How to Get a DigiD in the Netherlands

DigiD (pronounced "dee-ghee-dee") is the Dutch government's digital identity system — a username and password (or app) that gets you into almost every Dutch government website. You need your BSN before you can apply, and the activation letter arrives by post within 5 working days. Apply as soon as you have your BSN, before you actually need it.

What DigiD is for

Without DigiD you cannot do the following online:

• File your Dutch tax return via the Belastingdienst (mijn.belastingdienst.nl)
• Access MijnOverheid, the central portal for all government correspondence
• Log in to your Dutch health insurer's portal to view claims and coverage
• Apply for or check benefits like the zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) or huurtoeslag (rent allowance)
• Use DigiD-enabled services such as your municipal (gemeente) portal, DUO (student finance), and the UWV (benefits agency)

Most interactions with the Dutch government that can be done online require DigiD. Without it, you are stuck visiting offices in person or sending letters — much slower.

Do EU or EEA citizens need a DigiD?

Probably yes, if you live here. Under the EU's eIDAS system you can log in to some Dutch public services with your own country's national eID — Belgians, for example, can use itsme to sign in to the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) or the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). But the coverage is patchy. The Dutch government itself says not every service accepts a foreign eID yet, and that people who live and work in the Netherlands need a DigiD. Health insurers, MijnOverheid, and many other providers have not switched on foreign-eID login. So if you are settling here, get a DigiD and treat eIDAS as a convenient extra rather than a replacement.

You can read the government's own explanation on the eIDAS access to public services page.

What you need before applying

You must have both of these before starting:

• A BSN — your 9-digit citizen service number, received when you register at the Stadsloket and get your BSN
• A registered Dutch address — you must be registered in the BRP at a Dutch address

You cannot apply for DigiD with only a postal address, a temporary registration, or a BSN your employer arranged without BRP registration. (If you live outside the Netherlands, see Applying from abroad below.)

How to apply — step by step

1. Go to digid.nl and choose "Apply for DigiD"
2. Enter your BSN, date of birth, and Dutch postcode
3. Pick how you want to log in — SMS to start, or go straight to the DigiD app
4. Submit — the application takes about 5 minutes
5. Wait for the activation letter, which arrives by post to your registered address within 5 working days
6. Log in at digid.nl and enter the activation code from the letter — your account is now active

What if you don't have a Dutch phone number?

You don't need one. DigiD's SMS verification officially accepts foreign mobile numbers, so the code can be texted to your home-country phone. Two things to know: some foreign networks deliver Dutch government texts unreliably, and DigiD cannot text certain countries at all because of local rules. If a text never arrives, switch to the spoken (voice) code option — it often gets through when SMS doesn't.

Better yet, skip SMS entirely. Install the DigiD app and activate it with the ID-check, which reads the chip in a Dutch passport, identity card, or driving licence using your phone's NFC reader (iPhone 7 or newer, Android 9 or newer). That needs no phone number at all — and it raises your account to the higher "Substantieel" trust level that healthcare and other services increasingly require.

Can you get a DigiD without a Dutch passport?

Yes. You do not need a Dutch passport — or Dutch nationality — to have a DigiD. What you need is a BSN and a registered Dutch address; your identity is confirmed with your own foreign passport when you register in the BRP.

The one thing a foreign document can't do is the DigiD app's ID-check — the NFC scan that reads a document's chip. It accepts only a Dutch passport, Dutch identity card, or Dutch driving licence; foreign passports and national identity cards are not accepted, even at a service desk. Without the ID-check you can still log in by SMS or the app and reach the "Midden" trust level, which is enough for most everyday services. Reaching the higher "Substantieel" level — which the Belastingdienst and some healthcare portals increasingly ask for — currently needs a Dutch identity document, so many newcomers only reach it once they have a Dutch ID card or driving licence.

Applying from abroad or before you're registered

You can't get a DigiD without a BSN, and you can't get a BSN without being registered — so registration always comes first.

• If you live in the Netherlands: register at your municipality (the BRP), collect your BSN, then apply at digid.nl. The activation letter goes to your registered Dutch address.
• If you live abroad: you need to be listed in the RNI (the Non-residents Records Database), which also gives you a BSN — Dutch nationality is not required. You apply online, then activate either in person at a DigiD service desk (embassies and participating locations, within 30 days, using a service-desk code) or by video call with Netherlands Worldwide. People receiving the Dutch state pension (AOW) can apply through the SVB and have the letter sent abroad.

The official route is set out on the DigiD for people living abroad page.

SMS or the DigiD app — which to choose

When you apply, you pick how you'll log in.

SMS (easiest to start): a one-time code by text each time you log in. Works as soon as your account is active, and needs no smartphone. The catch: some services — including MijnOverheid and certain healthcare portals — now require the more secure app.

DigiD app (recommended for residents): stronger authentication from your phone, and required by a growing list of services. After activating with SMS you can upgrade by scanning your identity document in the app.

It helps to know DigiD's trust levels. The old password-only level (Basis) is being retired because it no longer meets EU two-factor rules; the app or SMS puts you at "Midden," and the app's one-time ID-check lifts you to "Substantieel," which tax and healthcare increasingly ask for. Most residents start with SMS and move to the app within their first month — if you plan to stay long-term, do it early.

Looking further ahead, the Netherlands is building a national EU Digital Identity Wallet (every EU country must offer one by the end of 2026). It is designed as an optional addition, though — the government has been clear it will not replace DigiD.

Common problems

"Your address could not be verified": your BRP registration address does not match what you entered. Confirm your registered address at the Stadsloket, then reapply.

Letter never arrived: after about a week, log in to digid.nl and request a new letter. One common cause is the letter arriving under a slightly different name than you expect — check your post box carefully.

"BSN not found": your BRP registration may not have processed yet. Wait 3–5 working days after your Stadsloket appointment before applying.