Citizenship in the Netherlands

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: September 14, 2024

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2025

After living five years in the Netherlands with a permanent residence permit, you might become eligible for Dutch citizenship, which is the same as nationality or passport. In this article, we'll guide you through the paths available and help you determine the best route to become a Dutch citizen.

What are the benefits of Dutch citizenship?

To begin with, you should note that you don’t need a Dutch passport to work in the Netherlands. Even so, obtaining Dutch permanent residence isn't the only way to work legally in the Netherlands. You can apply for temporary or non-temporary residence permits and visas. For example, if a company is willing to employ you, they can sponsor you for a temporary regular residence. If you're an EU–EEA national or obtain an EU passport through your ancestry, you can work freely across the continent. So start off by realising that the citizenship has benefits other than working in the Dutch country.

Exclusive benefits for Dutch citizens

As a Dutch citizen, you enjoy the freedom to enter the Netherlands and the EU–EEA territories without restrictions and have exclusive rights like voting in parliamentary elections, running for office, and joining the armed forces. Plus, you can apply for a Dutch passport, which is ranked as the third most powerful in the world.

Does the Netherlands allow dual citizenship?

You generally need to renounce your other nationality when becoming a Dutch citizen. Most countries permit renunciation, but if the law or government of your home country makes it impossible, the IND (the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service) will not require you to give it up. In some cases, you may automatically lose your previous nationality upon gaining Dutch citizenship. However, there are exceptions to this rule based on specific circumstances:

• If you are married to or a registered partner of a Dutch citizen when you become Dutch.
• You hold an asylum residence permit.
• You received a residence permit under the RANOV regulation in 2007 or 2008 and became a Dutch citizen after November 1, 2021, or were a minor in 2007 or 2008 and became a Dutch citizen after June 1, 2021.
• You were born and currently live in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the special municipalities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
• You have the nationality of a country not recognised by the Netherlands, such as Taiwan or the Palestinian Territories.

Use this tool to find out if you can hold dual Dutch citizenship.

What are the ways to get Dutch citizenship?

There are three ways to obtain the citizenship of the Netherlands. The one expats will be most interested in—as it’s the most flexible one for a professional—is the naturalisation path. Let’s check the three means and then focus on the "option" case.

By naturalisation

To become a Dutch citizen by naturalisation, you should have lived in the Netherlands for at least five consecutive years holding a permanent residence permit. This is the most viable path for expats who want to become Dutch citizens and therefore EU citizens. Living and working for five years—that is, spending your time in the Netherlands with a job—is the most convenient course of action.

By birth, acknowledgement, or adoption

This is known as getting Dutch citizenship by descent. Basically, if one or both of your parents are Dutch citizens when you're born, you are adopted or acknowledged, you automatically become a Dutch citizen yourself—no need to apply separately!

By option

The option route is typically available for those with unique ties to the Netherlands or specific legal statuses. Some of the most common cases in which you become eligible include being married to or a registered partner of a Dutch citizen, or holding an asylum residence permit. Other eligible scenarios include having a residence permit under certain regulations or holding nationality from a country not recognised by the Netherlands.

When can you apply for Dutch citizenship?

To be eligible for Dutch citizenship by naturalisation, you need to comply with the following requirements:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Prove identity and nationality with valid documents.

• Lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years with one of the following residence permits:

  ◦ Asylum or regular permanent residence permit.

  ◦ Long-term EU residence permit.

  ◦ Temporary permit with a non-temporary purpose.

  ◦ Family member of an EU national or resident permit under EU law.

  ◦ Residence document Article 50 TEU Withdrawal Agreement for UK nationals.

• Always extended your residence permit on time; exceptions may apply for early application.
• Pass the civic integration exam at level A2, or be exempt. We’ll talk about that.
• Not a threat to public order or national security.

Can you become a Dutch citizen if you’re on a student visa?

Yes, time as a student counts only if you’re on a non-temporary visa—like a work permit—by the time you apply. This seems to be a common misconception. Some expats who’ve gone through the process say that being a student and living for five years, for example, doesn’t count towards naturalisation because the Dutch state expects you to have paid taxes for those five years. But the official info doesn’t say this explicitly.

Do you need to speak Dutch very well to become a citizen of the Netherlands?

Mostly yes, because it will make the process easier. If you successfully complete the B1 or B2 exams, you’re allowed to skip two exams: The one about Dutch general culture (KNM), and the one about the Dutch job market (ONA), each priced at €50.

The minimum threshold to getting the naturalisation stamp, besides those two exams, is the A2 level in Dutch.

Is the Dutch application process conducted in person or online?

It’s in person. So you’ll need an appointment to present the documents we’ll outline. Every document you read about here is something you’ll need to collect and take. It’s not something you’ll be scanning.

What documents are required?

