BSN Number and DigiD in the Netherlands: A Step-by-Step Guide

The first thing you have to arrange in the Netherlands is your BSN (burgerservicenummer), the Dutch citizen service number. Without it the employer cannot register you, you do not get paid properly, and you cannot take out health insurance either. The good news: as an EU citizen it is easy to get, and it is free.

Two routes: RNI or BRP

It depends on how long you are staying:

	RNI (Registratie Niet-Ingezetenen)	BRP (Basisregistratie Personen)
Who is it for?	If you stay less than 4 months, or your home address is not in the Netherlands.	If you stay in the Netherlands longer than 4 months.
Where?	At an RNI desk (RNI-loket). There is one in many larger cities, and as an EU citizen you can choose any of them.	At the desk of the municipality (gemeente) where you live.
What do you get?	A BSN, usually on the same day.	A BSN and a registered Dutch address.

Many seasonal workers and newcomers start with RNI, because it is quick. But if you stay longer than 4 months, the law says you must register with the municipality (BRP) at the address where you live, even if you live in the agency's housing.

What to bring with you

• A valid passport or ID card. This is the most important thing.
• For BRP registration, proof of your address (a rental contract or a statement from your landlord). The agency usually gives you this if you live in its housing.
• If you do not speak Dutch or English, you can bring an interpreter.

In many places you can fill in the RNI form online in advance, and with the QR code you get, things go faster. You always have to book an appointment.

Often the agency arranges it. Many agencies book a group appointment for new workers and even take you there. Ask about it when you sign your contract.

How much does it cost?

Applying for a BSN is free. If someone asks for money to "sort out your BSN", be careful: this is often a scam.

What do you need your BSN for?

• The employer uses it to register you and to pay tax for you.
• You use it to take out health insurance (zorgverzekering), which is compulsory in the Netherlands if you work here. More in our article on health insurance.
• You use it to open a Dutch bank account and apply for allowances.

Look after your BSN: do not send a photo of it to strangers, and do not give it to "agencies" you have not checked.

DigiD: for doing things online

DigiD is a Dutch online ID (a username and password, or an app). You use it to log in to the tax office (Belastingdienst), to apply for the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), and to get your tax refund. The steps:

1. Apply on the digid.nl website. You need your BSN, a valid ID, a phone that can receive text messages, and an email address.
2. Activate it. If you do not have a registered Dutch address (with RNI), you have to activate it in person at a service desk. You get a code by text message, which you use there. At some RNI desks you can also do this activation, but you need a separate appointment for it. If you are registered with the municipality (BRP), the activation code is usually sent by post to your Dutch address.
3. Use it in the DigiD app or in your browser.

Common mistakes

• Not switching from RNI to BRP after 4 months. This can cause problems with tax and allowances.
• Moving without reporting it. If you move to new housing, report your new address to the municipality.
• Not checking your post. Official letters (tax, insurance) come to your registered address. If you live in the agency's housing, ask how you will get them.

In short

Your BSN is the first step: it is free, you can sort it out with one appointment, and the agency often helps. If you stay longer than 4 months, register with the municipality and apply for DigiD, so you can handle tax and allowances online. For the next steps, see our checklist for your first weeks.