For the first weeks in the Netherlands, most things are offline and on paper: a home, registration, a bank account. Then comes DigiD (pronounced "dee-gid"). Tax, allowances, your municipality, pensions and many other services use it as the login for government websites.
DigiD is not instant, though. You apply, wait for a letter, and enter the code in it before it expires. People who miss that window or stumble over the app setup often find out just before a tax or allowance task is due.
This guide covers DigiD after you have your BSN and are registered at your address. How to get the BSN is explained in Registering with your municipality (BRP) and getting a BSN, so it is not repeated here. Everything below was checked against official pages on 1 November 2026.
Main sources used
- DigiD pages: Apply, Activate, DigiD app, SMS verification, ID card or driving licence, and living abroad
- NederlandWereldwijd: how to apply from abroad
- Belastingdienst: filing income tax online and logging in to Mijn toeslagen
- CBS: DigiD login methods and assurance levels
- Expat guides as a starting point: IamExpat, DutchReview, XPAT.NL, The Hague International Centre
| What you want to know | Short answer |
|---|---|
| When to apply | After you have a BSN and a registered address |
| When the letter arrives | 3 working days, or up to 5, per DigiD |
| Code validity | 21 days; one replacement letter can be requested |
| App limits | Up to 5 devices; foreign ID cannot be used for the ID check |
| Taxes and allowances | Used to log in to Mijn Belastingdienst and Mijn toeslagen |
| Living abroad | Service desk code 30 days, activation code 21 days |
1. What DigiD is and why you need it
DigiD is a personal login for Dutch government and public services. It is built on a username and password, with extra checks such as an SMS code or the app. Think of it as the front door to online government services.
DigiD is account-based rather than card-based. Most people now approve logins with the app on their phone.
Where residents typically use it
| Situation | What DigiD does | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax return | Log in and sign before submitting | Belastingdienst |
| Allowances (toeslagen) | Log in to Mijn toeslagen | Belastingdienst |
| Allowances app | Same DigiD login | Belastingdienst |
| Municipality, pensions and others | Login for each body | Each body's website |
| Acting for someone else | Authorised person logs in with their own DigiD | Belastingdienst |
DigiD does nothing by itself. It is the key you need when a tax or allowance task arrives, so it is wise to have it active early.
DigiD and BSN are different
The BSN (burgerservicenummer, citizen service number) identifies you to the government. DigiD is the online login tied to that number. You cannot apply for DigiD without a BSN. For permit questions, see the guide to Dutch residence permits.
2. Before you apply
DigiD's application page lists three requirements: a BSN, an address registered with a Dutch municipality, and a mobile phone. The letter goes to the registered address, so if you have just moved and the record shows the old one, fix that with your municipality first.
What to have ready
| Item | Why | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| BSN | Required to apply | Your registration confirmation |
| Registered address | Where the letter goes | Your BRP record |
| Mobile phone | To receive SMS codes | Foreign numbers also work |
| Email address | Confirmation and contact | Your usual address |
| Name on the mailbox | The letter arrives on paper | Check before applying |
The last row is easy to miss. The activation code comes in a white envelope by post. If your name is not on the mailbox of a shared building, it may not arrive.
If you have no fixed address
DigiD says people without a permanent home address can apply if they are registered at a postal address with their municipality. A PO box or an empty address is not allowed. Ask the municipality about registration first in such cases.
Children
Parents or guardians apply for children aged 13 and under. The letter goes to the child's registered address, which cannot be changed. From age 14, the child must apply personally.
3. From application to activation
You apply at digid.nl. Figure 1 shows the four stages and where you wait.
The wait comes at stage two. Once the letter arrives, enter the code at once, because the 21-day clock is already running.
How long the letter takes
DigiD's application page says both "within 3 business days" and "a maximum of 5 working days, depending on regional mail". The activation page says within 5 working days. Plan for five.
If nothing has arrived after that, first check that your registered address is right and the letter did not go to an old one. Then use DigiD's help pages or the helpdesk; contact details are on Rijksoverheid's DigiD helpdesk page.
Recognising the activation code
The activation code starts with the letter A. DigiD advises using the most recent letter and entering the code exactly as printed. Codes sent by email or SMS cannot replace it.
The 21-day limit
DigiD's activation page gives you 21 days to activate. If the code has expired or is lost, you can request one new letter, via "Apply for a new letter" in the app or on the website. It also takes up to five working days and is valid for 21 days.
