FAQ’s

The BSN (Burger Service Nummer) is a unique personal number allocated to everyone registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database, which makes it easier for public authorities and services to exchange information on residents of the Netherlands.

If you fall under one of the Rotterdam Expat Centre's target groups, you can make an appointment at the Rotterdam Expat Centre. Otherwise please schedule the appointment at the municipality of Rotterdam.

No, you can make an appointment for the one stop shop (BSN registration + IND appointment) online or you can write us an e-mail if you want a consultation appointment: info@rotterdamexpatcentre.nl

Valid passport or national European ID card, filled in print-out of the application form, proof of residence / tenancy agreement / signed statement by owner; residence permit (if applicable), birth/marriage certificates, housing permit (if applicable).

You can only register at the Rotterdam Expat Centre if you are going to live within the municipality of Rotterdam, or within the municipality of Schiedam.

If you are an Orientation Year Student or an entrepreneur that has been facilitated by Rotterdam Partners, you will not be subject to payment to make use of the one-stop-shop services.

The refund will be made in two weeks.

No, you can't pay by invoice.

The pick-up location can still be changed if biometrics still need to be provided.

It is possible to reschedule it to July. From 1st July you will pay for the service of the Expat Centre.

This appointment can only be made at the official IND offices.

You will be seen as a no-show.

They will no longer be eligible for the discounted price.

Every appointment is automatically allocated an appointment code.

You do not need to be married in order to be counted as one family.

Yes, the Fees that have been mentioned are fixed and not negotiable.

Yes, these charges are for both.

IND appointments within one immigration case per person are free.

The fees at the Rotterdam Expat Centre are as follows:

If you cancel your appointment prior to two working days before your appointment, or your appointment has been cancelled by us, you will receive a refund within 2 weeks after cancelling.

The Rotterdam Expat Centre makes use of a no-show policy, which is to be applied if an individual is not present at the starting time of their appointment or has rescheduled/canceled their appointment within the two working days prior to their appointment.

You can reschedule or cancel your appointment using the respective links in your confirmation email.

You will be able to cancel/reschedule your appointment a maximum of two working days in advance in order to avoid our no-show policy.

Bank appointments at the Rotterdam Expat Centre are still free of charge.

It is not possible to pay at the front desk of the Rotterdam Expat Centre.

By bank or Creditcard.

You will be asked for payment at the final stage of scheduling the appointment online.

The person scheduling the appointment will have to pay in order for the appointment to be scheduled.

To exchange your licence, you will need to make an appointment at the municipality of Rotterdam. You will need a few documents for the application.

If you are planning on staying in the Netherlands for less than four months, you have the option of applying for Short term municipal registration. This is a special procedure which is called ‘registration as a non-inhabitant’ (RNI). You will receive your BSN number, but you will not be registered as a resident of the Netherlands.

You can apply for a DigiD online: https://www.digid.nl/en/

Yes, it is mandatory to deregister from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) when you are leaving the Netherlands.

There are several ways to deregister, the best way is to do it through DigiD.

If you own a car and you are a registered resident of Rotterdam, you can obtain a parking permit for your area.

You can do the online application of the website of the IND. Before handing the form in you need to get a stamp at the municipality of Rotterdam.

At the municipality of Rotterdam, you can schedule the appointment online or call +31 (0)10-2671625.

There is no expiration date for a birth certificate and it can be used in the Netherlands as long as it has seen the proper method of legalisation.

If you have lost your confirmation of registration, you can apply for an extract by post by sending a letter with a copy of a valid ID to: Municipality Rotterdam Attn. Afdeling CVE2 P.O. Box 70013 3000 KR Rotterdam You can also call 010-2671625 to make an appointment at Town Hall for ‘uittreksel BRP’ to apply for the extract in person.

You can schedule an appointment with the municipality of Rotterdam online or by calling: +31 (0)10-2671625.

You can register your move online (please note, you require a DigiD (digital authentication method). Alternatively, you can print out the form ‘report change of address’ which you can find at the bottom of this page and send the forms and the required passport copies to

You can schedule an appointment for the combined one stop shop where you can do the first registration (obtain your BSN), pick up your residence card and open a bank appointment and you can schedule a consultation appointment for general information.

