How to acquire Dutch citizenship
What do you have to do in order to obtain the citizenship of the Netherlands (Dutch citizenship)? You will find the answer in this edition of our book. This is an understandable resource for all foreigners who are not Dutch nationals and who intend to become citizen of the Netherlands while already being present in the country. We do not cover here the situation of foreigners and/or former Dutch citizens living outside the Netherlands – this subject is covered in another book, which you can order from us.
The issues we cover here are:
- which conditions do you have to satisfy to become citizen of the Netherlands;
- which documents do you need to produce for these purposes;
- how does the Dutch citizenship procedure work.
Important notice:
In this text the adjective Dutch means belonging to the Netherlands. The Netherlands is the official name of the country, which is also often referred to as Holland. Therefore, Dutch citizenship means the citizenship of the Netherlands.
1. General Principles
There are three ways of acquiring Dutch nationality.
1.1 By law (automatically)
By birth
Every child born of a married Dutch father or mother automatically acquires Dutch nationality, even if he or she is born outside the Netherlands, as does the child of an unmarried Dutch mother.
NB: Children born before 1 January 1985 of a Dutch mother and a foreign father did not as a rule acquire Dutch nationality by birth.
By acknowledgement before birth (acknowledgement of foetus)
The child of a foreign mother who is acknowledged before birth by an unmarried Dutchman automatically acquires Dutch nationality.
By adoption
This procedure is subject to certain conditions governed by The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Netherlands has been a signatory since 1 October 1998.
By judicial declaration of paternity subject to certain conditions.
1.2 Through the option procedure
You may acquire Dutch nationality by making a declaration that you wish to become a Dutch citizen. This procedure is open to certain groups of people living in the Netherlands, for example children of immigrants who are born in the Netherlands. Abroad, only certain former Dutch nationals and, as of April 2006, foreign minors who were acknowledged on or after 1 April 2003 by a Dutch citizen can make use of the procedure.
1.3 Through naturalisation
Naturalisation is the third way for foreign nationals to acquire Dutch nationality.
Some former Dutch citizens can apply abroad to have their nationality restored through naturalisation. And foreign nationals who have been married to or in a registered partnership* with a Dutch citizen for at least three years and who live with this partner at the same address may apply abroad for naturalisation. The foreign national may not live in the country of which he/she is a national and in most cases he/she will have to have passed the ‘naturalisation test’ before submitting an application.
* The partnership must be registered in the Netherlands (civil register). In this book we cover the possibilities 1.2 and 1.3.
2. Quick Overview
If you want to become Dutch citizen you have to deal with two Dutch authorities:
1) the municipality (de gemeente)
2) the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
Municipality
If you are sure that you satisfy to all the conditions for Option Procedure or Naturalisation Procedure, then you can go to the local municipal service known in the Netherlands as gemeentedienst and located in the town or city hall (gemeentehuis).
The municipal service agents will examine together with you whether you indeed satisfy to all the applicable conditions and will further assist you with filing your request. The municipality then issues an official opinion addressed to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Please note that the municipality in this case is not the final decision-maker and would not be able to guarantee you obtain the Dutch citizenship.
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has the final decision over you becoming Dutch citizen. IND has the right to proceed with additional inquiry to check whether you indeed satisfy to all the applicable conditions. The IND’s decision can therefore be different from the official opinion issued by the municipality.
Applicable Conditions
Please attentively check all the applicable conditions in Chapter 3. Conditions differ depending on whether you opt for an Option Procedure or Naturalisation Procedure. If you satisfy to the Option Procedure conditions you can fill in an Option Declaration (optieverklaring) and deposit it at the city hall. If you satisfy to the Naturalisation Procedure conditions you can deposit at the city hall a Naturalisation Request (aanvraag
tot naturalisatie).
Required Documents
During the deposition of your request or declaration the municipal agents will ask you for a certain number of documents, such as your passport, residence permit, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. You also have to take and pass the Naturalisation Test (naturalisatietoets) to prove that you are sufficiently integrated into the Dutch community. After that the municipality will operate an identity check to verify whether you have a record with the police.
Cost
Both Option Procedure and Naturalisation Procedure involve certain financial costs.
Please be ready to spend between EUR 100 and 450. You will have to pay the applicable sum at the moment of deposition of your request.
