You would like to become a Dutch citizen through an option statement at the municipality. You fill in the option statement in the municipality where you live. The option procedure is a quick and easy way to acquire Dutch citizenship. You can also use this procedure when you have the nationality of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland. What are the conditions? And how does the procedure work?
The municipality assesses whether you qualify for the option procedure. You are eligible for option if one of the following situations applies to you:
You are an adult. And, from the moment you have turned 4 years old, you have been living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All this time you have had a valid residence permit. Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland do not need to have a residence permit.
You are an adult. You are a former Dutch citizen. And you have been living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 1 year. In this year your have had a permanent residence permit or a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay. Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland do not need to have a residence permit.
You are married to a Dutch citizen or you are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen for at least 3 years. This marriage or registered partnership is uninterrupted with the same Dutch citizen. And you have lived immediately prior to the confirmation of Dutch citizenship uninterruptedly in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 15 years with a valid residence permit or as a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
You are 65 years of age or older. And you have lived immediately prior to the confirmation of Dutch citizenship uninterruptedly in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 15 years with a valid residence permit or as a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
Are you by birth, acknowledgement, adoption or court ruling the child of a person that has become or could have become a Dutch citizen on the grounds of this option category? Perhaps you can also become a Dutch citizen by option. Please contact your municipality for more information.
Are you by birth, acknowledgement, adoption or court ruling the child of a person that has become or could have become a Dutch citizen on the grounds of this option category? Perhaps you can also become a Dutch citizen by option. Please contact your municipality for more information.
You must meet the following conditions:
When applying for option, there can be no ongoing criminal proceedings against you in the Netherlands or abroad.
In the 5 years prior to naturalisation application up to the moment that the decision has been made, you have not been convicted or sentenced to a conditional discharge in the Netherlands or abroad for a crime. This includes:
The 5 year-term starts counting from the moment that you:
You may not be married to more than one man or woman at the same time.
You must make the declaration of solidarity. See below 'The naturalisation ceremony' at 'Steps in the application proces'.
You renounce your current nationality. This condition only applies when you have lived in the Netherlands from the age of 4.
What documents do you need?
Other documents may also be necessary. For more information about the documents, please contact your municipality.
Your minor child can only apply for Dutch citizenship together with you. You then include your child on the form. Your child must be living in Netherlands at the time of the application and have a valid residence permit. Children of 16 and 17 years of age must be present for the application. They must also indicate that they agree with the application.
You are an adult when you are 18 years or older. Or from the moment that you have married even if this was before you were 18 years old.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of The Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. And 3 special municipalities: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.