If that one is lost or never arrives, you start a new DigiD application. Some expat guides describe the limit as "less than 20 days", so rely on the date on your letter and the official page, and enter it early.
SMS check during application
When you apply you can choose SMS verification. The activation page says that on the website you need an SMS code only if you chose this; in the app an SMS code is always sent during activation.
4. Activate on the website or in the app
Both routes lead to the same DigiD. The difference is convenience afterwards.
| Route | Steps | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Website | Username, password, SMS code if enabled, then the letter code | Working mostly on a computer |
| App | Open the app, username and password, SMS code, letter code | Using the app straight away |
If you activate in the app, the app itself still needs a final activation step. If you used the website, you can set up the app afterwards. Either way, install the app: Belastingdienst notes it is the easiest login because you only remember a PIN.
Device requirements
DigiD lists iOS 15 or later and Android 9 or later for phones and tablets, and Windows 11 or later on computers. It does not state a minimum macOS version on that page. Update an older device first.
5. Setting up the DigiD app
The app shortens every login. A few limits are worth knowing before you start.
Ways to activate the app
DigiD lists four: an ID check, an SMS code, a letter, or an already-activated app. The SMS option works only if your phone number is on your DigiD account. If you already have an activated app on another device, you can use it to activate a new one, so do not delete the old app before switching phones.
Up to five devices
You can have the app active on at most five devices. Beyond that you see a "too many apps active" error. Free a slot in Mijn DigiD by deactivating a device you no longer use, ideally before you hand over an old phone.
Biometrics and PIN
On phones and tablets you can turn on fingerprint or face recognition in the app settings, but not on a computer. If you forget the PIN, choose "Forgot PIN" and reactivate the app. DigiD advises a PIN that differs from your bank card and banking app PINs.
6. Assurance levels: basic, medium, substantial
CBS describes the levels this way: Basis is username and password only. Midden adds an SMS code or the app without an ID check. Substantieel is the app after the one-time ID check. CBS notes a higher level exists above these.
Figure 2 lays them side by side.
The service you log in to decides which level it needs. DigiD says some organisations require an annual ID check, and that the ID check unlocks more sensitive data such as health data.
What the ID check needs
The ID check reads a Dutch passport, identity card or driving licence with a phone's NFC reader. DigiD states that foreign identity documents, residence documents and foreign national ID cards are not accepted, nor are Dutch documents without a BSN. It can be added only on a mobile device.
For newcomers this matters directly. Until you hold a Dutch-issued ID or driving licence, the app stays at the medium level. Many tasks can still be done at that level, but what each service requires differs, so follow the prompts on the login screen.
Logging in with an ID document is separate
DigiD also lets you log in with a Dutch ID card issued from 13 March 2021 or a driving licence issued from 26 May 2018. This is separate from the app's ID check. Licences issued between 26 May 2018 and 1 July 2023 need a one-off €3.50 payment to the RDW to enable it. Both require Dutch-issued documents.
7. SMS verification and phone numbers
SMS verification sends a six-digit code to your phone when you log in. DigiD lists a mobile phone or tablet with a SIM, a landline, or a foreign phone number as usable. You can therefore start before you have a Dutch SIM, though delivery and cost then depend on your carrier.
Setting it up
Add your number in Mijn DigiD and request SMS verification in the app or on the website. A letter with an activation code, starting with A, arrives within three working days, and you enter it exactly as printed. As with the first application, a wrong registered address means no letter.
If the code does not arrive
| Check | What to look at |
|---|---|
| SMS verification | Is it switched on for your account? |
| Phone number | The login screen shows the last 3 digits |
| Signal | Restart the phone or move |
| Carrier | Look for outages, then contact them |
| Voice message | Choose "No code received?" and ask for a voice call |
With voice SMS enabled, DigiD calls you and reads the code aloud; the code is valid for 15 minutes.
"Always log in in 2 steps"
If you turn on "Always log in in 2 steps" in Mijn DigiD, you can change your phone number only through the DigiD app. If you plan to change numbers, activate the app first.
8. Taxes, allowances and insurance
Most people get a DigiD because of tax or allowances. What follows is limited to what official pages confirm. Amounts and eligibility depend on personal circumstances, so confirm them with the Belastingdienst.
