Do you want to obtain Dutch citizenship

Have you been in The Netherlands for some time and are thinking about how you can enjoy life here better? Do you want to obtain Dutch citizenship? Find out some tips on how to proceed! We have prepared a small guide with the most important information regarding the required conditions and the steps you have to take in this process. Read below and see if you fit!

What are the basic conditions for being able to apply for Dutch citizenship?

As a foreigner, you can apply for Dutch citizenship if you meet several criteria. In general, most foreigners are eligible if they have lived in The Netherlands for at least three or five years, depending on their situation, or if they have close relatives in The Netherlands. The particular situation of each person determines the conditions and documents required to be able to apply for Dutch citizenship.

 

If you are not eligible for Dutch citizenship, you can opt for a Dutch permit or a permanent European residence permit, both of which are available to foreigners who have lived in The Netherlands for five years (or even less in some cases). It allows you to live in The Netherlands indefinitely without the need for a work permit, but it gives you fewer rights than Dutch citizenship.

Permanent residence permit or Dutch citizenship

Both the permanent residence permit and the Dutch nationality allow you to reside in The Netherlands for an indefinite period; only the residence permit must be renewed every five years. Equally, the permanent residence permit gives you freedom in the Dutch labor market, so you do not need a work permit.

 

On the other hand, certain civil and social rights are granted only to those who obtain Dutch citizenship, such as the right to vote. In general, foreigners receiving Dutch citizenship are required to renounce their basic citizenship, although there are certain exceptions when dual citizenship is allowed. Details of these situations can be found below.

How to obtain Dutch citizenship

There are two main ways to obtain Dutch citizenship:

 

• By choice (on request)
• By naturalization

 

If you were born or have close relatives in The Netherlands, such as a parent (including in the case of adoptions or children born outside The Netherlands), you may also be eligible for Dutch citizenship if you meet the conditions set out in The Netherlands. 

 

Obtaining Dutch citizenship on request (by choice)

This is the simplest option, so it is best to check if you meet the requirements for this process. In addition, this option has other advantages compared to the naturalization procedure, such as:

• There are fewer requirements to apply.
• The process is usually faster and takes up to three months, compared to a year, as in the case of naturalization.
• Application fees are cheaper.

 

To apply, you must first have a document proving your residence, after which you must fall into one of the following categories:

 

• You have lived in The Netherlands or a Dutch territory for most of your life.
• You have been married or lived with a Dutch citizen for at least three years, or have lived in the Netherlands for 15 consecutive years.
• You are over 65 years old and have lived in The Netherlands for at least 15 years.
• One of the parents or legal guardians is Dutch, and you lived with them in The Netherlands for at least three years before applying for citizenship.

 

You can check the full list of required conditions by clicking on this link: Dutch Immigration Service.

Obtaining citizenship through this process usually takes about three months.

Obtaining Dutch citizenship through the naturalization procedure

The alternative option by which you can still obtain Dutch citizenship is based on naturalization. And in this case, you need to have a valid residence permit and then meet the following conditions:

• Be over 18 years old.
• Have lived in The Netherlands for a continuous period of 5 years based on a valid residence permit, or have been married or lived with a Dutch national for three consecutive years (including abroad). Or have lived in The Netherlands on a valid residence permit for 10 years, including at least the last two consecutive years.
• To be integrated into Dutch society and to be able to read, write and speak Dutch. These skills will be tested by taking a civic integration test, and you must pass the A2 level to qualify. If you have obtained another diploma or qualification in Dutch, you may no longer need to take this test.
• If you have not been sentenced to a prison sentence, training order, or community service in the last four years, or if you have not had to pay a large fine (more than 810 euros),
• You are ready to give up your current nationality. In the case of non-renunciation, you can withdraw your Dutch citizenship (although there are some exceptions when dual citizenship is allowed).
• If you have a valid permanent residence permit for an unlimited purpose, such as family reunification,

The application time for this process is about one year

How to apply for Dutch citizenship

Applications for Dutch citizenship are submitted to the local municipality, where you must also pay the necessary fees. The municipal authorities will check your information and send your request, accompanied by a recommendation from the mayor to the Dutch Immigration Service. The Immigration Service then checks to see if you are eligible to become a Dutch citizen.

