ResideNL · Guides
Moving to the Netherlands: the admin checklist
Arriving in the Netherlands means a wall of paperwork — and most of it has an order and a deadline. Here's what you need to do, roughly in sequence, with a guide for each step. When you're ready, ResideNL turns this into a checklist personalised to your situation, with your own dates.
1. Register with your municipality (BRP)
Your first official step. Registering in the Personal Records Database (BRP) at your gemeente is what makes you a legal resident and triggers your citizen service number. How to register with your municipality (BRP) →
2. Get your BSN (citizen service number)
The BSN is your national ID number for tax, healthcare, work and banking. You can't do much without it — and you get it by registering (step 1). How to get a BSN in the Netherlands →
3. Set up DigiD
DigiD is your login for almost every Dutch government and healthcare service. You need a BSN first, then apply online and wait for an activation code by post. How to get a DigiD as an expat →
4. Take out Dutch health insurance
Almost everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally required to take out basic Dutch health insurance — generally within 4 months of arriving, backdated to your arrival date. It's not optional, and there are fines for going without.
5. Open a Dutch bank account
You'll usually need a Dutch IBAN for your salary, rent and direct debits (automatische incasso). Most banks want your BSN and proof of a registered address — so this comes after your municipality registration.
6. Register with a GP (huisarts)
In the Dutch system your huisarts is your first point of contact for medical care and the gateway to specialists. Register with one near you soon after you arrive — good practices fill up.
7. Sort your driving licence (if you drive)
An EU/EEA licence can be used and exchanged easily. A non-EU/EEA licence usually has a limited window before you must exchange it or retake tests — so check the deadline early.
Get this as a personal plan.
The order and deadlines above depend on your citizenship, why you moved, and your dates. ResideNL asks a few questions and builds your own checklist — what applies to you, when each thing is due, what documents to bring, and a link to the official source.
ResideNL is not a government service and does not provide legal advice. Rules, fees and deadlines change — always confirm the details on the official pages we link to before you act.