Public Administration Probity Screening Act (Bibob)

Bibob check

Governments such as provinces or municipalities may want to investigate your or your company's background. They can for instance perform a background check when:

• you request a permit or subsidy
• you bid for a government contract
• you buy immovable goods from the government
• you sell immovable goods to the government

This screening is based on the Public Administration (Probity Screening) Act (Wet Bibob). If a public authority investigates your company’s integrity this is called a Bibob check (Bibob-toets or Bibob-onderzoek). Public authorities may perform a background check to assess the criminal risks regarding permits and other governmental decisions. If they determine such a risk, for example a criminal record or obscure financial structures, the public authority may refuse or revoke a permit, subsidy, contract, or other decision. This prevents authorities from facilitating criminal activities.

The government agency performing a Bibob check may request certain information from you. You will have to complete a Bibob questionnaire (Bibob-vragenformulier, in Dutch) or a questionnaire based on this. 

A government agency can also for instance request information with the police, judiciary, the Netherlands Tax Administration (Belastingdienst), or your business associates. The public authority will then use the details submitted to assess the integrity of your company or the people involved in your company.

Bibob advice

Does the government agency have doubts in relation to your company’s integrity after their Bibob screening? They can ask for advice from the National Bibob Bureau, NBB (Landelijk Bureau Bibob, LBB, in Dutch) as part of a more detailed investigation.

You will be informed accordingly before the investigation starts. After investigation, the NBB will give advice to the government agency. The screening by the NBB may take up to a maximum of 12 weeks.

You cannot object to the advice given by the NBB. You can, however, object to the government body if they refuse or revoke a licence or subsidy. You must submit a notice of objection no later than 6 weeks after you received the decision.

Online submission procedure via Message Box

Do you have to complete a Bibob questionnaire for a procedure subject to the Services Act? You can submit this form also via Message Box. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.