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Dutch government wants to extend naturalization period from 5 to 10 years
At the last minute, just before the elections, the Dutch government has proposed several far-reaching changes to the Dutch Citizenship Act.
The most important proposed changes:
- The term for acquiring Dutch citizenship will be extended from 5 to 10 years.
- Spouses and partners of Dutch citizens will be eligible for Dutch citizenship after 5 years of legal residence and cohabitation, instead of three years.
- Spouses of Dutch citizens and former Dutch citizens can no longer acquire Dutch citizenship from abroad.
- Former Dutch citizens who have renounced their Dutch citizenship and now wish to become Dutch citizens through the option procedure must renounce their current nationality.
Status of the proposal
The proposal has now been submitted for consultation. Anyone can respond to the proposal until December 1 2025 via this link: https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/naturalisatietermijn/b1.
Then the proposal will have to go through the legislative process. It’s uncertain how long this will take, but it’s expected to take at least a year, especially given the elections coming up.
Moreover this proposal comes from an outgoing government and its uncertain whether the new government will follow through. It’s therefore unclear whether this proposal will be implemented.
Of course our firm will follow the developments closely.