Report your move abroad (Deregistration)

Will you be leaving the Netherlands? You must report this move within five days of your date of departure. The municipality will then update your details accordingly.

What is it?

If during the course of a year, you will be residing abroad for longer than eight months, you are required to report this to the municipality. This does not need to be a continuous period. The move needs to be reported on the day of departure or a maximum of five days prior to the move. You will then be deregistered from your existing address. In your report, you are required to state your new residential address abroad. If you do not have a fixed address abroad, you are required to indicate where you will be staying (e.g. the address of a hotel, family member or friend). The report will be processed the same day you report your move.

Other public authorities and agencies which make use of the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA) will automatically be informed of your move abroad.

The municipality will not send you a confirmation of your departure. However, you will receive proof of deregistration free of charge if you are moving to the Caribbean Netherlands (the countries Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the special municipalities Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius). You will need this document to register there.

Clearance certificate for household effects

When moving to or from a location abroad, customs can ask you to present an inward or outward clearance certificate for your household effects. For this certificate, you will need an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA). You can apply for this document at the Department of Public Service counter.

Please note: Deregistration in connection with a move abroad may have consequences for your housing benefit, possible student grants, future benefits and taxes.

How does it work?

The following persons may report a move:

• Any person aged 16 or older, on their own behalf.
• Cohabiting spouses/registered partners, on behalf of each other (provided that spouses and partners are moving abroad together).
• The parent, guardian or carer, on behalf of minors.
• Parents, on behalf of their adult children living at home (provided that the parents and the children living at home are moving abroad together).
• Adult children, on behalf of their parent(s) living with them (provided that the adult child and parent(s) are moving abroad together).
• A guardian, on behalf of a person who has been placed under guardianship.
• An authorised person, with a a letter of consent signed by you and a copy of your proof of identity.

What are the conditions?

You must report your move abroad within five days of your date of departure.

You must state a residential address abroad. If you do not have a fixed residential address, you must indicate where you will be staying.

What will I need?

• In writing: a copy of your proof of identity and a signed letter in which you report your current and future address and the date of departure.
• In person: valid identity document (a valid passport or an identity card)

The municipality will verify the authenticity of your identity documents.

How long will it take?

• In writing: 3 working days (the date of receipt is date of departure).
• In person: while you wait.

Would you like to know whether you have been deregistered? This can be checked at mijndenhaag.nl. You will need your DigiD for this inquiry.

You can also inquire at the sub-municipal offices whether you have been deregistered. You will need a valid proof of identity for this inquiry.

How do I apply/What do I need to do?

• In writing: You may submit a signed letter which contains your current address, future address, personal details for you and other family members, date of departure and a copy of the applicant's proof of identity. The official proof of your deregistration will be sent by mail at your address in The Hague unless you specify a forwarding address. Send your letter to the Department of Public Service.
  
• You can also report your move in person at the Department of Public Service counter at one of the sub-municipal offices in The Hague. Please ask for Uittreksel (Extract) Number 60 as temporary proof of deregistration.

Also see

• As a Dutch citizen, you will still be entitled to vote in certain elections. For more information, check out Right to vote for Dutch citizens living abroad.
• Parking permit: Did you have a resident’s parking permit at your old address? Then don’t forget to cancel your old parking permit.
• Subscription to GFT service: Did you have an organic waste subscription for separate waste collection at your old address? Remember to cancel it by Contacting the municipality.
• Resettling in The Hague from abroad.
• Settling in The Hague from abroad.