A briefadres is a correspondence address in the BRP for someone who has no usable residential address. It is an administrative address where official post can reach you; it is not the place where you pretend to live, and it cannot be a P.O. box.
When can a briefadres be used?
Government guidance says a correspondence address is available when you have no home address under the BRP rules, or in certain institutional situations. Examples include people staying in some care/shelter/institution settings or living without a normal fixed address. The municipality decides whether the conditions are met.
A briefadres is temporary
A briefadres is generally a temporary administrative solution. The municipality may agree a review period with you and can later check whether you have obtained a normal woonadres.
Who can provide the address?
The address is normally the residential address of a family member, friend or qualifying institution. The address giver must ensure government post reaches you. A P.O. box or an address where nobody lives cannot be used as a normal briefadres.
What if nobody can give me a briefadres?
Rijksoverheid states an important protection: if you qualify for a briefadres but cannot find someone or an institution to provide one yourself, the municipality must register you at a correspondence address, for example the address of the town hall. Ask Burgerzaken explicitly about this route rather than remaining unregistered.
What do you normally need?
- Your valid identity document.
- A written explanation of why you need a briefadres.
- A signed consent declaration from the address giver, where a private address is used.
- A valid identity document or copy from the address giver.
- Any additional evidence your municipality asks for to assess whether you really have no normal residential address.
The municipality can investigate your situation and may ask the address giver to cooperate or appear in person.
Does the address giver become your housemate?
Government.nl explains that someone registered at a property only as a correspondence-address user is not regarded as an occupant of that property for BRP purposes. Even so, if the address giver receives income-tested benefits or other household-sensitive support, it is sensible to ask the responsible organisation about consequences before agreeing.
Do not use a briefadres to hide a normal residence
If you do have a normal woonadres, your BRP registration should reflect that address. Incorrect registration can trigger a municipal address investigation and may disrupt benefits, taxation, official mail and other services. A briefadres is a safety valve for genuine no-address situations, not a workaround for a landlord who simply says “no registration”.
Practical checklist
- Confirm that you genuinely have no usable woonadres.
- Ask your municipality for its briefadres application form and evidence list.
- Arrange an address giver and written consent where possible.
- If you cannot find an address giver, ask the municipality about its duty to provide a briefadres route.
- Make sure official post is passed to you promptly.
- Tell the municipality as soon as you obtain a normal residential address.