On this page
City procedures change. Check the current Amsterdam and Rotterdam pages before you travel or book.
At a glance
- National rule
- More than 4 months; register within 5 days
- Amsterdam
- City Office; BSN as part of the process
- Rotterdam
- Appointment; usually processed within 4 weeks
- Rotterdam local check
- Housing permit on listed streets from 1 Dec 2025
Your checklist
First steps
Your checklist stays on this device.
What is the same
Both cities register people coming from abroad in the BRP, and both lead to a BSN if you do not have one. Registration is a resident record, not a residence permit, and it does not decide tax residence or health insurance.
Rotterdam describes its threshold as staying at least four of the next six months, while Government.nl says more than four months. Follow the city’s wording when you book.
Amsterdam: City Office and same-visit BSN
Amsterdam says that if you move from abroad for more than four months, you must register at a City Office within five days. Bring originals of identity, housing and civil-status documents. Certificates may need to be in Dutch, English, French or German, or translated by a sworn translator.
Family members who move with you must attend in person. Amsterdam gives the BSN as part of the process if you do not already have one, so you can leave the visit with it.
Rotterdam: appointment, permit checks and a housing condition
Rotterdam directs people coming from abroad who will live in the Netherlands for at least four of the next six months, and who do not yet have a BSN, to its first-registration route. You make an in-person appointment and bring the documents the registration flow asks for.
Non-EU nationals need a residence permit or a running application before they can register. Since 1 December 2025, some Rotterdam streets also require a housing permit for rented homes, and the landlord must complete a declaration of intent.
Time and cost
Rotterdam says registration is free and is usually processed within four weeks, with the BSN following BRP registration. Amsterdam’s page does not state a fee in the sources we reviewed.
Common questions
Do I need an appointment in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam says first registration is in person and most people visit a City Office, with a specific appointment instruction for Weesp. Check the current page before you go.
Which city is faster to give me a BSN?
Amsterdam says you receive the BSN after registering, and Rotterdam says registration is usually processed within four weeks. The documents you bring affect both.
Can I register in Rotterdam while my non-EU permit is pending?
Rotterdam says you need a residence permit or a running application for one. Confirm the current IND and municipal requirements before booking.
Does every Rotterdam address need a housing permit?
No. Rotterdam lists specific streets where a rented home needs one from 1 December 2025. Check the street list and ask your landlord for the declaration of intent.
Official sources
Read this first
- City of Amsterdam: moving from abroadCity Office process, documents and family attendance
- City of Rotterdam: first registration in the NetherlandsFirst-registration route, non-EU condition and housing permit
- Government.nl: when to register in the BRPFour-month threshold and five-day rule
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.