everything you need to know about BSN

What is BSN?

BSN or burgerservicenummer (source: English, Dutch) is the Dutch equivalent of the personal number code, a unique citizen's identification code assigned free of charge and automatically to anyone who registers in the Dutch register of persons, known as the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen, Dutch).

Because the BSN is required in all interactions with officials and institutions and in almost all essential aspects of life in the Netherlands, obtaining this number is among the first things to take care of when moving to the Netherlands.

The BSN is needed, among other things, to open a bank account; when you take up a job or enrol for studies; when you take out a compulsory health insurance policy; to pay your taxes or to access social housing, allowances, unemployment benefits and other social benefits.

How do you get a BSN?

You make an appointment at the town hall or municipality (gemeente) to which you belong, either on its website or by telephone. In some municipalities it is possible to deal with the situation directly at the counter without an appointment, but in more and more municipalities relations with the public are by appointment only, so to avoid inconvenience and save yourself a wasted journey, always check what the situation is in your locality before going to their offices. Once you have obtained your appointment (where applicable), the officials will explain what documents you need to bring and you can ask them questions if you have any queries. Discussions can also take place in English.

When should you apply for BSN?

You must register within five days of your arrival in the Netherlands, whether you intend to live here permanently or only for a limited period. 

If you plan to stay in the Netherlands more than four months (source: English, Dutch), you will join the BRP, and if you stay not more than four months, you must register in the non-resident database, known as RNI (Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen) and then you will be granted a temporary BSN.

Why is it necessary to register, even if you live less than four months? Because you will be interacting with various institutions and public authorities in many everyday situations.

Because not all municipalities have an office for non-resident registration, you should consult list of localities (non-Dutch) which makes it easier to register with the RNI and obtain a temporary BSN.

Required documents

The set of documents to be submitted may be different depending on your personal situation. You will get more clarification from the municipal clerk, but in general you can expect to be asked:

1. A valid identity document (ID card or passport)
2. Original birth certificate
   • If you don't already have a trilingual birth certificate, then you need to have the document certified by a certified translator.
   • If you already have a new, trilingual type certificate with information in English, then the document only needs an apostille.
   • A new, trilingual certificate can be obtained either by making a request to the register of persons you belong to in Romania or by applying to the Romanian Embassy in The Hague via the consular services portal www.econsulat.ro.
   • Don't worry if you still don't have a new type certificate when you need to register. You will be enrolled in the BRP and will receive the BSN, but you are required to obtain the new document and bring it within the timeframe.
   • Useful links:
     - Which documents must be legalised for use in the Netherlands (Dutch)
     - List of authorised translators provided by the Embassy
     - Authorised translators can also be found in the Dutch Association of Translators and Interpreters (Dutch)
3. One of the documents proving your residence in the Netherlands
   • A rental agreement for a room/apartment/house or a statement that you live with someone. In the case of the latter, you need to bring an identity card of the main occupant and a statement confirming that they grant you permission to live at the address.
   • Employer's declaration of official authorised postal address, in the case of applicants who have not yet found a permanent address and are therefore temporarily registered at the company address.
   • A "place of residence" declaration, in the case of applicants who will live in accommodation that has been rented by their employer.

Data protection

The Dutch Register of Persons, known as BRP (Basisregistratie Personen), is a database protected (Dutch) under the provisions of the BRP Act (Wet basisregistratie personen, Dutch) and the Personal Data Protection Act (Wet bescherming persoonsgegevens, Dutch).

Among others, is stored (English) the following information in the database at the time of registration: name, surname, gender, BSN, parents' identification data (name, surname, gender, BSN - if applicable), nationality, partner's/partner's identification data (if applicable) or children's identification data (if applicable).

In certain situations, the municipality may be asked to provide personal data remain secret (non-Dutch) and not disclosed to third parties under municipal regulations. Examples of third parties would be: a sports club, charities (such as the Red Cross), organisations conducting legal proceedings, etc.

Sanctions

Declaring an incorrect address for registration, failing to notify the local authorities of the change of address within the deadline, and failing to submit all relevant documents are all punishable actions. The municipality can impose a fine of up to €325. Also, if you leave the country permanently, you must notify the town hall before you leave.

Students    

Universities in the Netherlands often organise welcome events for students at the beginning of the academic year, where university representatives can arrange for students to obtain a BSN themselves. Of course, they need the same documents from students as mentioned above.

Other useful links

Brochure "Inschrijven bij kortdurend verblijf in Nederland"
Brochure "Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen: Veelgestelde vragen"
Explanations for those who want to register in Amsterdam

Do you have questions, are you in a special situation, or simply noticed an error? Then leave us a comment or contact us and we will try to help you with information or correct incorrect information.

Edited by Mihaela Niță