Registering for a CBR candidate number forms the first administrative step for anyone beginning the process of obtaining a Dutch driving licence. The number serves as the unique identifier used by the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen for all subsequent exam bookings and record keeping. Applicants must satisfy residency and identity checks administered through official channels before the number is issued. This guide outlines the sequence of actions and the evidence needed to complete the registration without unnecessary delays.
Preparation begins with confirming that all personal records held by the municipality align with the identity documents to be submitted. Any mismatch between these sources will trigger additional requests for evidence and extend the overall timeline. The process applies equally to those planning category B lessons and to riders seeking AM entitlement, although the minimum age differs between the two.
Eligibility conditions before registration
Applicants must be at least 16 years and six months old for the AM category or 17 for category B. Residency in the Netherlands must be confirmed through a valid address registered with the municipality. The CBR cross-checks this information automatically against municipal databases, so any discrepancy between the address on the application and the official record will halt processing until corrected. EU or EEA nationals can usually proceed once they hold a valid residence permit or proof of registration. Non-EU nationals require a residence permit that explicitly allows driving licence procedures; permits issued solely for study or short visits do not meet this threshold. Applicants who have lived in the Netherlands for less than three months must supply additional proof of intent to remain, such as an employment contract or enrolment confirmation from a recognised educational institution. Those who have moved from another EU country within the last year should verify that their previous licence has been surrendered or declared invalid before submitting the application.
Age verification relies on the date of birth shown on the passport or national identity card. If the applicant reaches the minimum age during the processing period, the application may still be accepted provided the birthday falls before the intended theory test date. Residency checks also consider whether the applicant appears on the municipal population register as a main resident rather than a temporary visitor. Individuals registered at a correspondence address only must update their records at the town hall before applying. Failure to meet either the age or residency test results in automatic rejection, and the applicant must wait until the condition is satisfied before re-submitting.
Identification documents to prepare
The application requires a current passport or national identity card that shows the applicant’s full name, date of birth and nationality. A recent passport-style photograph meeting CBR specifications must also be supplied. The photograph must be taken against a light background, show the full face without head covering unless worn for religious reasons, and measure exactly 35 by 45 millimetres. If the name on the identity document differs from the municipal records, an official name-change certificate or marriage certificate is needed to reconcile the discrepancy. Applicants who have changed their name through deed poll must present the original court document together with a certified translation if it is not in Dutch, English, French or German.
Expired passports or identity cards are not accepted even if the expiry date is recent. Applicants should therefore renew any document that will expire within six months of the planned submission date. Where the identity document does not contain a machine-readable zone, a certified copy of the full document must be uploaded in addition to the original scan. In cases of dual nationality, the document issued by the country of current residence is preferred; if both are presented, the system will use the details from the first document listed in the application form.
Online submission through the CBR portal
Registration begins on the official CBR website where the applicant creates an account and enters personal details exactly as they appear on identity documents. The system then generates a reference number for tracking. All fields must match the identity document character for character, including middle names and any diacritical marks. Payment of the application fee occurs at this stage. The portal accepts iDEAL and credit card payments, and a confirmation email is sent immediately after successful submission. Applicants who encounter payment failures should wait fifteen minutes before retrying, as simultaneous attempts from the same account can be flagged as suspicious activity.
Once payment is confirmed, the portal displays a checklist of remaining actions, including the health declaration and document upload. Each uploaded file must be in PDF, JPEG or PNG format and under 5 MB. Scanned documents should be legible at 300 dpi; low-resolution mobile phone photographs frequently cause rejection. After all sections are marked complete, the applicant receives a final overview screen that must be reviewed before the submission button is clicked. No changes can be made after this point without cancelling the entire application and starting again.
Health declaration and additional verifications
Every applicant must complete the health declaration form within the same portal session. The form asks about medical conditions that could affect driving safety; honest answers are required because the CBR may request further medical assessment. Conditions such as epilepsy, severe visual impairment or insulin-dependent diabetes trigger an automatic request for a medical report from the applicant’s physician. The CBR does not accept self-declarations for these conditions, and the application remains on hold until the medical report is received and reviewed.
Residency verification is cross-checked automatically with municipal data. If the system flags an inconsistency, the applicant receives an email requesting supplementary proof such as a recent utility bill or rental contract. The email specifies exactly which document is required and the deadline for upload. Applicants who live in shared accommodation should ensure the utility bill is addressed to them by name rather than to a housemate. Failure to respond within the stated period results in the application being closed, after which a new application and fee are required.
Processing times and status checks
Most applications receive a decision within five working days. Applicants can log into the CBR account to view the current status and download the candidate number once it is approved. Status updates appear in chronological order, showing each verification step completed. If the application moves to manual review, the expected completion date is extended by up to ten additional working days. Applicants should not contact the CBR helpdesk before this extended date has passed, as premature enquiries do not accelerate processing.
Should additional documents be requested, the clock restarts from the date the new materials are uploaded. Keeping digital copies of every submission helps resolve follow-up queries quickly. Applicants who have submitted multiple applications in error must cancel the duplicate entries through the portal rather than allowing them to lapse, because unpaid or incomplete applications remain visible on the account and can cause confusion during later exam bookings.
Common administrative errors
Entering a date of birth or address that does not match municipal records accounts for the largest share of rejections. Applicants should therefore log into the municipal online portal first and print the current resident extract before beginning the CBR application. Uploading a photograph that fails CBR size or background requirements is the second most frequent cause of delay. The CBR publishes a visual template on its website; comparing the prepared photograph against this template before upload eliminates most rejections at this stage.
Omitting the health declaration or answering questions incompletely also triggers automatic rejection. Every question must receive either a yes or no answer; leaving any field blank prevents submission. Using an expired identity document produces an immediate system error message. Applicants who hold both a passport and a national identity card should select the document with the longest remaining validity period to avoid having to renew the document midway through the process.
Next actions after receiving the candidate number
With the candidate number in hand, applicants can book the theory test directly through the CBR system. The number remains valid for the duration of the learning process and is required for every subsequent practical test booking. It is advisable to book the theory test within three months of receiving the number, because the CBR occasionally purges inactive candidate records after extended periods of inactivity. The same number is later used when the RDW issues the physical driving licence following successful completion of both tests.
Should personal details change after the number is issued, an update must be submitted through the same portal to keep records accurate for future licence issuance by the RDW. Address changes require a new municipal extract, while name changes require the same supporting certificates used during the original application. Keeping the candidate number and all confirmation emails in a single digital folder simplifies future correspondence with both the CBR and the RDW.
