Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation

Make sure you meet the requirements.

You will need to produce certain documents to show that you meet the requirements for naturalisation. Have official documents from abroad 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 to provide 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.
• Civic integration diploma or other proof of civic integration. Or a certificate of exemption (or partial exemption) from the integration requirement.
• Where a child under the age of 18 is included in a parent’s application for naturalisation:
  • The same documents for your child, except for proof of integration, as this is not required for your child.
  • Is only one parent applying for naturalisation? Then the other parent must also be present at the municipality to declare that they consent to the child being included in the other parent’s application for naturalisation. The other parent must also hand over a copy of their residence permit.

Extra documents

Sometimes you need other documents. This depends on your situation. For example, you have lived abroad with your spouse. Then you bring documents with you that prove that you lived together abroad. This can be proof from the foreign country where you lived that you were both registered in the persons administration there. If this is not possible,  other documents are also acceptable. For example, lease or bank statements. It is important that both your names are on these documents, plus the address where you lived together.

No passport or birth certificate

You can obtain a passport or birth certificate 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.

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 or changing your name

Your name may need to be formally established. This means that an agreement is reached on what your surname and first name will be. Establishing your name is required if you do not have a last name or a first name. For example, if you have just one name. Or multiple names without a distinction between the last name and first names.
You can also ask the municipality to change your last name. This is only possible if it is important for the civic integration process. For example:

• 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.

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 must pay a fee to apply for naturalisation. You pay this fee 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.