Appraisal
In case of the Option Procedure the municipality deals with your Option Declaration. The mayor (burgemeester) decides whether you are granted the Dutch citizenship. In case of the Naturalisation Procedure the municipality files your request together with its official opinion to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). IND processes your file and either confirms your entitlement to the Dutch citizenship or rejects your request. If the outcome is positive, the Queen of the Netherlands will grant the Dutch nationality to you. In this case you receive a letter from IND by which you are notified of the corresponding Royal Decree. If your application is rejected you have a right to file an appeal against this negative decision.
Duration of the procedure
The Option Procedure takes approximately three months (but not more than twenty-six weeks) as from the moment your Option Declaration is filed at the city hall.
The Naturalisation Procedure takes maximum one year.
Renunciation
As soon as you have become Dutch citizen by way of Naturalisation Procedure you will have to give up your previous citizenship. You will have to produce proof that you have effectively parted with your previous citizenship.
There are some exceptions to this rule, which we have listed in Chapter 4.
If you have acquired the Dutch citizenship by way of Option Procedure then the legislation of the country of your previous citizenship determines whether you lose that citizenship. You do not have to renounce yourself.
3. Option Procedure
If you decided to become Dutch citizen you should first check whether you satisfy to all the applicable conditions required for the Option Procedure – this is the simplest way.
Otherwise check if you satisfy to all the applicable conditions required for the Naturalisation Procedure.
Conditions
To be eligible for the Option Procedure in almost all cases you need to be already in possession of a valid residence permit (verblijfsvergunning). Here is the list of situations when you can opt for an Option Procedure:
3.1 You have attained the age of majority (this means you are 18 years old or older; if you are younger than 18, you are still considered of age if you are or have been married), you were born in the Netherlands from an immigrants family and since your birth you have been without breaks legally living in the Netherlands.
3.2 You were born in the Netherlands, you have been legally living there for at least three continuous years, and since your birth you have had no other nationality (you are a stateless person, an apatride).
3.3 You have attained the age of majority and since your fourth birthday you have been legally living in the Netherlands.
3.4 You have attained the age of majority, you are a former Dutch citizen and you have been living in the Netherlands on the basis of a residence permit for an unlimited period of time or otherwise a residence permit for a non-temporary purpose.
3.5 You have been married for at least three years with a Dutch citizen and have been legally living in the Netherlands for at least fifteen continuous years.
3.6 You are 65 years old or older and have been legally living in the Netherlands for at least fifteen continuous years.
For all procedures the terms “legally” and “continuously”, “continuous” or “without breaks” mean that as from the first moment you have entered the Netherlands and until the moment of the beginning of the procedure you have always been in possession of a valid residence permit. In particular, it means that you have always renewed your valid residence permit in due time. Your residence permit must remain valid also for the whole duration of the procedure.
Under certain conditions minor children upon having been brought up for at least three years by at least one Dutch parent can also be considered for an Option Procedure. In this case please address your demand to the municipality.
Filing
If you satisfy to the Option Procedure conditions you can fill in an Option Declaration (optieverklaring) and deposit it at the city hall, Public Affairs Department (afdeling Burgerzaken). The municipality will operate an identity check to verify whether you have a record with the police. You will have to prove that you have always been in possession of a valid residence permit as described here above. In case of doubt the municipality can ask the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for a confirmation.
Decision
The mayor (burgemeester) decides whether you are granted the Dutch citizenship. As from the moment of delivery to you of the mayor’s positive decision in writing you are considered Dutch citizen.
If you do not satisfy to the applicable conditions, then you receive a rejection letter. This letter states clearly the reasons of refusal. It also states that you have the right to file an appeal against this negative decision and the way of proceeding with your appeal.
Duration of the procedure
The Option Procedure takes approximately three months (but not more than twenty-six weeks) as from the moment your Option Declaration is filed at the city hall.
Cost
For an Option Procedure, please be ready to spend between EUR 100 and 250 depending on whether it is a single or a multiple request. You will have to pay the applicable sum at the moment of deposition of your request.
Renunciation
If you have acquired the Dutch citizenship by way of Option Procedure then the legislation of the country of your previous citizenship determines whether you lose that citizenship. You do not have to renounce yourself.
