Practical matters

If you are moving to Groningen from abroad, you need to register at the municipality within 5 days after your arrival. Registration is necessary, because you will only get a citizen service number (BSN, "burgerservicenummer") when you are officially registered. You need a BSN to be able to study or work in the Netherlands. You also need a BSN to make use of all other official matters, such as healthcare, insurance, a bank account and to apply for benefits or an allowance. In some cases, the International Welcome Center North might be able to help you go through this process.

Even if you are going to live, study or work in Groningen for less than four months, you need to get registered at the municipality as a non-resident.

If you plan on staying in the Netherlands for less than three months, you might need to get a visa. Information about whether you need a visa to travel to the Netherlands can be found on the government website. 

If you plan on staying in the Netherlands for longer than three months, this is no longer considered a tourist stay. That means that you might need to apply for a provisional residence permit, depending on your country of residence. After arriving in the Netherlands, you will need to apply for a residence permit. 

After you registered at the Municipality and receive your citizen service number (BSN), you can request a DigiD: a secure digital identification system in the Netherlands that allows residents to access a variety of government services online.

In case you haven’t found the information you need from the municipality, regarding registering at the Municipality for example, you can contact them.

If you have questions about topics like relocation, formalities or permits, then you can also contact IWCN for help.