You passed the exam, your visa came through, and you are finally in the Netherlands. Congratulations! Now a new process begins: the paperwork. Municipal registration, BSN, DigiD, health insurance, a bank account… The list may look long, but most of the steps depend on each other, and when you do them in the right order they go quite quickly. In this guide we explain the first 90 days step by step and in the right order.

Note: The rules can differ depending on your type of residence permit and the municipality you live in. This article is a general roadmap; for the details, check IND, the website of your municipality and government.nl.

The first week: residence card and municipal registration

1. Collect your residence permit (verblijfsvergunning)

If you came with an MVV, you need to collect your residence permit card from the IND. For this you usually make an appointment at an IND desk. The appointment details are often sent to you or your sponsor in advance.

Citizens of some countries also have to take a tuberculosis (TB) test. If this requirement applies to you, IND will let you know.

2. Register with the municipality and get your BSN

If you are going to stay in the Netherlands for at least 4 months, you must register with the municipality (gemeente) where you live within 5 days of arriving. This registration is called the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen).

For registration you usually need:

A valid passport or identity document,
Your residence permit (or an IND document),
A rental contract or the permission of the landlord/main tenant,
Birth and marriage certificates (apostilled and translated if required).

Tip: Before you leave your home country, get your birth certificate and marriage certificate apostilled and, if necessary, translated by a sworn translator. Obtaining these documents later from the Netherlands is much harder and more expensive. Check in advance on the municipality's website which documents are required.

After registration you receive your BSN (Burgerservicenummer). The BSN is your citizen service number in the Netherlands; it is asked for in all matters relating to work, banking, tax and healthcare.

The first month: digital identity, bank and health

3. Apply for a DigiD

DigiD is the digital identity you use to log in to the websites of government institutions. It is used for the tax office, the municipality, UWV, DUO and health insurance matters.

You apply at digid.nl.
You use your BSN and the address registered with the municipality.
The activation code is sent by post to your address. Make sure your name is on your mailbox!
After activation we recommend installing the DigiD app on your phone.

4. Open a bank account

You need a Dutch bank account for receiving your salary, paying your rent and everyday shopping. In the Netherlands the debit card (pinpas) is used far more than cash; in some places cash is not accepted at all.

To open an account you usually need an identity document, your BSN and your address registration.

5. Take out health insurance: compulsory!

Everyone who lives and works in the Netherlands must take out basic health insurance (basisverzekering).

You must take out the insurance within 4 months of the date you registered in the Netherlands. The insurance is valid retroactively from the registration date, and the premiums are also due from that date.
People who do not take out insurance can be fined.
There are different insurance companies; because the content of the basic package is set by law, it is the same at every company, but prices and service differ.
People on a low income can receive zorgtoeslag to help with the premium.

For everything about the healthcare system, see our guide to the healthcare system in the Netherlands.

6. Register with a family doctor (huisarts)

When you get ill in the Netherlands, the first place you turn to is the family doctor (huisarts). But do not wait until you are ill: register with a family doctor close to your home soon after you move in. In some areas it can take time to find a doctor who accepts new patients.

The first three months: work, allowances and civic integration

7. Toeslagen: check the government allowances

Depending on your income, you may be entitled to certain allowances:

Allowance	What for?
Zorgtoeslag	Help with the health insurance premium
Huurtoeslag	Housing benefit
Kinderbijslag	Child benefit (through the SVB)
Kindgebonden budget	Child allowance for families on a low income
Kinderopvangtoeslag	Help with childcare costs (for working parents)

Careful: When applying for toeslagen, report your estimated income correctly and update it as soon as your income changes. Allowances received on the basis of wrong information are reclaimed later, and this can turn into a large debt. When in doubt, ask the municipality or an adviser for help.

Also keep in mind that, depending on your type of residence permit, some allowances may have consequences for your residence permit. Check your situation before applying.

8. Start working

Your residence permit states what your work permission is (for example arbeid vrij toegestaan). Most people who come for family reunification can work freely in the Netherlands. When looking for work:

You can use the big job websites and the municipality's employment advice for job advertisements.
As your Dutch improves, your job options widen too.
In your first employment contract, check the working hours, the salary and the probation period carefully.

9. Your civic integration (inburgering) in the Netherlands begins

The basic exam abroad was the first step of civic integration. After settling in the Netherlands, the civic integration obligation (inburgeringsplicht) begins for most people:

You receive a letter from DUO telling you that your civic integration obligation has started.
Under the new integration law in force since 2022 (Wet inburgering 2021), the municipality holds a “broad intake” interview (brede intake) with you.
Then a personal integration and participation plan (PIP) is drawn up for you.
You usually have 3 years to complete civic integration, and the target language level is B1 for most people.

People who come for family reunification mostly pay the costs of the course and the exams themselves; a loan from DUO may be available for this. For the current rules, follow inburgeren.nl.

The A1 foundation you built while preparing for the exam abroad will be your biggest advantage in this process. Do not let your Dutch slip; keep studying a few minutes every day with the word games.

Practical tips for daily life

Get a bicycle: In the Netherlands the bicycle is the most practical way to get around. Second-hand bikes are affordable; buy a good lock.
OV-chipkaart: On the bus, tram and train, do not forget to tap your card (or your debit card) when boarding and getting off (inchecken / uitchecken).
Separate your waste: Learn your municipality's waste collection calendar. Paper, glass, plastic and organic waste are collected separately.
Keep an eye on your mailbox: Most official correspondence still arrives by post. You can also receive digital mail through the Berichtenbox (MijnOverheid).
Get used to the appointment culture: The municipality, the doctor, the bank… You make an appointment in advance for almost everything.

Checklist: the first 90 days

I collected my residence permit card from IND
(If required) I took the TB test
I registered with the municipality and received my BSN
I applied for a DigiD and activated it
I opened a bank account
I took out basic health insurance
I registered with a family doctor
I checked my entitlement to toeslagen
I read the civic integration letter from DUO and went to the interview with the municipality

Frequently asked questions

Can I work without a BSN?

Your employer needs your BSN to pay your salary and to report your tax. So complete your municipal registration as quickly as possible.

I can't find an appointment for municipal registration. What should I do?

In big cities appointments can be fully booked. Call the municipality and explain your situation; say that you want to register within the legal period. Even if the appointment date falls after the registration deadline, what matters is that you requested the appointment in time.

Can I use my foreign driving license in the Netherlands?

Whether you can use and exchange a foreign driving license in the Netherlands depends on the country that issued it and on how long you have been resident. Check the current rules on the website of the Dutch driving license authority, the RDW.

This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Rules can change; for your own situation, always rely on the official information of the relevant institution.