4. Naturalisation Procedure
You can opt for a Naturalisation Procedure if you satisfy to the following conditions:
4.1 You have attained the age of majority.
4.2 You have been legally living for at least five continuous years in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba. There are two exceptions to this rule: (1) You are married with (eventually outside the Netherlands) or are a registered partner of a Dutch citizen, male or female. In this case you can file your request upon three years of continuous living together.
You can also benefit from this exception if you can prove that you have lived together with a Dutch man or women for three continuous years, both being otherwise unmarried. (2) You are a former Dutch citizen; you have lost your Dutch citizenship. In this case there is no time requirement for your stay in the Netherlands.
4.3 You have a residence permit for an unlimited period of time or otherwise a residence permit for a non-temporary purpose, such as family reunification or salaried employment. You cannot benefit from the Naturalisation Procedure with a residence permit for a temporary purpose, such as studies or medical treatment.
4.4 You are sufficiently integrated into the Dutch community and you are able to speak, read, write and understand the Dutch language. You have to prove it by way of the Naturalisation Test. You are exempt from the Naturalisation Test in case you have successfully passed a test of NT-2 level as defined by the Act on Integration of the Newcomers (de Wet Inburgering Nieuwkomers), or if you have obtained another comparable Dutch diploma (e.g. secondary school diploma). There is also an exemption for people who are not able to take the Naturalisation Test because of a serious bodily or mental handicap. It is also required within the meaning of the term “sufficiently integrated” that you are married to not more than one man or woman simultaneously.
4.5 In the last four years you have not been sentenced to any imprisonment, correctional or community service penalty, nor were you fined for a substantial amount. There also cannot be any pending criminal case against you at the moment of request.
4.6 You are ready to give up your present citizenship. If you become Dutch citizen and you subsequently do not give up your previous citizenship, your Dutch citizenship can be taken away from you. You are exempt from the obligation to give up your previous citizenship in the following cases:
a) The legislation of your previous country does not allow you to lose you citizenship.
b) You are married with or are a registered partner of a Dutch citizen.
c) You are a minor child of Dutch parent.
d) You are in possession of an asylum residence permit.
e) You were born in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba and you are living in the Netherlands at the moment of your request.
f) You have lived for at least five continuous years in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba before you reached the age of 18.
g) To be able to give up your previous citizenship you have to pay a substantial amount of money to the authorities of that country. You must be able to prove it.
h) Giving up your previous citizenship would lead you to a loss of substantial legal rights, which may cause a substantial financial loss to you (e.g. inheritance). You must be able to prove it.
i) You are obliged to fulfil (or buy off) your military service in order to be able to give up your previous citizenship. You must be able to prove it.
Please feel free to get more information about the Naturalisation Test from our corresponding book.
What do you need to do for the Naturalisation Procedure?
Gather required documents
As soon as you think you are ready for the Naturalisation Procedure, please feel free to contact the municipality. The municipality agent will ask you to produce a certain number of documents. It depends on your personal situation which documents you will have to produce. You may be asked for the following documents:
- Passport (for yourself, your partner and your children).
- Residence permits (for yourself, your partner and your children).
- Birth certificate (if born outside the Netherlands – please request it in your country of origin).
- Marriage certificate or Registered Partnership Act (in case you are applying on the ground of being married with or being a registered partner of a Dutch citizen, and your marriage or partnership is concluded outside the Netherlands).
- If relevant, proof that you have been living with a Dutch citizen for at least three consecutive years.
- Proof of the Naturalisation Test or comparable diploma(s).
Translation and legalisation of documents
The municipality agents must be able to read and understand official documents from your country of origin (e.g. Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, etc.). Therefore, the following rules apply:
- if the document is issued in another language than Dutch, English, German or French, then it must be duly translated by an officially recognised translator;
- the municipality can ask you to legalise these documents by the public authorities of your country of origin.
Please bear in mind that translation and legalisation of documents could take several weeks or even months and is often costly.
Fill in the request form
The public affairs agent at the city hall will fill in the request form together with you.
Your partner must be present at the same time if he or she also applies for Naturalisation.
