How to get a DigiD in the Netherlands

DigiD (short for Digitale Identiteit) is the username-and-password system the Dutch government uses to verify your identity online. You need it to file your belastingaangifte, apply for toeslagen, compare zorgverzekeringen on comparison sites, access MijnOverheid, and use dozens of other government and semi-government services. Without a DigiD, you cannot do most of these things online.

Who can get a DigiD

Anyone with a BSN (burgerservicenummer) can apply. You receive your BSN when you register at your gemeente after arriving in the Netherlands. If you have not registered yet, do that first. You cannot apply for a DigiD without a BSN.

Non-residents who work in the Netherlands and have a BSN but are not registered at a Dutch address can also apply through RNI (Registration Non-Residents) municipalities.

How to apply

Go to digid.nl and click "Aanvragen" (apply). You will need:

Your BSN, a Dutch mobile phone number or email address, and a valid identity document (passport or ID card).

The application itself takes a few minutes. You choose a username and password, enter your BSN, and provide contact details. After submitting, the system sends an activation code to your registered home address by regular post.

The postal verification delay

The activation letter typically arrives within five business days. You cannot skip this step. The postal verification is how the system confirms that you actually live at the address registered with your gemeente. Until the letter arrives, your DigiD account is inactive and you cannot log in anywhere.

If the letter does not arrive within seven business days, you can request a new one through digid.nl. Each activation code is valid for 20 days.

Setting up the DigiD app

Once your account is active, install the DigiD app on your phone. The app provides a second layer of verification. Some services require the app (not just the username and password) to log in. The app uses either a five-digit code you set or your phone's fingerprint or face recognition.

To activate the app, you log in to digid.nl with your username and password, scan a QR code, and verify with an ID check using your phone's camera and your passport or ID card with an NFC chip.

Common problems

Application fails immediately after registering at the gemeente. The BRP (basisregistratie personen, the population register) can take a few days to process your registration. If you registered at your gemeente yesterday and your DigiD application is rejected, wait two to three business days and try again.

Letter arrives but the code does not work. Activation codes expire after 20 days. If you waited too long, request a new code.

Locked out after too many failed login attempts. DigiD blocks your account after three failed password attempts. You can unblock it through digid.nl using SMS verification, or request a new activation letter if you forgot your password entirely.

What you can do with a DigiD

Once active, your DigiD gives you access to Mijn Belastingdienst (tax returns), Toeslagen.nl (zorgtoeslag, huurtoeslag, kinderopvangtoeslag), MijnOverheid (government correspondence), your municipality's online services, UWV (benefits), DUO (student finance), and health insurance comparison sites during the switching window.

Most expats first use their DigiD to apply for zorgtoeslag. If you pay for zorgverzekering and earn below roughly €41,000 per year (in 2026), zorgtoeslag can cover most of your monthly premium.

Practice the vocabulary

TikTaal's DigiD scenario walks through the application process in Dutch: reading the instructions, calling the helpdesk, and understanding terms like aanvragen, activeren, and inloggen. Every Dutch word is clickable for pronunciation and translation.