You are staying in the Netherlands and you like it very much. You may therefore wish to take up Dutch nationality. It is possible to become Dutch by naturalisation or by option. You can apply for Dutch nationality faster through the option procedure; also, the costs for this procedure are considerably lower. On the other hand, the option procedure does entail more stringent requirements. In this blog, you can read whether you meet these requirements and which supporting documents are required for a successful outcome.
Given the complex nature of the proceedings, it is advisable to hire a lawyer who can guide you through the process and focus on your specific and individual situation.
Conditions
You can apply for Dutch nationality by option in the following cases:
- You are of age, born in the Netherlands and have lived in the Netherlands since birth. You are also in possession of a valid residence permit.
- You were born in the Netherlands and have no nationality. You have been living in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for at least three consecutive years.
- You have lived in the Netherlands from the day you turned four years old, you have always had a valid residence permit and you still hold a valid residence permit.
- You are a former Dutch national and have lived in the Netherlands for at least one year with a valid permanent or fixed-term residence permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay. Please note that if your nationality has ever been revoked because you renounced it, you cannot apply for an option.
- You have been married to a Dutch national for at least three years or you have a registered partnership with a Dutch national for at least three years. Your marriage or registered partnership is continuous with the same Dutch national and you have lived in the Netherlands continuously with a valid residence permit for at least 15 years.
- You are 65 years or older and have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands continuously for at least 15 years with a valid residence permit immediately prior to the confirmation of the acquisition of Dutch citizenship.
If you were born, adopted or married before 1 January 1985, there are three more separate cases through which you may be able to apply for Dutch nationality by option:
- You were born before 1 January 1985 to a Dutch mother. Your father did not have Dutch nationality at the time of your birth.
- You were adopted as a minor before 1 January 1985 by a woman who had Dutch nationality at that time.
You were married to a non-Dutch man before 1 January 1985 and as a result you lost your Dutch nationality. If you have recently divorced, you will make the option statement within one year of the dissolution of the marriage. You do not have to be resident in the Netherlands to make this declaration.
If you do not fall under any of the above categories, you are most likely not eligible for the option process.
Request
Applying for Dutch nationality by option is done at the municipality. To do so, you must have valid identification and a birth certificate from your country of origin. You must also have a valid residence permit or other proof of lawful residence. At the municipality, you must declare that you will make the declaration of commitment at the ceremony of acquiring Dutch nationality. By doing so, you declare that you know that the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will also apply to you. In addition, in most cases you will have to renounce your current nationality, unless you can invoke a ground for exemption.
Contact
Do you have questions regarding immigration law or would you like us to help you further with your option procedure? Then feel free to contact Mr Aylin Selamet, lawyer at Law & More at aylin.selamet@lawandmore.nl or Mr Ruby van Kersbergen, lawyer at Law & More at ruby.van.kersbergen@lawandmore.nl or call us at +31 (0)40-3690680.