FAQs

The Rotterdam International Center offers a one-stop-shop service where you can book an appointment to:

• Register with the municipality to obtain a BSN (Municipality of Rotterdam on-site Monday - Thursday)
• Provide biometric information, pick up your residence permit or hand in your residence permit (IND on-site Monday - Thursday)
• Open a bank account with ABN AMRO (on-site on Monday and Thursday)

Go to our step-by-step wizard to select and book the right appointment at the Rotterdam International Center.

It is not possible to schedule the following appointments at Rotterdam International Center: 

• Apply for a residence permit
• Short term registration
• Deregistration
• Report change of address
• Hand in missing documents such as birth or marriage certificates

Please schedule an appointment with Rotterdam City Hall or call +31(0)10-2671625 for the municipal registration, and schedule an appointment with the IND desk for IND-related matters.

At the Rotterdam International Center, you can only book an appointment if you fall under one of the following groups:

• Highly skilled migrants (more info)
• European Blue Card recipients (more info)
• Intra-corporate transferees (ICT) (more info)
• Scientific researchers (more info)
• Recent graduates (orientation year students) (more info)
• Entrepreneurs (more info)
• All EU citizens that receive the 30% ruling (more info)
• Family members of those that fall under any of the previously mentioned categories (more info)

Note: For the municipal registration, you need to be in possession of an address in the municipality of Rotterdam. This is not required if book a appointment only with the IND.

If you do not fall under these following categories, please schedule an appointment with Rotterdam City Hall or call +31 (0)10-2671625 for the municipal registration, and schedule an appointment with the IND desk for IND-related matters.

Municipal registration / BSN

Main applicant / Employee*
Fee: €77.50 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €93.78 (including VAT)

Partner (within one family)
Fee: €38.75 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €46.89 (including VAT)

Child (within one family, per child, no fees for 4th and 5th child)
Fee: €19.38 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €23.45 (including VAT)

Orientation year student
Fee: €38.75 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €46.89 (including VAT)

IND appointment: residence permit, residence endorsement sticker and biometrics

Main applicant / Employee*
Fee: €77.50 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €93.78 (including VAT)

Partner (within one family)
Fee: €38.75 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €46.89 (including VAT)

Child (within one family, per child, no fees for 4th and 5th child)
Fee: €19.38 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €23.45 (including VAT)

Orientation year student
Fee: Free of charge

Combined appointment: Municipal registration / BSN and IND appointment

Main applicant / Employee*
Fee: €155.00 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €187.55 (including VAT)

Partner (within one family)
Fee: €77.50 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €93.78 (including VAT)

Child (within one family, per child, no fees for 4th and 5th child)
Fee: €38.75 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €46.89 (including VAT)

Orientation year student
Fee: €38.75 (excluding VAT)
Fee: €46.89 (including VAT)

Important information

• Partners and children who register at the Rotterdam International Center within one year of the main applicant may qualify for a reduced fee.
• Any required follow‑up appointments within the same immigration case at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) are not charged.
• An IND appointment at the Rotterdam International Center fulfils the MVV requirement and includes the collection of biometrics. This means no additional IND appointment is required to collect the residence permit card. Please note: this service does not include residence permit extensions.
• Bank appointments and appointments to return your residence permit are free of charge.

You can only register at the Rotterdam International Center if you are going to live within the municipality of Rotterdam. The first four digits of your postal code need to fall within the following ranges: 3011-3089, 3151, 3181, 3190-3199.

Be aware that the cities mentioned below do not belong to the municipality of Rotterdam. You have to do the first registration at the local municipality:

• Schiedam: +31 (0)10-2671625
• Capelle aan den IJssel: +31 (0)10-2848688​
• Dordrecht: 14078

Municipal registration via the RIC is only possible for long term stays (4 months or longer).  For shorter stays, schedule an appointment with Rotterdam City Hall to register as an non-resident (RNI).

Unfortunately, we cannot change the location if the Rotterdam International Center was selected as the pick-up location on the application form.

The IND does not send residence permits to a different location after submission of the application. The RIC has no influence over this process. For more information, please contact the IND directly: +31 (0)88 0430430.

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

Appointments can only be scheduled on our website. It is not possible to make appointments by phone or email.

You need a few documents for the first registration:

• Valid passport or national ID card (EU);
• Filled in print-out of the application form;
• Proof of residence / tenancy agreement / signed statement by owner;*
• Residence permit (if applicable);
• Birth/marriage certificate (It is also possible to hand in the certificates up to 6 months after the appointment.);**
• Housing permit (if applicable).