If you are a highly skilled migrant (applicable for the 30% ruling), scientific researcher, PHD Student, Intra Corporate Transferee (ICT) or an orientation year student (or a family member), you can make an appointment at the Rotterdam Expat Centre. Otherwise please schedule the appointment at the municipality of Rotterdam +31 (0)10-2671625.

International students need to schedule an appointment for first registration at the municipality of Rotterdam. Please be aware that some universities organize inhouse days whereby the municipality does the first registration at the campus. For more information check with your HR department. Be aware! If you are a graduate then you can use the services of Rotterdam Expat Centre!

No, the services of Rotterdam Expat Centre are free of charge.

It is not possible to hand in your residence permit at the Rotterdam Expat Centre. Click read more to find out how you can return your permit.

You can cancel your appointment by writing an e-mail to info@rotterdamexpatcentre.nl or calling the expat centre: +31 (0)10-7900190.

For life-threatening emergencies, always call 112.

When you arrive in the city, it is a great tip to deliberately get lost in the different neighbourhoods and go exploring. Rotterdam is a safe city and you can explore it alone.

Public schools or international schools are both options for your children. Please visit our Education & Childcare page to learn more about the possibilities and the different schools.

On websites like Internations and MeetUp, you can easily find other people that share your interests or background.

There are several legal desks in Rotterdam which you can contact to get legal advice*. Please find an overview here.

The sirens (luchtalarm) are part of the Netherlands' national emergency system. The sirens are tested every first Monday of the month at noon.

The 30% ruling applies to you if you were recruited or seconded outside of the Netherlands to work in the Netherlands. You can read more about whether you are eligible on the website of the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration

When you start to work in the Netherlands, you will also start contributing to the Dutch tax system. There are national taxes you have to pay, but every resident in Rotterdam (or any city in the Netherlands) also pays local taxes.

The Netherlands has a progressive tax rate. Furthermore, there is taxation on substantial interest, savings and investments. Do not forget that there are also many tax credits and benefits for certain groups of people, including: (single) parents, house owners, workers, non-working spouses, etc.

To receive Child benefit you must be registered and living in the Netherlands. You can apply for the allowance by using your DigiD. The allowance is provided directly to parents via the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). Click here for more information.

In the Netherlands, health care is part of its social security system. Therefore, health care insurance is mandatory for all residents in the Netherlands that are subject to Dutch social security law. Am I subject to the social security law?

In the Netherlands, the family doctor (huisarts), also known as a general practitioner or GP, plays an important role in healthcare. Your Dutch GP will be your primary physician, compiling your medical information and maintaining contact with most of the medical institutions you need to visit.

For life-threatening emergencies, always call 112. Urgent medical issues? Call your GP. Outside office hours, call “Huisartsenpost”:

Yes, the one stop shop of Rotterdam Expat Centre is open. The agenda of the one stop shop will be open at limited timeslots.

There a few websites where you can find English information about the COVID-19 virus:

Currently, there are no restrictions on public life related to Covid-19. You are still advised to keep in mind the basic rules of prevention. For more info press 'read more'

The Dutch government is doing its best to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus. It is also taking measures to help businesses that are affected by the crisis. You will probably have questions about these measures. See if your question is answered on their website: https://business.gov.nl/the-coronavirus-faq-for-entrepreneurs/

The Dutch Government has decided to lift all travel restrictions related to Covid-19

Currently, there is no government-mandated quarantine requirement upon entering the Netherlands.

In order to get tested for Covid-19 you can call the toll-free number 0800 1202 (or +31 850 659 063 if you're calling from a foreign phone).

The Dutch government is currently in the process of distributing booster vaccinations the population with several different brands.

In order to be vaccinated you need to be registered in the Netherlands in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You can only schedule an appointment if you have received your BSN. For information on how to schedule the appointment press 'read more'

If you got vaccinated abroad, either once, or twice already, there are steps you can undertake to get a proof of vaccination in the CoronaCheck app (the Dutch DCC).