Naturalisation: exceptions to the 5-year term

No term for main residence and residence permit

In these situations you do not have to live in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to apply for naturalisation:

• You are married to or are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen. And you are already living together for a minimum of 3 years. You will continue living together during the whole naturalisation procedure.
  Do you live in the Kingdom of the Netherlands? Then you do not have to be married or registered partners for the whole 3 years. You should, however, have lived together in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for a minimum of 3 years.
  Do you live outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands? Then you should have been living together as married or registered partners for a minimum of 3 years. The years that you lived together as unmarried partners do not count.

• You have had Dutch nationality and you have lost it. In some cases you can regain Dutch nationality through option.

• You were, after coming of age, adopted in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And 1 or both of your adoption parents have Dutch nationality.

Do you live in the country of which you have the nationality? Then you cannot apply for naturalisation. For example: you are American and you live in the United States of America. You cannot apply for naturalisation in the United States.

Do you live in the Netherlands? Then, naturally, you may also apply for naturalisation when one of these situations apply to you.

2 years main residence and residence permit

• You now live in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for 2 years uninterrupted. Earlier you have also lived in the Kingdom. In total you have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for 10 years or more.

3 years main residence and residence permit

• You already live together unmarried for 3 uninterrupted years with a Dutch partner in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. You have a valid residence permit uninterruptedly for 3 years already. You must be living together during the whole procedure.
• You are stateless. You already have a valid residence permit for 3 years uninterruptedly.
• You are an adult and you have been acknowledged or legitimised by a Dutch citizen after coming of age. You already have a valid residence permit for 3 years uninterruptedly.
• As a minor your were acknowledged or legitimised by a Dutch citizen. You are now an adult. You have a valid residence permit in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And, after the acknowledgement or legitimisation you have been cared for and brought up by that Dutch citizen. These 3 years were uninterrupted and directly before you became of age.