BSN, RNI or BRP: which registration?

The short answer

A BSN is your personal citizen service number. BRP and RNI are registration routes, not competing kinds of BSN. If you already have a BSN, keep using that number; moving or returning does not create a new one.

For a planned stay of more than four months, register as a resident with the municipality where you live, within five days of arrival. Contact it early because appointments may be limited. People living abroad or staying under four months can use the RNI route. Bring valid identification and check the municipality’s document requirements.

Prepare for the actual length of your stay

Decide whether your planned stay requires resident registration or the non-resident route, and check the municipality’s appointment instructions. A BSN is a personal administrative number; it is not a work permit, insurance policy or proof that a housing arrangement is lawful. If you already have a number, keep using it.

Keep registration useful after arrival

Give accurate contact information and report relevant moves. If your housing becomes unstable, ask the municipality about the correct registration route rather than purchasing an unrelated address. Keep access to official correspondence, because missing letters can complicate benefits, insurance and tax even while employment continues.

What to do next

Decide the expected length of stay and check the official municipality or RNI appointment route.
Bring a passport or identity card and the documents specifically requested; civil-status documents vary by situation.
Keep the registration confirmation safely and update your registration if your stay or address changes.

A practical example

For a six-month job with residence in Rotterdam, ask Rotterdam about BRP registration. For a genuine two-month stay while living abroad, investigate RNI. A job agency booking an appointment does not replace your own responsibility to check the route.

Explore this topic

Registration without a fixed address: briefadres
Ask the municipality about a correspondence address if you genuinely have no residential address.
Leaving the Netherlands: registration, tax and final wages
Prepare the administrative handover so you can still receive official letters and resolve payments after departure.
Documents to prepare before moving for work
Build a practical arrival folder for registration, employment, housing and healthcare without handing over control of your identity.

Questions people ask

Can an agency keep my BSN and identity documents?

Employers need specific information for lawful payroll and identity checks, but keep control of your originals and share copies only for a clear purpose. Never publish your BSN or upload it into this website.

Should I get a new BSN if I worked in the Netherlands before?

Normally you keep your existing BSN. Bring the old record and explain your return to the municipality.

Can I use a post-office box?

No. A briefadres must meet municipal requirements and cannot simply be a post-office box.

Do I lose my BSN when I leave?

No. Your BSN remains valid; the registration record changes. Do not apply for a second number if you later return.

Does everyone need the same translated documents?

No. Check the municipality’s list for your own circumstances before paying for translations or legalisation.

Sources

Last verified: 4 October 2026. Sources are in Dutch or English.