If you have children living in the Netherlands on the ground of a valid residence permit you can also apply for their Naturalisation. You will have to put their names and dates of birth in the Naturalisation Procedure request form. Children who are 16 or 17 years old must personally consent to the Naturalisation Procedure. This is why they must also be present in person at the moment of request to be able to put their signature on the form.
Change of name
It may happen that your name must be changed or a new name must be registered. This can be requested at the moment of application. A new or changed name can be necessary in the following cases:
- You have no first or last name.
- Your last name is the same as your first name.
- Your name is difficult to be pronounced by Dutch people.
- It is difficult to write your name in Dutch.
If you have acquired the name of your husband upon marriage, you are entitled to change your name into your maiden name.
Interview with minor children
If your children are older than 11, then the municipality agent will ask them for their opinion about the Dutch citizenship. Children between 12 and 16 have no obligation to become Dutch citizens. In case of their opposition the government has the final decision.
As from 16 years of age children decide independently. They can keep their previous nationality even if their parents become Dutch citizens.
Costs
You have to pay for the Naturalisation Procedure at the moment of the request. In some cases an exemption is possible – you should ask about it at the municipality. There is no refund possible in case of rejection of your application. You should be prepared to pay between EUR 200 and 450 depending on your income and on whether it is a single or a multiple request. You do not have to pay for minor children included in your application.
Decision
As soon as the municipality agent has collected all the required documents, the municipality proceeds with the identity check. The agent will check the correctness of the information you have provided on your identity, and whether you have a record with the police. Thereafter the agent will write an opinion on whether to recommend the grant of the Dutch citizenship to you or not. Then your full file together with that opinion is transmitted to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) who will proceed with the evaluation of your demand. If their decision is positive they will write a corresponding recommendation to the Queen of the Netherlands. The Queen subsequently signs the Decree by which you are granted the Dutch citizenship.
Response to your request
You can receive two possible reactions to your request to become Dutch citizen:
1. Your request is satisfied – you obtain the Dutch citizenship. In this case you will receive a letter from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), which says that the Queen grants you the Dutch citizenship.
2. Your request is rejected. In this case you will receive a letter, which explains the reasons of rejection and the ways by which you can file an appeal against that decision. If you have simultaneously applied for your children, then the request for them can be rejected independently from your own request.
Renunciation
As soon as you have become Dutch citizen by way of Naturalisation Procedure you will have to give up your previous citizenship. You will have to produce proof that you have effectively parted with your previous citizenship. If you become Dutch citizen and you subsequently do not give up your previous citizenship, your Dutch citizenship can be taken away from you. Please see the exceptions to this rule here above.
Duration
Maximum of one year is necessary for the evaluation and decision making in the case of the Naturalisation Procedure.
5. Consequences of becoming Dutch citizen
You are about to become Dutch citizen. It is a big step in your life. Therefore, it is useful to know about certain consequences of your step, such as:
5.1 As Dutch citizen you are put into the municipal administration system. It seems to be a formality, but it is quite important: the data inserted in the administration system will be used for all your personal documents, e.g. your passport.
5.2 You can request a Dutch passport, which allows you to travel freely to all the European Union countries. You can also get a national identity card.
5.3 You can vote in Parliament elections and you will receive an invitation for this.
5.4 Your minor children also become Dutch citizens. This counts only if your children were included in your request.
5.5 Your data is taken away from the foreign police administration system. You have to give back your residence permit and/or refugee passport.
5.6 You have to give up your present nationality unless you can benefit from one of the exceptions listed here above.
Attention!
If it appears that you have used fraud in the process of obtaining your Dutch citizenship, the latter can be taken away from you. This rule applies for twelve years as from the moment you are granted the Dutch citizenship, even if it leads you to a stateless person status.
You can lose your Dutch citizenship automatically if you voluntarily participate in a foreign military service of a country, which is involved in a military action against the Netherlands or against an alliance to which the Netherlands is a party.
Waiver
This document is intended exclusively for your personal information. Although it is based on the legislative texts originally published in the Dutch language it has no official force on its own. The numeration used herein is for the reader’s convenience only. This document provides you with the most recent information, which is normally accessible to the public from the official institutions. This information can be modified by the Dutch official institutions at any moment in their full discretion. We do not bear any responsibility whatsoever towards the readers in respect with the accuracy of the information contained in this document.
