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Turkish nationals will need civic integration diploma for stronger residence rights as of 2025
Starting January 1, 2025, Turkish citizens will be required to provide an integration certificate when applying for a permanent residency permit in the Netherlands. This also applies to applications for an EU long-term resident permit.
This measure is part of the Civic Integration Act 2021, which has been in effect since January 1, 2022, and follows the Dutch government’s 2020 announcement that Turkish newcomers would once again be required to complete an integration process.
Transition period until 2025
There is a transition period until January 1, 2025. During this time, Turkish citizens applying for permanent residency do not need to provide a civic integration diploma. However, they must fulfill other requirements, such as proving sufficient income.
Exemptions
There are exceptions to the new rule. Turkish employees and their family members are still not required to pass the integration exam to obtain a temporary residence permit granted under the EU-Turkey Association Agreement. Therefore, nothing will change for this group. In addition, individuals such as young people under 18 and senior citizens receiving state pension (AOW) are exempted from the integration requirement.
The Dutch government aims to use this measure to improve the integration of Turkish citizens and encourage their active participation in Dutch society.