Exceptions to the 5-year term nationalisation

In the following situations the 5-year term does not apply.

• You are married to or are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen. After 3 years of marriage or registered partnership and having uninterruptedly lived together during that period, you can submit an application. These 3 years may also have been spent abroad. You must be living together during the whole procedure.

Did you live together unmarried in the Kingdom of the Netherlands during these 3 years? You can count this period for the period of 3 years.
Living together unmarried outside the Kingdom does not count for the 3 year period.

• You already live in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for 3 uninterrupted years with a Dutch partner (not married) and with a valid residence permit. You must be living together during the whole procedure.

• You are a former Dutch citizen. You have had the Dutch nationality and you lost it. In some cases, you can make use of the option procedure.

• You are stateless. You can submit an application for naturalisation after at least 3 years.

• You were acknowledged as a minor or legitimised by a Dutch citizen. Also, you were cared for and brought up by this Dutch citizen for 3 years. You are now 18 years or older. You can submit an application after 3 years.

• You have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for a total of 10 years with a valid residence permit. The last 2 years of which you have lived uninterruptedly in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. You can submit an application after 2 years.

• You were, after coming of age, adopted in the Kingdom of the Netherlands by at least 1 Dutch citizen.

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