CIBG (executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Health)

The CIBG describes itself as an executive organisation of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport that assesses, registers and provides data for health professionals, care organisations and the public. Many of its tasks are set by law. It has more than 600 staff and manages registrations of health professionals and providers, information on medicines and medical devices, the organ donor register, data for identification and authentication, and licences.

Most international applicants meet it as the organisation behind the BIG-register.

• BIG-register. The legal public register showing that a professional has the right qualification and may use a protected title such as arts (doctor) or verpleegkundige (nurse). See BIG registration.
• Recognition of foreign diplomas (Erkenning Buitenlandse Diploma's). Professionals with a foreign health diploma must have it recognised first; the CIBG assesses whether it is equivalent in content and level, taking account of experience and further training.
• UZI-register. Issues the UZI pass, an electronic pass for people working with health data.
• BES exemptions for doctors, dentists, pharmacists and midwives working on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius or Saba.
• Farmatec, which issues pharmaceutical licences.

1. Apply online at mijn.bigregister.nl, logging in with DigiD or a BIG login.
2. Upload or post your documents.
3. The independent CBGV assesses your file and advises; it may ask Nuffic or SBB to verify your diploma.
4. You receive an intended decision and have two weeks to respond.
5. If recognised, apply for BIG registration where your profession requires it, with proof of Dutch.

The recognition application and the committee's assessment are free. The processing limit is 12 weeks from a complete file, extendable by one month. BIG registration then costs €85. You may also be asked to sit the BI-test or a practical test.

• LRZa, the national public register of care providers, showing who provides which care and where.
• SBV-Z, the health sector's gateway to the BSN administration, which helps care providers link personal data to the correct BSN.
• Dezi, a care identity register through which care workers and organisations get secure access to care systems.
• NCPeH-NL, the national contact point that lets care providers request patient summaries for patients from connected EU countries.

You will rarely deal with these directly. The CIBG also keeps the organ donor register and recognises the disputes bodies that hear patient complaints about care providers.

• Incomplete files. The clock stops while documents are missing.
• Waiting for tests. In February 2026 the BIG-register reported a long waiting time for the BI-test for doctors.
• Fee changes. The health minister announced plans in November 2025 to change BIG-register fees, so check the current amount before paying.

See our BIG test guide and the doctors in the Netherlands page.