The "Burgerservicenummer (BSN)" for international students

The "Burgerservicenummer (BSN)" for international students

The BSN for international students in the NetherlandsThe BSN or BurgerServiceNummer ID number, which can be simply translated as "citizen service number", is a unique number assigned to you when you register for the first time with local authorities.

All students staying more than 4 months in the Netherlands must take the steps to obtain the BSN, often facilitated by the university that will help you in the procedure.

What is the BSN used for in the Netherlands?

The BSN is useful in many cases. If you have a student job or a summer job, your employer will need to know your BSN. It is also necessary to give it when opening an on-site bank account, as well as when subscribing to an insurance offer.

There are many examples, and obtaining it is necessary for any student staying more than 4 months on site.

The steps to obtain the BSN in the Netherlands:

To obtain your BSN, you will need the following documents:

A valid passport

Proof that you live in the Netherlands (address / invoice)

A birth certificate stating your name, date and place of birth

The registration is done in person at the town hall of your city, but also often in the university during a "special BSN" day. One or more municipal employees come to the school to register international students throughout the day. As a rule, one day per semester is reserved to manage these steps, do not miss it!

In some institutions, the service in charge of international students simply makes an appointment for you at the town hall during the first weeks on site.

There is no application fee to get your BSN. Once done, you will receive a letter from the municipality to inform you about your BSN code and make sure that you are now registered as living in the Netherlands!