You will receive your BSN when you register with the municipality (gemeente) of the area you will live in. Everyone who lives in the Netherlands, either for all or a significant part of the time, needs to register with their municipality within five days after arrival if they are planning to stay for more than four months.
When registering and thus receiving your BSN, EU citizens will need to provide a valid proof of identity (such as a passport and not a driving licence) and their address to be registered, while for non-EU expats other documents (such as your residence permit and employment contract etc.) have to be presented too.
For non-EU expats who are applying in the Netherlands for a residence permit, your registration with the municipality will be provisional. After you are registered, you will receive a letter of pre-registration (BvB) from the IND, which they will return to your municipality after you have applied for your residence permit. Then your registration and BSN will be confirmed.
Important notes on BSN
› If you are staying in the Netherlands for less than four months, as of January 6, 2014 you will need a BSN for all official matters. Contact your municipality for details. Short-stay migrants are now no longer required to request a social security number from the Belastingdienst.
› A BSN does not automatically allow expatriates to work in the Netherlands. Depending on their country of origin, expatriates may need to apply for a work permit.