Income tax return
Belastingdienst's four-step guide says you log in to Mijn Belastingdienst with DigiD and sign with DigiD before submitting. Partners filing together each use their own DigiD; one login cannot be shared. Mijn Belastingdienst logs you out after 15 minutes of inactivity, but your data is saved. For wealth tax developments, see the Box 3 changes explained.
Allowances (toeslagen)
Mijn toeslagen is also entered with DigiD. Belastingdienst says the app login is the easiest, and username, password and SMS check also work if SMS verification is enabled in advance. For conditions and amounts, see the allowances guide.
Health insurance
Choosing and switching insurers is covered in the health insurance switching guide. No official page we checked confirms whether DigiD is needed to take out the insurance itself. What is clear is that applying for or changing the healthcare allowance uses DigiD.
Letting someone act for you
Belastingdienst has a page on DigiD authorisation (machtigen). The authorised person logs in with their own DigiD and selects the person they act for. Check the current Belastingdienst guidance before relying on it. Use authorisation instead of sharing your own login.
9. If you live outside the Netherlands
You may be able to get a DigiD without a Dutch address. Logius announces that anyone with a BSN abroad can apply. The route differs, though: you collect the code at a service desk or in a video call, not by letter. Figure 3 shows the sequence.
There are two separate deadlines: 30 days for the service desk code and 21 days for the activation code.
What you need
DigiD lists a valid passport or identity card (a driving licence is not accepted), a BSN, registration in the RNI (non-residents register), a phone that can receive Dutch SMS while abroad, and an email address. You do not need an RNI extract to apply.
The two codes
NederlandWereldwijd says the service desk code arrives by SMS and email, has 9 characters, starts with B and is valid 30 days. You exchange it for the activation code through a video call with NederlandWereldwijd, at a DigiD desk abroad, or at a desk in the Netherlands. That code starts with A and is valid 21 days.
Desk waits can exceed 30 days, so DigiD advises booking the appointment before you submit the application. If the desk code expires, you apply again.
Pensioners and existing accounts
People receiving or about to receive a Dutch state pension (AOW) have a separate route through the SVB. If you already have a DigiD, you can keep using it after moving abroad. Before leaving, install the app, add your mobile number and enable SMS verification, which makes later activations easier.
10. Where people get stuck
Most problems come from dates, addresses and device settings, not from the procedure.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No letter | Wrong registered address, no name on mailbox | Check with the municipality, wait 5 working days |
| Code rejected | Over 21 days, or an old letter | Request one new letter; use the latest date |
| "Sorry you can't continue" | 15 minutes inactive on the page | Start again |
| Too many apps active | Five-device limit | Deactivate unused devices in Mijn DigiD |
| Connection failed | App, OS or clock settings | Update, set date/time to automatic, switch network |
| NFC will not read | Phone case, metal nearby | Remove the case, hold the card to the phone's back |
| QR code fails | Small screen | Zoom the browser to at least 200% |
These fixes follow DigiD's app page. The takeaway: most blocks are about dates, addresses and settings.
Phishing
Emails or texts that pose as DigiD and ask you to log in through a link may be fake. DigiD says the activation code comes by letter and that codes sent by email or SMS cannot stand in for it. If unsure, do not open the link; type digid.nl yourself. For a related scam, see the bank helpdesk fraud explainer.
Contact
If you cannot solve a problem, contact the DigiD helpdesk, as DigiD advises for failed ID-document activation too. See DigiD's help pages and Rijksoverheid's helpdesk page.
11. How this differs from what you may know
Many countries centre online government access on a physical card; DigiD centres on an account, a phone app and a letter. That is a difference in design, not better or worse.
| Aspect | DigiD | Common alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Account and app | A card or national ID |
| Activation | Code in a posted letter | Often a desk or card PIN |
| Levels | Basic, medium, substantial | Varies by service |
| Foreign residents | Foreign ID cannot be used for the ID check | Varies by system |
The last row follows from how the system is designed, not from anything you did wrong. If a task can be done at the medium level, you can go ahead.
12. Key points by situation
What to watch for changes with your situation. The table below sticks to what the official pages confirm.
| Situation | What to watch for with DigiD |
|---|---|
| Employee preparing for tax season | Apply after registration and your BSN. Allow up to 5 working days for the letter and enter the code within 21 days, ideally the day it arrives. A foreign mobile number works for SMS verification |
| Couples and families | Each adult needs their own DigiD; one cannot be shared. A parent applies for a child aged 13 or under; from age 14 the child applies |
| Living abroad with a BSN | Book the desk or video-call slot first, then apply. The desk code lasts 30 days and the activation code 21. Confirm RNI registration |
The table shows that deadlines and who applies depend on your situation. Find the row that fits you, then check the details on the official pages.
