DigiD is a well-known way to identify yourself with all kinds of official bodies via the internet. For example, when filing tax returns and submitting health insurance claims. If you do not yet have a DigiD, it is wise to apply for one. We explain step by step how it works in this ‘workshop’.
This article is about what you need to do to apply for DigiD if you don’t have a DigiD yet. If you want to know more about what you can do with DigiD: read this article >>
To request
If you want to apply for DigiD and you live in the Netherlands, you first go to the corresponding website https://www.digid.nl/. Here you will find basic information about DigiD. For applications if you live abroad, read more at Applications abroad.
• Click at Apply for DigiD on Applications.
A form will appear in which you enter your personal information. Please note that you must complete all fields marked with an asterisk *.
• Bee Citizen service number enter your citizen service number (BSN) or citizen service number. This is a unique 9-digit number that you have received from the government, via the tax authorities. This used to be called the social security number.
Not everyone knows where to find this number. It’s on the first page of your tax return form. It can also be found in your passport (at the top of the first page or after the date of birth on a pass), identity card (behind your height and gender), driving license (on the back: top left) or health insurance card (depending on the provider).
• Bee Date of birth enter your date of birth: in the first box the day, the second box the month, the third box the year. Your exact date of birth can also be found on your passport, driver’s license or identity card.
• Bee Postal Code enter the zip code of your home address. Note: you must also be registered in the municipality.
• Bee House number enter the number of your home address. If there is an addition, such as 210b, enter 210 at House number and b. If you only have a number, do not enter anything when adding. Please note: you must also be registered in the municipality on this house number.
Entering a street is not necessary. This is automatically filled in on the basis of the zip code and the house number.
• Click on Next one.
• If you have entered something incorrectly, you will receive an error message in a separate window. click on OK and check your details.
Username and password
If you have entered your personal details correctly, you must enter the login details for your DigiD. You can think of that yourself. You will need them later to activate and use your DigiD.
• Bee User name enter a username for yourself that you use to log in. Note that it must be a unique username that is not yet used by anyone else. If you take janjansen for example, there is a good chance that this name is already taken. You can choose a variant of your name with a number or a fantasy name. If you type in the box you will see the conditions for the username: at least 6 characters and no spaces.
• Bee password enter a password you created yourself. Choose a hard-to-guess password of at least 8 characters. You can read more about creating a good password here. When you type in the box you will see the conditions for the password: 1 lowercase letter, 1 capital letter, 1 number, 1 punctuation mark and at least 8 characters. If the password meets all the conditions, they will all be green. To see your password instead of dots, click the eye at the end of the box.
• Type at repeat password same password again for verification.
Write down your username and password somewhere and keep them safe. You will need them again later.
• Type at phone number your telephone number. This must be from a mobile phone so that you can receive an extra security check by text message before logging in. You can enter the number with or without a hyphen after the 06.
• Check if necessary I want to receive voice text messages if you want to have the text messages read out on your mobile.
• Enter your email address at E-mail address is not mandatory but can be useful for receiving important messages about DigiD. Enter your email address without capital letters and spaces.
• When you are done: click on Next one.
Control via SMS and email
After a while you will receive a text message to the specified mobile phone number for verification.
• Open the SMS on your mobile and enter the code SMS code on the website. The dash in the SMS code is already filled in, so you don’t have to type.
• Then click Next one.
If you did not receive an SMS code, click on No code received and follow the instructions.
If you have provided your e-mail address, you have also received an e-mail from DigiD. This confirms that your e-mail address is correct.
• Open the email from DigiD.
• Enter the number after Code in the e-mail on the DigiD website at Enter the code you received by email.
You can also copy the code:
• Select the code in the email.
• Press the Ctrl + C keys.
• Click in the box Enter the code you received by email on the DigiD website.
• Press the Ctrl + V keys.
• Click on Next one.
Didn’t receive an email? First, check the Junk Mail or Spam folder in your mail program. Isn’t the email there too? Then click Send again! on the website.
If the check ultimately fails, you can skip it for now by clicking Skip check. You can then try again later when activating your DigiD.
Applying for your DigiD on the website has now been completed. You will receive a letter with an activation code by post within 3 working days. In this way it is checked whether your home address is correct. You can close the DigiD window.
Activate DigiD with sent code
When you have your code, you go to the website www.digid.nl. You can wait a maximum of three weeks with this. After that, the code expires.
Didn’t receive a code? Read here what you can do >> and if necessary click on Contact on the site to contact the DigiD helpdesk.
You activate DigiD like this:
• Make sure you have your login details to hand and click on the homepage of www.digid.nl Bee Receive code on Enter code. You will come to a page where you can confirm different types of codes.
• Click on Enter activation code.
• Click on Your DigiD.
• Type at DigiD username your username.
• Type at password your password.
• Click on Login.
• You will receive an SMS code on your mobile: type it in Enter the code you received on your phone.
• Click on Next one.
• Now enter the activation code from the DigiD letter.
• Click on Activate.
Your DigiD account is now officially activated. You can now use your DigiD for various online tasks, such as filing a tax return and arranging business at your municipality. You will be automatically asked for your DigiD username and password. Please note that you must always enter the newly sent DigiD SMS code when logging in.
Applying abroad
If you do not live in the Netherlands but do have Dutch nationality, you can still apply for a DigiD. There are two options:
You are a customer of the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) because you receive an AOW benefit:
• Go to the website www.svb.nl.
• Type in the search box: request digid from abroad.
• Click on the magnifying glass.
• Click at the Search results on You live outside the Netherlands and want to apply for DigiD.
• Read the information before applying.
• Click on Request your DigiD.
• Enter all requested personal data.
• When all data has been approved, you will be automatically redirected to the DigiD website.
• Follow the instructions in Username and password in this article and beyond.
If you are not a customer of the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) that receives an AOW benefit:
• Read here how to apply for DigiD >>
To recover
It sometimes happens that you do not remember your DigiD username or password. In that case you can request a new username or password. If you have lost your username, you will have to apply for DigiD again.
• Go to www.digid.nl
• Click on Contact.
• Click on I forgot my password or I forgot my username.
