Immigration, moving to the Netherlands

If you have arrived from abroad and will spend at least four out of the next six months in the Netherlands, you must register with the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA) within five days

Conditions

• 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 of letter) from the Immigration- and Naturalisation Service (IND) you have applied for one; or
• You have another nationality and have not yet applied for a residence permit. In this case, your registration will be provisional. After registration you will receive a letter of preregistration (BvB) for the IND. After you have applied for a residence permit the IND returns the BvB to us. Only then your registration will be final;
• You have an address in Groningen and will spend at least four out of the next six months in the Netherlands;
• You have to come in person to our desk, including children.

Documents

• A valid passport or identity card.
• If relevant a valid residence permit or proof you have applied for one (sticker of letter IND).
• A rental agreement or deed of conveyance or written lodgings agreement with a copy of the proof of identity of the owner/main occupant of the house.
• A birth certificate if you have not already shown this for the GBA.
• If relevant: foreign marriage certificate, certificate of registered partnerschip, divorce certificate, divorce decree or death certificate partner, if you have not already shown this for the GBA.
• A proof of deregistration with the PIVA if you are moving to the Netherlands from Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Aruba, Curaçao en Sint Maarten.

 

Register

All foreigners who need to be registered, including children, must go to the desk in person. If you would like to avoid al long waiting time, make an appointment now.

Please fill out this online registrationform (PDF, 591 Kb), print it and bring it with you.

Mind

• Legalisation of documents
• Visit the website of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see how foreign documents should be legalised. In some countries you can apply for an international document. All documents that are not written in Dutch, English, French or German must be translated by a certified translator. Your documents will be checked for authenticity.
• Students
  Students from outside the EU/EEA can only apply for a residence permit in writing via their teaching institution. You can only register after showing your residence permit or a letter from the IND proving you have applied for one. In this case we will not give a letter of preregistration.
• Knowledge migrants
  Knowledge migrants first apply for a residence permit at the IND. After you have received a sticker in your passport you can make an appointment for registration in the GBA.
• Copy of your record
  Once you have been registered as a resident in the GBA, you will be sent an overview of your personal details within four weeks. We call this the personal list (persoonslijst). Please check the details and contact us if there is an error.
• Social security number (bsn)
  You will be sent your citizen service number (bsn) at the same time as your personal list. You will need this personal number to open a bank account, receive a salary, arrange medical health insurance and in contacts with the government.
  
  

More information

• Immigratie- and Naturalisation Service (IND)
  Zuiderzeelaan 43-51, Zwolle
  038 888 66 66; www.ind.nl

• International Service Desk (RuG)
  Broerstraat 5, 1st floor, room 133
  050 363 81 81; www.rug.nl; isd@rug.nl

• International Student Office (HH)
  Zernikeplein 11, A.107
  050 595 40 00; www.hanze.nl; iso@org.hanze.nl