Renouncing your current nationality
Renouncing your nationality not required
Do you want to become a Dutch citizen? And does the law of the country of your nationality allow you to renounce that nationality? Then you should be willing to renounce the nationality you now have. But there are situations where you do not have to renounce your nationality.
Exemptions where you will not be asked to renounce your nationality
Some exemptions for renunciation of nationality are checked by the municipality and the IND. You do not have to sign a declaration that you are willing to renounce your nationality. This applies in the following situations:
- You are married to a Dutch citizen. Or are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen.
- You are younger than 18 years.
- You have an asylum residence permit.
- You are now living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And you are born in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. You do not always have to have lived in the Kingdom.
- You are a national of a state that is not recognised by the Netherlands. For example, Taiwan or Palestinian territories.
Exemptions that you have to prove yourself and are assessed by the IND after application
You are obliged to renounce your nationality. With the naturalisation request you sign a declaration that you are willing to renounce your nationality. You thereby indicate that you invoke a ground for exemption. When submitting the naturalisation application, you have to prove yourself with documents that show the exemption applies to you. The IND will assess if the exemption indeed applies to you.
In the following situations you may be exempted from renouncing your nationality:
- You will have to pay a large sum of money to the authorities in your country of origin to renounce your nationality.
- You will lose certain rights when giving up your nationality. Due to this you would lose a lot of money. For example, because you cannot inherit from your family anymore.
- You have to fulfil (or buy out) your military service before being able to renounce your nationality.
Would you like more information? Please contact the IND.
Renouncing your nationality: how does it work?
Do you not automatically lose your nationality? Does the law of the country of your nationality allow you to renounce that nationality? And does none of the situations where renouncing your nationality is not required apply to you? Then you yourself have to renounce your nationality.
Signing a declaration when applying
For most countries, you will not be able to give up your original nationality until you already have Dutch citizenship. Therefore, upon submitting your application for naturalisation you sign a declaration. This declaration states that you are willing to renounce the nationality you now have.
Renouncing your nationality with the authorities of the country of that nationality
After having become a Dutch citizen, you renounce the nationality you now have. This is called a renunciation procedure. You start this procedure with the authorities of the country of that nationality. It is often possible to do this at the consulate or embassy of that country in the Netherlands.
Sending the document of renunciation to the IND
After the renunciation procedure, you will receive an official declaration of renunciation of your nationality. You send this declaration to the IND.
Revoking of your Dutch nationality
Do you have to renounce your nationality? And do you not do this? Then the IND may revoke your Dutch citizenship.