DigiD Machtigen: letting someone handle official matters for you

Some Dutch official tasks are easier when someone helps — a partner, a family member, or a professional. DigiD (national digital ID) Machtigen is the official system that lets you authorise another person to arrange things on your behalf, or lets you act for someone else, without ever sharing your DigiD password.

What it's for

Typical uses for a newcomer:

• Authorise your partner or a family member to arrange government matters for you while you're still finding your feet with the language.
• Authorise someone to apply for or manage allowances (toeslagen) for you.
• Act on behalf of a relative who can't manage their own digital affairs.

You keep control: you decide who is authorised, for which organisation or task, and you can withdraw the authorisation at any time.

How it works

1. Both people generally need their own DigiD.
2. Go to machtigen.digid.nl and set up an authorisation (a machtiging), choosing the person and the specific matter (for example, a particular organisation or task).
3. The other person confirms, and can then act for you within those limits only.

A note on tax and professional advisers

If you want a bookkeeper or tax adviser (belastingadviseur) to file your return, they usually work through a separate professional/intermediary channel rather than personal DigiD Machtigen. DigiD Machtigen is mainly for person-to- person authorisation. Ask your adviser which method they use.

Security

Because an authorisation grants real access, only authorise people you trust, limit it to what's needed, and review your active authorisations periodically at machtigen.digid.nl.

You'll need DigiD first — see how to apply for DigiD.

DutchNewcomer provides information, not official advice. Check digid.nl for the current procedure.