News item | 24-03-2023 | 13:45
The Council of Ministers agreed to amend the Decree on Basic Registration of Persons, so that Caribbean students can immediately obtain a BSN when applying for student finance via DUO. This is made possible by temporarily registering them as non-residents in the BRP. State Secretary Van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations and Digitization (BZK) submitted the decision in consultation with Minister Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science. In doing so, she is implementing the government’s ambitions to provide students from Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten with a BSN before arrival in the Netherlands. The decision will be submitted to the Council of State for advice.
Making things easier online
With a BSN, students can arrange online all matters with the government and other institutions that require a BSN. For example, for applying for a DigiD, surcharges and making an appointment with the municipality for registration in the BRP. In this way, students can prepare themselves before coming to the Netherlands and arrange matters more quickly after arrival. As a result, they do not get into trouble unnecessarily. The decision is a first step. After the entry into force, time is needed to adapt the DUO systems.
For Caribbean students with the right to student finance
The change applies to all Caribbean students who are entitled to student finance and are going to study in the Netherlands, but do not yet live there. An important condition is that they have Dutch nationality or equivalent. Caribbean MBO students who are not yet 18 years old also receive the BSN before arrival in the Netherlands. The travel entitlement, known as the student travel product they receive, is also regarded as student finance.
Registration with the municipality after arrival in the Netherlands is still mandatory
Even after this decision, Caribbean students are obliged to register in the BRP of the Dutch municipality where they will live after arrival in the Netherlands. The regulations apply to anyone who will be staying in the Netherlands for longer than four months. The BSN remains the same.
Possible additional measures at the start of the study in 2023
For Caribbean students who start their studies in the Netherlands in August or September this year, it is not possible to implement the change in time after it takes effect. They receive a BSN after registration in the BRP of the Dutch municipality where they are going to live. The national government will make every effort to remove the bottlenecks in individual cases that lead to delays in registering in the BRP for Caribbean students.