*   Please be aware that rental contracts/tenancy agreements with dates in the future or older than three months will not be accepted.
** Certificates that have not been drawn up in Dutch or English must be translated by a sworn translator. It is possible that the certificates must have a legalization or apostille. There is no expiration date for the legalized copy.

Read more

Certain streets in Rotterdam require a housing permit (huisvestingsvergunning or HVV). This means that permission from the municipality is needed to live in a rental property in these streets (check the list of streets). 

Note: This check applies to the main tenant and all household members aged 16 and older. If all required documents are submitted, the application is usually reviewed within 5 weeks (missing documents or additional investigation may cause delays).

You cannot hand in missing documents such as birth or marriage certificate via the Rotterdam International Center. Schedule an appointment with Rotterdam City Hall.

For the appointment at the bank please bring the following:

• A copy of your employment contract;
• Original passport;
• Residential address in the Netherlands;
• Financial Identification Number (FIN) of the country in which you are currently liable to pay tax. For example Burger Service Number (BSN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN) of the country of prior residence.
  Visit the OECD website for an overview of the national rules in the various countries and jurisdictions that govern the issuance, structure, use and validity of Tax Identification Numbers (“TIN”) or their functional equivalents.

After attending your appointment, you will receive an active IBAN number directly. Your debit card, activation code and PIN will arrive by post in separate letters and random order within 3-5 business days.

You will need the following documents for picking up your residence permit:

• Valid passport or national ID card (EU)
• If applicable: your old residence permit

You can schedule an appointment with Rotterdam City Hall online or call +31 (0)10-2671625.

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. Read more

You can book an appointment at the Rotterdam International Center if you fall under one of our target groups (see FAQ Am I eligible to book an appointment at the RIC). 

If you do not fall under these following categories, please schedule an appointment with Rotterdam City Hall or call +31(0)10-2671625 for the municipal registration, and schedule an appointment with the IND desk for IND-related matters.

If you have lost your confirmation of registration, you have 3 options:

1. 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
2. Request an extract online using DigiD
3. Call +31 (0)10-2671625 to make an appointment at City Hall for a ‘uittreksel BRP’ to apply for an extract in person.

You have two options to register your move:

• You can register your move online if you have a Digid.
  On the website, click on ‘Inloggen met DigiD’. Here you can change the language settings on the topleft section and then follow the steps.
• You can register your move by printing out the form ‘report change of address’ and sending the forms and the required passport copies to:
  Gemeente Rotterdam
  P.O. Box 70013
  3000 KR Rotterdam

To exchange your foreign driving licence schedule an appointment at the municipality of Rotterdam. The municipality will forward your application to the RDW, where it will be processed. If you contact the RDW yourself, the application will not be processed.

To apply for an exchange of your driving licence,  you will need:

• Your original, valid foreign driver’s licence;
• A certificate of medical fitness; With DigiD, you can only purchase this medical declaration from the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR) or at the municipality of Rotterdam
• A recent passport photograph;
• The exchange form (Partially filled in by you and partially by a civil servant from the municipal office);
• If you have a driving licence which is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (for example Japanese or Greek): a translation of the driving licence concerned, notarised by a sworn interpreter, the embassy or the consulate.

If you own a car and you are a registered resident of Rotterdam, you can apply for a parking permit for your area via the municipality of Rotterdam.

When you leave the Netherlands, it is mandatory to deregister from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP). The municipality will then update your details accordingly and will automatically notify other government authorities of your departure. 

How can I deregister
There are several ways to deregister, the best way is to do it through DigiD. If you are currently registered in Rotterdam, you can deregister starting 28 days prior to departure by filling in the departure form using DigiD.

Read more about leaving The Netherlands

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. Schedule an appointment with the municipality to get the stamp.

There are several legal helpdesks in Rotterdam which you can contact to get legal advice.

Please find an overview below:

• Rechtswinkel Rotterdam
• Juridisch loket
• Inloopspreekuur
• Huurteam Rotterdam (Advice rental problems)

For life-threatening emergencies, always call 112.
Urgent medical issues? Call your GP.

Outside office hours, call “Huisartsenpost”:

• Huisartsenpost Rotterdam Noord: +31 (0)10–4669573
• Huisartsenpost Rotterdam Zuid: +31 (0)10-2909888
• Huisartsenpost IJsselland: +31(0)10-2799262
• Huisartsenpost Spijkenisse: +31(0)181-627055