It is a legal requirement to register your address with the municipality if you are planning on staying in Maastricht for more than 4 months. Students who are staying for a shorter period than 4 months should register with a different desk, the Registration of Non-Residents (RNI). Deregistering when you leave is equally as important.
The process
Registering your address with the municipality can be done online but you will also have to visit the municipal office afterwards. This process is free and super easy. By registering, you will receive your social security number (Burgerservicenummer or BSN). This will be necessary for administrative matters like opening a bank account, getting a local phone number or applying for subsidies.
After registering online, you will receive a link within 5 weeks to book an appointment at the municipality. Please note that in the beginning of the academic year there are a lot of students who need a BSN so it may take a bit longer to receive your link for booking an appointment.
The documents you must bring to this appointment are:
- A valid identification either a passport or an identity card
- A rental or purchase contract (printed and signed by both parties) or a written permission from the principal occupant
- Your birth certificate (if you were born abroad)
- Proof from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation service (Immigratie- en Naturalisatie Dienst or IND) that you have legal stay in the Netherlands if you are a non-EU-national
- A proof (notification) of deregistration if you come from: Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Martin, Bonaire, Saint Eustace or Saba
If your required documents are not written in Dutch, English, German or French, then you have to get them translated. You don’t have to legalise the translation if the translator is qualified in the Netherlands, but in all other cases, you must re-legalise the original document in the Netherlands.
Are you a non-EU student? When you pick up your residence permit at the visa office, you will be registered by the municipality.
Short-term stays and students not living in the Netherlands
If you’re coming to live in Maastricht from abroad for less than 4 months, to either work or study, you can register at the nearest Registration of Non-Residents (RNI desk) in Heerlen.
If you live outside of the Netherlands but need a BSN, then you will have to call the municipality of Heerlen at +31 (0) 45 560 50 40. They’ll give you an appointment and you will have to go there in person to pick up the document with your BSN.
Moving
If you are moving to another address within Maastricht during your stay, you are obliged to notify the municipality of this change, and to register your new address. This can all be done online.
If you’re moving within the Netherlands, you still have to register your address at whichever municipality you move into.
Deregistering
Don’t forget to deregister from the municipality once you leave Maastricht! You must deregister if you are going to live abroad for longer than 8 months within one year, even if this is not for a continuous period. Deregistering is important as your mail will continue to be sent to your registered address and this may result in you receiving fines that you are unaware of. It is your responsibility to let the municipality and government know that you have left the municipality.
