Becoming a Dutch national through option

Make sure you meet the requirements.

You use documents to show that you meet the requirements for naturalisation. You should have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. If your foreign documents are already registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP), you do not need to request the documents again abroad.

You need the following documents:

• Valid passport or other travel document.
• Birth certificate from your country of birth.
• If applicable, a valid residence permit or other proof of legal residence. If you have the nationality of a country of the EU, EEA or Switzerland then you do not need a residence permit. The municipality will check how long you have lived in the Netherlands via the Personal Records Database (BRP).
• Documents showing that you meet the situation on the basis of which you are applying for option. Ask your municipality which documents these are.
• In case a child under the age of 18 is included in a parents’ application for naturalisation:
  • The same documents of your child.
  • Is only 1 parent applying for naturalisation? Then the other parent must go to the municipality to give permission in a declaration for including  the child in the application for naturalisation. That parent must also submit a copy of the residence permit.

You have lived in several areas of the Kingdom 

If you have lived in several areas of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, then you must prove with documents that you have lived in those other areas of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of:

• Netherlands
• Aruba
• Curaçao
• St. Maarten
• Bonaire
• Saint Eustatius
• Saab

No passport or birth certificate

You can apply for a passport and birth certificate from the government of your country. If you are unable to obtain a passport or birth certificate, you may be able to invoke lack of documentary evidence.

Identity and nationality

To become a Dutch citizen, you must prove your identity and nationality. If there is any doubt about the personal data or nationality you provided, your request can be rejected. If the municipality doubts the identity or nationality due to incorrect statements by the parent(s), then the municipality will not reject the request, but will assume the identity and nationality provided when the minor child received the residence permit.

You apply for option at the municipality where you live. A municipal employee will discuss all the requirements with you and check whether you have all the documents. If anything is missing or you need to find out something first, then the municipality will make a new appointment with you.

Complete the application form

You complete the application form together with the municipal employee. In addition, you sign the following declarations:

• A Declaration of Willingness to make the Declaration of Solidarity. By making this declaration, you declare that you know that the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also apply to you.
• Are you requesting option because you have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands since the day you turned 4 years old?
  • If you have to renounce the nationality you currently have: a declaration that you will renounce it when you become Dutch.
  • If you have an exemption from renouncing your nationality: a statement that you do not want to renounce and why you want exemption. 

Children's co-option

Do you have children under 18 and do you also want to apply for option for them,?Then let this know at the appointment with the municipality. Your children will then be added to the application. This is called co-option. You must bring children aged 12 and older to the appointment. Is your child 16 or 17 years old? Then your child must tell the municipality personally whether it also wants to become Dutch. Minor children do not have to renounce their other nationality.

Determining your name

It is possible that your name needs to be determined. This means that your first name and last name will be determined together with you. You fill out a form stating the  first name and the surname (family name) you would like to have. If you are unsure whether your name needs to be determined, your municipality can give you more information.

Changing your name

When you apply for naturalisation, you may request to change your surname or your surname and first name. Changing your name is possible if it is important for your civic 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 would like to change this name to your own surname.
• Your name is ridiculous according to the Dutch view. This means that your name has an inappropriate meaning in Dutch.
• Your surname is declined with a male or female conjugation. You can then change your surname to the non-declined name. For example, a change from Bonova to Bonov.
• You have a compound surname, so the name of your mother and your father. One of those names can then become your surname.

Determining or changing of children’s names

Children aged 12 to 15 who are included in the option application may say what they think about the determination or changing of their name. Children aged 16 or 17 must give permission for determination or change of their name.

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 municipality will assess your application for option. The law states that the municipality has 13 weeks to decide on your application. This period is called the decision period. The decision period can be extended once by a maximum of 13 weeks.

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

• Positive decision: the municipality approves that you become a Dutch national. You do not immediately have Dutch citizenship.
• Negative decision: you will not be granted Dutch nationality. You can appeal against this decision. The letter from the municipality tells you how to do this.