Letter address
A letter address is the address of another person or an institution. With a letter address, you can be reached for government mail if you do not have a residential address or reside in a designated institution.
What you need to know
What is a residential address?
This is the address where you live. Or, for multiple addresses, the address where you are expected to spend the most nights in six months. For example, you may also live in a mobile home, trailer, at a recreational park or on a boat if it has a permanent pitch or berth.
So even if you often stay at multiple addresses, or stay with friends or family, you have a residential address. This is not a reason for a letter address.
You do not have a residential address as defined in the Basic Registration of Persons Act? Then you can apply for a temporary letter address.
Residence in a designated facility
Do you reside in a designated institution, such as a health care facility, child welfare facility or prison? If so, you can opt for a postal address. This is not mandatory. You can also register at the institution's address.
Letter address and letter sender
- A postal address is always an address in the Netherlands and may not be a PO Box or business address.
- The person registered and living at the letter address is called the letter address giver.
- The letter address provider can also be an institution.
- The letter address provider must make sure you receive mail from the government and is required to provide information upon request.
Municipality conducts research
Are you applying for a postal address? Then the municipality will check if you meet the rules for getting a letter address. A letter address is only valid for a temporary situation.
In the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) 1 address is put: either your home address or a letter address. Registering 2 addresses is not possible.
Consequences for letter sender
A person registered at a letter address does not count as a resident at that address.
What you need to do
You apply for a letter address at the municipality where the letter address provider lives.
Does this person live in Zoetermeer, then:
- Complete the Request Letter Address form. You will need a DigiD login code for this.
- In the form, you indicate with whom and at what address you want to keep postal address.
- The primary occupant of that address must give permission for you to use the address as a letter address.
- Only after receiving permission from the primary resident will we process your application for a postal address.
- At this time, the primary resident can only give consent via the Consent form (pdf).
- Have the chief resident fill out the form.
- Send the consent, along with a copy of the person giving consent's ID with your application (digitally as a scan or send the form by mail to P.O. Box 15, 2700 AA Zoetermeer).
Cost
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Submit request letter address | free |
How long will it take?
Within 8 weeks, the municipality will make a decision on your request for a postal address. Does the municipality need more information? Then you will receive a letter about that.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I unsubscribe someone from my address?
You cannot unsubscribe someone yourself. However, you can address enquiry have one done.