Becoming a Dutch citizen through naturalization

Check out the central government website for more information on the 3 ways to become a Dutchman.

• You check if you meet the requirements.
• You check that you are in possession of all the documents you need*.
• You make an appointment at the municipality.
• You can apply for your minor children living in the Netherlands at the same time.
• You pay the fee when you submit your request.

* Attention! Are you already registered in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP)? And have you already submitted an original copy of your birth certificate (or marriage certificate) at this registration? Then you usually do not need to do this again.

Naturalization ceremony

Will you become a Dutch citizen by option or naturalization? Then you will receive an invitation from the municipality for the naturalization ceremony. You are obliged to participate in the ceremony. You will only become a Dutch citizen if you make the declaration of commitment at the ceremony. With this you say that you know that the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also apply to you. At the ceremony, you will receive confirmation that you have become a Dutch citizen. You may bring a maximum of 5 people with you to the ceremony.

Apply for passport after naturalization

This can be done 2 weeks after you have been at the naturalization ceremony.

Call 14 079.

Change or delete appointment?

Once you have made an appointment you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail also contains a link that allows you to change or delete your appointment.

Do you no longer have the e-mail? Call 14 079. A staff member can change or delete the appointment for you.

What you need to bring to the appointment:

• your residence permit
• your valid passport or other travel document
• your integration diploma (or a comparable Dutch diploma)

And the documents below (if you have not already shown them):

• your birth certificate
• Other documents about your personal situation (for example, a marriage or divorce certificate)

Note! The municipality must be able to see that foreign documents are genuine. Therefore, the documents must have legalization or apostille stamps (see the website of the Central Government, international and development cooperation - legalization of documents).

Foreign documents must be in Dutch, English, French or German. Is this not the case? Then you must first have the documents translated by a translator who is sworn in the Netherlands.

You pay the fee at the time of the appointment. At the front desk, you can only pay by debit or credit card.

It takes up to 1 year before you know whether you become a Dutch citizen. The IND can extend this period a maximum of 2 times by six months.

Objecting

Do you disagree with the decision? Then you can file an objection with the IND.

How can my child obtain Dutch citizenship?

If the Dutch father acknowledges the child before birth or before age 7, the child automatically receives Dutch citizenship.

Does the father acknowledge the child after age 7? Then you must prove within 1 year that you are the biological father. This is done through a DNA test. This test must be done by a laboratory that meets the legal requirements.

More information about the laws and regulations can be found on the website Overheid.nl | Besluit DNA-onderzoek vaderschap.