Municipality of Rotterdam (also called City Hall)
On this page, you can find information regarding registration at the Municipality of Rotterdam. This information is not applicable to International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) students, as ISS is located in The Hague instead of Rotterdam. Upon acceptance to your programme, ISS will inform you how to register in The Hague.
Are you moving to the Netherlands for the first time? Are you staying in the Netherlands for more than 4 months? And you haven't registered in the Netherlands before, so you don't have a citizen service number (BSN) yet? Then, you need to register in person at the municipality where you will live. This is referred to as “First registration”.
At the beginning of each semester, we provide our international students the opportunity to register at the Municipality of Rotterdam during the One Stop Shops on campus. This allows you to handle all practical matters in one go and you don’t have to go to the Municipal Office in the City Center. Please be aware that this is applicable only for students intending to register at the Municipality of Rotterdam.
Please be aware that there are two scenarios where you must visit the Municipal Office in the City Center and cannot complete registration during the One Stop Shop on campus:
- If you live in Rotterdam but within a postal code area that requires a residency permit, also known as HVV. To determine whether your street or neighbourhood requires additional documentation for registration, please use the postal code check tool.
- If you live in a municipality other than Rotterdam, for example Schiedam or Capelle. This is what you should know about registering in Capelle and Schiedam.
Step 1 - Download and complete the form from the municipality
Download the form "First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad."
Step 2 - Provide valid proof of identity
This may be a passport or ID card
Step 3 - Gather documents for your living situation
- Independent as a tenant
- Rental contract or tenancy agreement
- Sublet
- Rental contract or tenancy declaration
- Living with the main tenant as a tenant
- Declaration by main occupant
- Tenancy agreement
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Living with the main tenant as owner
- Declaration of residence
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Independent as owner and not yet registered in the Land Register
- Copy of the deed of transfer, signed by the notary
- Copy of the proof of ownership, signed by the notary
Download form: Tenancy agreement (also called: "verhuurdersverklaring" or "landlord statement".
Download form: Declaration by main occupant (also called "verklaring inwoning" or "certificate of residence"
Step 4 - Make sure to bring the required documents in hard copy to the One Stop Shops
- Original and a printed coloured hard copy of your valid passport or ID card.
- Completed and printed form: First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad' undersigned by you.
- Original and a printed hard copy of rental contract, tenancy agreement or declaration by the main occupant – make sure it's signed by you and your landlord! A digital signature is also allowed. Note that this agreement should not be issued longer than 3 months ago.
* Please note:
- There is no printer available at the One Stop Shops. You can print, copy, and scan at the Copyshop in the Polak Building (ground floor)
- Make sure your passport is signed.
- An original and printed copy is needed per document, so this means for every document you need a copy. Just bringing your passport or ID card without a printed coloured copy of it, is not enough.
- A rental contract, tenancy agreement or declaration by the main occupant may not be older than 3 months.
- The contract or agreement must be filled out and signed by your landlord.
- Do make sure to check you have all copies of the required documents, as the City Hall will need to take them.
Step 1 - Download and complete the form from the municipality
Download the form "First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad."
Step 2 - Provide valid proof of identity
This may be a passport or ID card
Step 3 - Gather documents for your living situation
- Independent as a tenant
- Rental contract or tenancy agreement
- Sublet
- Rental contract or tenancy declaration
- Living with the main tenant as a tenant
- Declaration by main occupant
- Tenancy agreement
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Living with the main tenant as owner
- Declaration of residence
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Independent as owner and not yet registered in the Land Register
- Copy of the deed of transfer, signed by the notary
- Copy of the proof of ownership, signed by the notary
Download form: Tenancy agreement (also called: "verhuurdersverklaring" or "landlord statement".
Download form: Declaration by main occupant (also called "verklaring inwoning" or "certificate of residence"
Step 4 - Make sure to bring the required documents in hard copy to the One Stop Shops
- Original and a printed coloured hard copy of your valid passport or ID card.
- Completed and printed form: First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad' undersigned by you.
- Original and a printed hard copy of rental contract, tenancy agreement or declaration by the main occupant – make sure it's signed by you and your landlord! A digital signature is also allowed. Note that this agreement should not be issued longer than 3 months ago.
- Original and a printed hard copy of both sides of your Dutch residence permit and/or a coloured copy of your entry visa sticker in your passport.
- If you are allowed to travel to the Netherlands without an entry sticker in your passport and your Dutch residence permit cannot be picked up yet, you can print the IND approval letter which was sent from our Immigration Office to you in Osiris. Please bring a printed copy of the letter to the One Stop Shop.
* Please note:
- There is no printer available at the One Stop Shops. You can print, copy, and scan at the Copyshop in the Polak Building (ground floor)
- Make sure your passport is signed.
- An original and printed copy is needed per document, so this means for every document you need a copy. Just bringing your passport or ID card without a printed coloured copy of it, is not enough.
- A rental contract, tenancy agreement or declaration by the main occupant may not be older than 3 months.
- The contract or agreement must be filled out and signed by your landlord.
- Do make sure to check you have all copies of the required documents, as the City Hall will need to take them.
- Please go to Osiris and go to your Immigration Case to download your IND approval letter.
