Netherlands
ISO2: NL
Dutch citizenship by naturalisation through residence: minimum residence period, qualifying residence statuses, documents, municipality submission workflow, official sources, and dual citizenship/renunciation policy (as of 2026).
Passport
Citizenship by residence
- Minimum years of residence
- 5.0
- Requires permanent residence
- No
- Last updated
- Feb. 18, 2026
- Notes
- Standard naturalisation requires at least 5 consecutive years of lawful residence in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with a valid residence right/permit (renewals filed on time). At the time of application you must hold a qualifying status (e.g., permanent permit, long-term EU resident, or a temporary permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay, or EU-law residence rights). Application is submitted at the municipality (town hall) where registered; municipality forwards file + advice to the IND; IND decides (statutory decision period 12 months, can be extended); grant is by Royal Decree and finalised at a naturalisation ceremony. Civic integration (language) requirement applies (IND references at least A2, with exemptions in some cases). Dual nationality is generally restricted after naturalisation; adults are usually required to renounce prior nationality unless an exception applies. Note: Government announced an intention/proposal to extend the general term from 5 to 10 years; verify entry-into-force before relying on 10 years.
- Dual citizenship
-
Dual citizenship: Not allowed
Renunciation required: YesSpecial cases: Adults naturalising are generally expected to renounce their other nationality, but exceptions exist (e.g., where renunciation is not possible or not reasonably required, and other statutory exception categories).
- Notes for dual citizenship
- Netherlands generally restricts dual/multiple citizenship after naturalisation for adults. Renunciation is typically required unless an exception applies. Official IND and Government.nl guidance describe dual citizenship as limited and renunciation as the default expectation.
Qualifying residence permits
Article 50 TEU Withdrawal Agreement (Brexit) residence document
IND lists Article 50 TEU Withdrawal Agreement residence document as qualifying.
Counts
Asylum permanent residence permit
Qualifying status at time of naturalisation (IND lists asylum permanent residence permit).
Counts
Long-term EU resident permit (EU langdurig ingezetene)
Qualifying status at time of naturalisation (IND lists residence permit as a long-term EU resident).
Counts
Regular permanent residence permit (verblijfsvergunning onbepaalde tijd)
Qualifying status at time of naturalisation (IND lists regular permanent residence permit).
Counts
Residence as family member of an EU national (incl. Chavez-Vilchez category)
IND lists family-member-of-EU residence as a qualifying status at time of application.
Counts
Residence pursuant to EU law (EU/EEA/Swiss citizen; no permit required)
IND lists EU/EEA/Swiss free-movement residence right as qualifying; no residence permit required.
Counts
Temporary residence permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay
IND lists this as acceptable at the time of application. Used for non-temporary residence purposes.
Counts
Temporary residence permit with a temporary purpose (e.g., study/au pair/seasonal) – generic
Not generally acceptable as the status at time of naturalisation unless converted to a non-temporary purpose; included as a non-qualifying example bucket.
Doesn’t count
Required documents
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Birth certificate (from country of origin)
Birth certificate required to prove identity/civil status; exemptions may apply in limited cases (lack of documentary evidence).
|
Mandatory | Required as baseline identity/civil status document; exemptions only in limited situations. |
|
Civic integration proof (inburgering) / Dutch language certificate (at least A2 per IND baseline)
Evidence you meet the civic integration requirement (language level A2 per IND baseline; exemptions possible).
|
Mandatory | Proof you meet civic integration requirement (A2 baseline per IND; exemptions possible). |
|
Declaration of solidarity willingness (verklaring van verbondenheid)
Declaration completed during the application process stating awareness that Dutch laws apply.
|
Mandatory | Completed during application at the municipality (willingness to make declaration of solidarity at ceremony). |
|
Declaration regarding renunciation of prior nationality (afstand-verklaring) / exemption claim
Declaration of willingness to renounce prior nationality after naturalisation, or to claim an applicable exception.
|
Mandatory | Completed during application: willingness to renounce after naturalisation, or claim exception if applicable. |
|
Dutch naturalisation application (Naturalisatieverzoek) – municipality form/process
Naturalisation request submitted at the municipality (town hall). The municipality completes the application with the applicant and forwards it to IND with advice.
|
Mandatory | Submitted at the municipality where you are registered; municipality checks requirements, documents, and forwards to IND with advice. |
|
Proof of lawful residence (residence permit or EU-law residence right)
Valid residence permit or other proof of lawful residence. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals may not need a residence permit; municipality checks BRP.
|
Mandatory | Valid residence permit or proof of lawful residence; EU/EEA/Swiss may rely on EU-law residence right and BRP check. |
|
Valid passport or other travel document
Passport or other travel document used to prove identity and nationality (subject to possible exemptions if documents cannot be obtained).
|
Mandatory | IND requires proof of identity and nationality; exemptions only in limited situations (lack of documentary evidence). |
|
Marriage certificate / registered partnership certificate (if applying under partner route)
Required when applying based on 3-year marriage/registered partnership/cohabitation route, if not already registered in BRP.
|
Optional | Required when applying under a shortened/exception route based on 3-year marriage/registered partnership/cohabitation with a Dutch partner, if not already registered in BRP. |
|
Proof of cohabitation (if required for counting partner residence abroad or NL cohabitation)
Documents showing cohabitation (e.g., registration proof, rental contract, bank statements showing both names/address) when required.
|
Optional | Supporting evidence for partner/cohabitation-based exception routes when the municipality/IND requires it. |
Submission offices
IND – general portal (information + My IND access)
Online
Official IND portal for guidance and accessing My IND to track the application.
IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) – decision authority
NATIONAL
IND decides on the request after receiving the municipality file/advice. Not the usual place to submit, but the competent decision authority.
Municipality / Town hall (Gemeente) where you are registered
Municipal / Civil Registry
Primary submission point: you submit the naturalisation request at your municipality (appointment at town hall). The municipality checks documents, prepares advice, and forwards the application to the IND.
Official sources
Government.nl – Dual citizenship (policy overview)
Government
Official government explanation of the general restriction on dual nationality after naturalisation and key exceptions.
en
IND – Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation (requirements + process)
Government
Primary IND page (updated Jan 2026): requirements, qualifying statuses, required documents, municipality workflow, and decision period.
en
IND – Dual nationality (overview + exceptions)
Government
IND overview of dual nationality policy and exceptions.
en
IND – Exceptions to the 5-year residence term for naturalisation
Government
Official IND page listing exceptions/reductions to the general 5-year residence term.
nl
Wetten.overheid.nl – Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap (RWN)
Law / Regulation
Primary legal basis for Dutch nationality (Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap).
nl
Latest ranking snapshot
As of Feb. 22, 2026
- Travel freedom185.00
- Residency rights31.00
- Quality of life213.60
- Economic freedom78.20
- Tax friendliness20.00
Methodology (as of 2026-02-22): composite ranking uses weighted, min-max normalized scores across (1) Travel freedom 25% from Henley Passport Index 2026 (visa-free/visa-on-arrival count), (2) Economic freedom 25% from Heritage Index of Economic Freedom 2025 (overall score), (3) Residency rights 20% proxy based on free-movement blocs (EU+EEA+Switzerland highest; Mercosur medium; others baseline), (4) Disposable income after taxes 20% from Numbeo Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax), USD, (5) Quality of life 5% from Numbeo Quality of Life Index 2026, (6) Tax friendliness 5% from Nomad Passport Index (Taxation column only). Raw indicator values are stored in this table; composite scoring is computed externally.