Documents you need:

• Passport
• Residence permit
• Your birth certificate and, if applicable, childbirth certificates
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Certificate of civic integration or an equivalent diploma

Dutch citizenship for children

If you have children under the age of 16, they can become Dutch citizens by naturalization, if they have lived in The Netherlands for the last three years and have a valid residence permit. Please note that you must include the children's citizenship application with yours.

Once the child is 18 years old, the child must apply for naturalization. Please note that for 17-year-olds, the application can be considered null and void if they reach the age of 18 before citizenship is approved.

Civic integration test

Acquiring Dutch citizenship through naturalization implies the need to prove that you have integrated into Dutch society. This means that you can speak, write, and understand Dutch well enough to live and work in Dutch society without any problems.

The required level of knowledge of Dutch is A2, which allows you to have conversations with your neighbors, shop, understand the main news, or write basic business correspondence. After passing the test, you will receive a Certificate of Civic Integration, which you must submit together with the application for the neutralization procedure.

Almost anyone wishing to become a Dutch citizen must take the civic integration test, but there are a few exceptions to this. These are cases where sufficient knowledge of the Dutch language can be demonstrated.

For example, you may be exempt from testing if you have taken a state exam, which requires a more rigorous and difficult test than the civic integration test, as it allows you to enter college or a higher education institution.

You can read about all the exceptions in the Conditions and Exceptions section of the website: Dutch Immigration Service.

Giving up on basic nationality

In most cases, you will need to give up your nationality to become a Dutch citizen. There are only a few situations when you can retain dual citizenship.

These include:

• The law of the country of origin does not allow you to renounce your citizenship.
• You are married or registered as a partner of a Dutch citizen.
• You are a refugee.
• If you have certain special and objective reasons why you cannot renounce your citizenship,
• You are a citizen of a state that is not recognized in The Netherlands.
• If you have to pay a considerable amount of money in your country to give up your basic citizenship, you need to be able to prove it.
• If you lose your citizenship, you will lose certain rights, which can cause you some financial damage, such as inheritances. You must be able to prove this.

Costs of obtaining Dutch citizenship

• The fees for obtaining Dutch citizenship are:
  • On request: 187 euros per person. 
  • The cost of naturalization is 881 euros per person.

Children benefit from lower fees, as do refugees or those who apply together. You can check the complete list of taxes here (click!)

Admitted applicants and naturalization ceremony

If your application is accepted, you will only receive Dutch citizenship after attending the naturalization ceremony, which also includes a declaration of solidarity. It stipulates your rights and freedoms, as well as your obligations as a Dutch citizen, and you must declare in Dutch your commitment to comply with Dutch law.

It is mandatory to attend the ceremony, and those who do not show up must repeat the process of obtaining Dutch citizenship. A ceremony is an annual event on December 15. During the ceremony, you will receive a declaration of acceptance of Dutch citizenship, which you will later use to obtain a Dutch passport.

The result of obtaining Dutch citizenship

At the same time, you will be registered as Dutch in the Municipal Administration (BRP), you can vote and get a Dutch passport with which you can travel freely in the EU and the Schengen area.

If you do not obtain Dutch citizenship

If your application is rejected, you can appeal with the Dutch Immigration Service.

Want to know more about life in The Netherlands? Keep up to date with all the news from DB Work’s Blog. And use all the recommendations and tips we have prepared for you, to adapt as easily as possible and enjoy your life in The Netherlands.

 

Please note that all the information provided above is for information purposes only and is provided by DB Work to facilitate the process of integrating employees into life in The Netherlands. For up-to-date and complete information, contact the relevant institutions directly.



 

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