The Netherlands is a bureaucratic country and proud of it. Regulations and procedures for expatriates and their families have been simplified and shortened since 2004, with more changes on the way.

The immigration system in the Netherlands is “complex and unwieldy” (according to the government) but since 2004 it has been increasingly streamlined with legislation designed to attract and select more educated and highly skilled migrants.

First of all, ensure that your documents are in order. Check your passport is valid for the period of your stay and that marriage and birth certificates are translated into Dutch, English, French or German and sufficiently ‘legalised’. This is generally with the addition of an ‘apostille’ – an extra stamp on the original document – and you obtain this from the ‘competent authority’ in your own country. See the apostille section of  www.hcch.net.

There are two main bodies involved: the IND, which implements immigration policy and makes decisions on residence permits, and the GBA, where you register your entry into the Netherlands.

Registering with the GBA: everyone
The Gemeentelijke basisadministratie personnsegegevens is the personal records database of the municipal authority. Anyone who intends to stay in the Netherlands for more than three months (including EU/EEA nationals) must register at the GBA within five days of arrival. Registration with the GBA triggers the start of other processes and proof of registration is essential for many more.

The details you give when you register (such as the size of your apartment and family) determine charges for water and refuse collection, prompts the local health department to contact you regarding check-ups for your children, and eligibility to register for social housing.  As of November 2007, the burgerservicenummer (BSN) (which has replaced the old fiscal sofi-number) is initiated here and you'll need a BSN to open a bank account. Once you have completed this process, you can get a print-out of your details – uitstrekksel –which proves your residence and rights, such as being able to vote in local and European elections.

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