Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation

Make sure you meet the requirements.

You use documents to show that you meet the requirements for naturalisation. Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. Are your foreign documents already registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP)? Then you do not need to obtain and legalise these documents again. 

You will need the following documents:

• A valid passport or other travel document.
• A birth certificate from your country of origin.
• A valid residence permit or other proof of lawful residence. If you are a national of a country in the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you do not need to have a residence permit. The municipality will consult the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) to check how long you have lived in the Netherlands.
• A civic integration diploma or other proof of civic integration. Or a certificate of exemption (or partial exemption) from the integration requirement.

Extra documents

In some situations, you will need extra documents. 

In case a child under the age of 18 is included in the application

• A valid passport or other travel document, a birth certificate and a residence permit.
• A declaration of consent when only parent applies for naturalisation. The other parent must be present at the municipality to declare that they consent to the child being included in the other parent’s application. The other parent must also hand over a copy of their residence permit.

In case of a 3-year marriage or registered partnership 

A marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership. This document is not required if your marriage or partnership is registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP).

In case of you lived together abroad

Documents that prove you lived together abroad. This can be proof of registration in the population register. Can you not obtain this? Then you may also provide, for example, a rental contract or bank statements. These documents must list both your names and the address where you lived together.

No passport or birth certificate

Do you not have a passport or birth certificate? Then you can obtain one by applying to the government of your country of origin. Are you unable to obtain a passport or birth certificate? Then you may be granted an exemption due to lack of documentary evidence.

Doubt about identity and nationality

If you want to become a Dutch citizen you have to prove your identity and nationality. If doubt exists about the personal data or nationality you provided, your request may be rejected.

Does the IND doubt the identity or nationality caused by incorrect statements given by your parent(s)? Then the IND will not reject the request. Then the IND will use the identification and nationality that were provided when the minor child received the residence permit.

You must submit your application for naturalisation to the municipality where you live. An employee of the municipality will discuss all the requirements with you and check whether you have all the required documents. If something is missing or you need to look into a particular matter, the municipality will make another appointment for you.

Completing the application form

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. Do you not have to renounce because you fall under an exception? Then you indicate this in the declaration.

Including your children in your application for naturalisation

If you have children under the age of 18 and you wish to include them in your application for naturalisation, please mention this at the time of the appointment. Your children will then be included in the application. Children aged 12 and above must accompany you on your visit to the municipality to make the application. Your children will then tell the official what they think about the naturalisation. If your children are aged 16 or 17, they must also indicate that they agree to becoming Dutch nationals. Did your child not naturalise together with you? After you have become a Dutch citizen yourself, you can also apply for naturalisation of your child. This is called subsequent naturalisation.

Establishing your name

Your name may need to be formally established. This means that your first name and last name will be determined together with you. Establishing your name is mandatory if you do not have a first name or last name. This is true if you have 1 name. Or if you have more names without separation between first names and surname. You fill in a form which first name and last name (surname, in Dutch geslachtsnaam) you would like. Are you unsure whether your name should be established? Your municipality can give you more information.

Changing your name

You may ask to change your surname in your naturalisation application. Or your surname and first name. You can change your name if it is important for your integration. This is only the case in the following situations:

• Your name is difficult to pronounce for Dutch people.
• You have acquired your husband’s surname through marriage and you wish to change that name to your maiden name.
• Your name is ridiculous according to the general Dutch opinion. This means that your name has an inappropriate meaning in Dutch.
• Your last name is inflected with a masculine or feminine conjugation. You can then change your last name to the uninflected name. For example, a change from Bonova to Bonov.
• You have a compound last name, i.e. the name of your mother and your father. One of those names can then become your last name.

Determining or changing names of children

Children aged 12 to 15 who participate in naturalisation may say what they think about the adoption or change of their name. Children aged 16 or 17 must give permission for their name to be determined or changed.

Send application form

Once all information has been collected, a municipal employee will prepare advice for the IND. 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 have to pay for the application. To find out how much your application costs, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.

You pay the costs (fees) to the municipality when you submit your application.

The IND must take a decision within 12 months. This is called the decision period. You will receive a letter stating the date by which the IND will decide on the application. The decision period begins as soon as the fees for the application have been paid. We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.

Follow the application in My IND.

What if the IND decides late

Has the decision period passed? And do you still not have a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late with its decision.

You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.

• Positive decision: the IND has given its approval to you becoming a Dutch national. However, this letter does not make you a Dutch national immediately. Find out what you still need to do to become a Dutch national.
• Negative decision: you will not obtain Dutch nationality. You can object against this decision.