Registration as a citizen

General

If you are living in the Netherlands for four months or longer, Dutch law states that you need to register as a citizen in the city where you live. Therefore, as a student you will need to register in Groningen or another municipality in the Netherlands, depending upon where you live.

In Groningen you should report to City Hall where you will be registered in their database. You can book an appointment online for your registration. Please read the information on the municipality's website via the link above as it explains what you need to bring to the appointment and more.

The municipality of Groningen informed us that you will NOT need a birth certificate for your registration. If you are an exchange student you also DON'T need to bring a birth certificate to the Netherlands. Please note that when you are planning to bring a family member to the Netherlands, you will always need to bring a legalised marriage and birth certificate.

* Click here for more information on the legalisation of documents for use in the Netherlands.

The appointment link above can also be used when you need to deregister, for example, when you cancel your rental agreement in order to leave the Netherlands. When you move to another city, look for the contact details of the city where you are moving to and register as a citizen of that city. They will inform Groningen or Assen that you have moved.

For registration as a citizen of Assen you can book an appointment by contacting them directly via the contact details on their website.

For your registration in Assen (or any other city in the Netherlands but Groningen) you will need to bring the following:

Your passport or ID card;
Your rental agreement;
Your residence permit (non-EU/EEA nationals);
Your legalised* birth certificate;
Your legalised* marriage certificate (when applicable).

BSN (Citizen Service Number)

Once you have registered as a citizen of Groningen or Assen, you will receive your BSN (personal citizen service number). This is an important number for your stay in the Netherlands. First of all, it is a number your Dutch bank will require in order to keep your account activated. You will also need your BSN-number for other purposes, so keep it in a safe place where you can find it again and others cannot steal the information on it.

Once you have got an address in Groningen, you can register at this address. It is not possible to register before you are actually staying at the address of registration. Officially you have to be registered within five working days after arriving in the Netherlands. However, the registration office can get very busy when all the new students arrive, so it is not a problem if you have an appointment at the municipality after these five working days.

You are required to register in the BRP if you will stay in the Netherlands for at least four months. If you do not have your own address yet, you will first be registered at the address where you are staying, whether at a friend's place or a hotel. If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel has to give you a written permission to register. Once you have your own place, you can change your address at the municipality.

Registration as a citizen

BSN (Citizen Service Number)

FAQ Registration at the Municipality

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Registration as a citizen

BSN (Citizen Service Number)

Where should I go to register?

When can I register?

What do I need to register?

I am staying at a friend's place or a hotel. Can I still register?

What should I do if I move to another address?

If I am staying in the Netherlands for longer than I anticipated, what should I do?

Do I have to deregister when I leave the Netherlands after finishing my studies?

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