13. What not to do
| Do not | Why |
|---|---|
| Throw the letter away | The activation code only comes by letter |
| Leave it past the deadline | Only one replacement letter can be requested |
| Share your password or PIN | Use authorisation instead |
| Log in from an email link | It may be a fake site |
| Reuse your bank PIN | DigiD advises a different PIN |
| Hand over a phone with the app still active | It uses one of your five slots |
14. Checklist
- You are registered and have a BSN.
- Your name is on the mailbox and matches your registered address.
- Apply at digid.nl.
- Allow five working days for the letter.
- Check the date and enter the code within 21 days.
- Install the app and set a PIN; five devices maximum.
- Add your phone number and SMS verification.
- Test logging in to Mijn Belastingdienst and Mijn toeslagen before you need them.
15. Summary
- Apply for DigiD at digid.nl once you have a BSN and a registered address.
- The activation code comes by letter and is valid for 21 days; one replacement letter can be requested.
- The app works on up to five devices; the ID check needs a Dutch-issued document.
- Foreign phone numbers work for SMS verification; with "always 2 steps" on, number changes go through the app.
- Tax returns use DigiD for login and signing, and allowances start from DigiD as well.
- From abroad there are two codes: 30 days and 21 days.
- Rules change, so check digid.nl before you apply.
Sources
Official
- Apply for a DigiD — DigiD: requirements, letter timing, children
- Activate your DigiD — DigiD: steps, 21-day limit, replacement letter
- DigiD app — DigiD: activation options, supported systems, five devices, ID check
- SMS verification — DigiD: foreign numbers, voice SMS
- ID card or driving licence — DigiD: login with an ID document
- I live in the Caribbean Netherlands or abroad — DigiD: living abroad
- Hoe aanvragen — NederlandWereldwijd: 30-day and 21-day codes
- Iedereen met een BSN in het buitenland kan DigiD aanvragen — Logius: announcement for people abroad
- Helpdesk DigiD — Rijksoverheid: helpdesk contact
- FAQ — DigiD: help topics
- DigiD: official home
- Doe online aangifte inkomstenbelasting in 4 stappen — Belastingdienst: login and signing
- Inloggen op Mijn toeslagen — Belastingdienst: allowances login
- Hulp bij inloggen — Belastingdienst: login help
- DigiD aanvragen, DigiD machtigen — Belastingdienst: authorisation
- Inlogmanieren en betrouwbaarheidsniveau — CBS: assurance levels
Expat media (starting points)
- DigiD in the Netherlands — IamExpat
- The ultimate guide to setting up your DigiD in the Netherlands 2026 — DutchReview
- Dutch digital identity: DigiD — XPAT.NL
- DigiD — The Hague International Centre
All checked on 1 November 2026. Rules and deadlines change, so confirm on the official site before you apply.
FAQ
- When can I apply for DigiD, and do I need to be registered first?
- The DigiD application page asks for a citizen service number (BSN), an address registered with a Dutch municipality, and a mobile phone. In practice that means registering with your municipality first. The activation letter goes to the address registered there (checked 1 November 2026).
- How long is the DigiD activation code valid, and what if it expires?
- DigiD says the code in the letter is valid for 21 days. If it expires or is lost, you can request one new letter in the app or on the website, and the new code is also valid for 21 days. If that one is lost or never arrives, you have to apply for a new DigiD (checked 1 November 2026).
- Can I use my residence permit card for the DigiD app ID check?
- No. DigiD says the ID check accepts Dutch passports, identity cards and driving licences, and does not accept foreign identity documents or residence documents. You can still use the app without the ID check, but then you stay at the 'midden' (medium) level (checked 1 November 2026).
- Do I need a Dutch phone number for DigiD text message verification?
- No. DigiD lists mobile phones, landlines and foreign phone numbers as usable for SMS verification. After you request it you still receive a letter with a code to switch it on, and a voice message option exists if texts do not arrive (checked 1 November 2026).
- Can I get a DigiD if I live outside the Netherlands?
- DigiD has a separate application route for people abroad. You need a BSN and registration in the RNI (non-residents register), and you collect the activation code at a service desk or in a video call with NederlandWereldwijd. Not every country has a desk, so check digid.nl for your case.
