Key points on immigration from the new government

The political parties PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB cabinet have presented the outline agreement. This agreement contains ten main points on which the parties will focus. The second point is “grip” on asylum and migration. The parties want to take concrete steps toward “the strictest admission regime for asylum and the most comprehensive package for grip on migration ever.”

The question is to what extent these steps can be realized now that the Netherlands is bound in many areas of asylum and migration by European and international regulations.

For now, we list the main points for regular migration.

Naturalization

• The standard period for naturalization will be extended from 5 years to 10 years, regardless of temporary or permanent residence. To realize this plan, a change in the Act on Netherlands nationality is required. In the year 2016, there was also a proposal to extend the term to 7 years. Ultimately, the proposal was approved by the House of Representatives (second chamber) but rejected by the Senate (first chamber) in October 2017. So it remains to be seen whether a new proposal will pass.
• In principle, the language requirement for naturalization will be increased to B1 for everyone. This new requirement partly already applies to the civic integration exam through the Civic Integration Act 2021. However, due to technical reasons, the level is still A2. However, on the basis of the Netherlands Nationality Act which regulates naturalization, there is the condition that a foreigner is sufficiently integrated and so far this is still A2 level.

Labor migration

• The qualification requirements of the knowledge migrant scheme are being tightened and increased. What these new requirements will be is not clear. It could be a higher monthly salary or, for example, a diploma requirement but again, the regulation must be amended first.  In the case of long-term residence, employers will also be given a responsibility for these employees to learn the Dutch language.

International students

• Restrict study migration in higher education in the bachelor’s phase, except for studies where there are labor market shortages, taking into account local circumstances (the greater the problems, the more restrictions). In principle, students from the European Union cannot be excluded because there is free movement of people within the European Union.
• Study migration will become more selective through more courses in Dutch, a numerus fixus for foreign students, restriction to obtaining a basic scholarship and increasing tuition fees for non-EU students. These are only options for students from outside the European Union.

At first glance, the coalition agreement is sharply worded but it remains to be seen to what extent these stricter requirements and restrictions on migration can actually be realized in the future.

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