For your application, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Valid passport or travel document.
• Birth certificate from your country of origin.
• Valid residence permit or proof of lawful residence (EU/EEA/Swiss nationals don’t need a residence permit).
• Civic integration diploma or proof of civic integration, or a certificate of exemption.
• Other documents may apply depending on your situation.

For children under 18 included in a parent’s application, you should present the same documents as the parent, excluding proof of integration. If only one parent is applying, the other parent must consent to the child’s inclusion and provide a copy of their residence permit.

Foreign documents should be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German. If your foreign documents are already registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP), you do not need to do it again.

How to apply for Dutch citizenship?

Remember, the presentation here is in person. So you first need to set up an appointment with a local office, which is usually found in the town hall, to present your documents.

How do you set up an appointment to turn in your paperwork?

You must request the appointment online in most cases. Each district has different waiting times. Rotterdam, for example, rarely has available slots, so expats sometimes send complaints and, three weeks in, a representative contacts them giving them a date maybe 30 days ahead. Eindhoven, for example, accepts scheduling over the phone, and representatives can assign appointments sixty days from the date of the call onwards.

As you suspect, you must submit your application for naturalisation to the municipality where you live. You will fill in the application form together with a staff member from the municipality. You will also complete the following declarations:

• A declaration of willingness to make the declaration of solidarity. By completing this declaration, you declare that you know that the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also apply to you.
• A declaration of willingness that you will renounce your current nationality if you have become Dutch (if applicable).

Once all information has been collected, the municipality will then send your application form with all documents and advice to the IND. The IND will decide on your request for naturalisation. You will receive a letter stating the date by which the IND will decide on the application. The decision period is 12 months, but in some cases it can be extended.

You can follow the application in My IND.

How long does it take for the government to approve your citizenship?

As we said, they’ll analyse your application for one year before giving an answer back. It’s not an automatic process. But some expats have claimed that the office clerks told them they’d have an answer in six months and not a full year.

What is the Dutch citizenship test?

We’ve mentioned it before, and now we’ll give the details. The Dutch civil integration exams are part of the process for immigrants who want to become permanent residents or Dutch citizens. These exams test your knowledge of the Dutch language and Dutch society. Here’s a breakdown:

• Language proficiency: You need to demonstrate that you can speak, read, write, and understand Dutch at an A2 level (basic level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
• Knowledge of Dutch society: This part assesses your understanding of Dutch culture, laws, and customs. It usually involves questions about Dutch society, history, and the legal system.

• Exam components:

  ◦ Language test: Includes speaking, listening, reading, and writing sections.

  ◦ Orientation exam: Tests your knowledge about Dutch society and its norms.

• Process: To register, visit the DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) website; there are different exams available depending on what you are applying for.
• Costs: The costs for the exam and course depend on when you began your integration process. If you hold asylum status, the municipality covers the course fees and the first two attempts of each exam. If you don’t have asylum status, you can either pay for the course yourself or borrow money from DUO (only for approved schools). Course fees can vary between schools, but exam fees are fixed.

You can make your own civil integration plan on DUO’s website. If you think you might qualify for an exemption or dispensation, check if you meet any of the criteria, such as having a Dutch qualification, already being sufficiently integrated, having an illness or other valid reason that makes integration challenging.

Can your family members get Dutch citizenship?

Yes, if you're applying for Dutch citizenship, your partner, and children can also apply, but their applications are considered separately. Here are some key points:

• Partners: Your partner can apply for Dutch citizenship if they meet the requirements, such as residency duration, language proficiency, and integration. The requirements may differ depending on whether you're married, in a registered partnership, or living together.
• Children: Children under 18 can be included in your citizenship application if they meet certain conditions. Typically, they need to be legal dependents, and their application will be processed along with yours if they are applying at the same time. For children over 18, they need to apply independently and meet the same requirements as adults. Children of the age of 12 and above are required to accompany you during the application process. If your children are 16 or 17, they must also agree to become Dutch nationals. If your child did not naturalise with you, you can apply for subsequent naturalisation.

Other relatives, such as parents, siblings, or extended family members, cannot be included in your Dutch citizenship application. Each relative must apply for citizenship individually and meet all the necessary requirements. The Dutch naturalisation process is generally focused on the applicant, their partner, and minor children.

What are Dutch citizenship fees?

The fees for the application as of September 2024 are:

Naturalisation

Option

What is the naturalisation ceremony?

The naturalization ceremony comes only after your application has been accepted. You have a full year after that admittance to give a declaration and become a Dutch citizen.

What if your application is rejected?

If your application is rejected, you can file an objection within 6 weeks of the decision to request a review by the IND. If the objection is rejected, or you want to appeal directly, you must submit an appeal to the court within the same 6-week period. The court will then review the case and issue a ruling.

Talk to an immigration expert

Ready to take the next step toward Dutch citizenship? Whether you're aiming to secure a powerful passport or enjoy the benefits of living and working in the Netherlands, you should start by the first and foremost: talking with experts who can guide you all the way through.

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