Students from the Caribbean will automatically receive a BSN when they apply for student financing. After the application, DUO shares the student's details with the National Identity Data Service (RvIG). Once the data is processed, RvIG will send a letter containing the BSN to the student. Alternatively, students can also request the BSN via telephone from DUO.
If you are not applying for student financing, the following procedure will apply to you:
Step 1 - Download and complete the form from the municipality
Download the form "First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad."
Step 2 - Provide valid proof of identity
This may be a passport or ID card
Step 3 - Please bring proof of deregistration from the Municipal Personal Records Database
Step 4 - Gather documents for your living situation
- Independent as a tenant
- Rental contract or tenancy agreement
- Sublet
- Rental contract or tenancy declaration
- Living with the main tenant as a tenant
- Declaration by main occupant
- Tenancy agreement
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Living with the main tenant as owner
- Declaration of residence
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Independent as owner and not yet registered in the Land Register
- Copy of the deed of transfer, signed by the notary
- Copy of the proof of ownership, signed by the notary
Download form: Tenancy agreement (also called: "verhuurdersverklaring" or "landlord statement".
Download form: Declaration by main occupant (also called "verklaring inwoning" or "certificate of residence"
Step 5 - Make sure to bring all the required documents in hard copy with you
- Original and a printed coloured hard copy of your valid passport or ID card.
- Completed and printed form: First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad' undersigned by you.
- Original and a printed hard copy of rental contract, tenancy agreement or declaration by the main occupant – make sure it's signed by you and your landlord! A digital signature is also allowed. Note that this agreement should not be issued longer than 3 months ago.
* Please note:
- There is no printer available on the spot. You can print, copy, and scan at the Copyshop in the Polak Building (ground floor)
- Make sure your passport is signed.
- An original and printed copy will be needed per document, so this means for every document you need an extra copy. Just bringing your passport or ID card without a printed coloured copy of it, is not enough.
- A rental contract, tenancy agreement or declaration by the main occupant may not be older than 3 months.
- The contract or agreement must be filled out and signed by your landlord. A digital signature is also allowed.
- Do make sure to check you have all copies of the required documents, as the City Hall will need to take them.
Are you intending to study in the Netherlands for less than 4 months? If so, you will need to register as a non-resident in the RNI. You can book an appointment online via the link or by calling 14 010. It is mandatory to appear in person.
Step 1 - Fill in the form.
Download the form 'Registration Forms for Registration of Non-Residents" and complete it.
Step 2 - Provide valid proof of identity
This may be a passport or ID card.
Step 3 - Make sure to bring all the required documents in hard copy with you
- Original and a printed coloured hard copy of your valid passport or ID card.
- Completed and printed form: 'Registration Forms for Registration of Non-Residents ' undersigned by you.
- Your address in the country of origin (legible)
Choose your registration location
There are 19 municipalities in the Netherlands with a counter for non-residents. You are free to select which RNI municipality you wish to register in.
Costs
Registration is free of charge.
How long does it take?
You will be registered at the counter, and you will receive your BSN immediately.
Contact
If you have any questions, call 14 010.
If you are calling from a foreign number, call+31 10 267 16 25.
Are you moving back to the Netherlands from abroad? And are you staying longer than 4 months? Or have you been deregistered from the municipality? If so, you must re-register. This application is referred to as “resettlement”.
Conditions
- You were previously registered in the Netherlands.
- You already have a citizen service number (BSN).
- You are going to live in Rotterdam for more than 4 months.
- You have been deregistered from the municipality.
Step 1 - Download and complete the form from the municipality
Download the form "First registration in the municipal personal records database (BRP) form abroad."
Step 2 - Provide valid proof of identity
EU/EEA/Switzerland: passport or ID card
NON-EU/EEA: passport or ID card + residence permit or IND approval letter
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba or Sint Eustatius: passport or ID card + original proof of deregistration.
Step 3 - Gather documents for your living situation
- Independent as a tenant
- Rental contract or tenancy agreement
- Sublet
- Rental contract or tenancy declaration
- Living with the main tenant as a tenant
- Declaration by main occupant
- Tenancy agreement
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Living with the main tenant as owner
- Declaration of residence
- Copy of valid identity document of the person you are going to live with
- Independent as owner and not yet registered in the Land Register
- Copy of the deed of transfer, signed by the notary
You can book an appointment online via the website of Gemeente Rotterdam.
If you are relocating within or to Rotterdam, please provide your new address no later than 4 weeks before the moving date or within a maximum of 5 days after the moving date. You can report your move online through the website of the Municipality of Rotterdam.
If you plan to leave the Netherlands for more than 8 months, it's important to deregister from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) Rotterdam. After deregistration, the Municipality of Rotterdam, will update your information and automatically notify other government authorities. You can deregister online through the website of the Municipality of Rotterdam.
If you live in a municipality other than Rotterdam, for example Schiedam or Capelle, here’s what you need to know about registering in Capelle and Schiedam
The municipality of Rotterdam can impose a fine if you deliberately provide incorrect information for the Persons Database (BRP).
Note: If you stay in the Social Hub, remember to ask for a confirmation of residence. Without registration as a Social Hub resident, you are obliged to pay tourist taxes. The Social Hub is familiar with issuing rental statements.
Contact International Office
We're here to help you out!
