Becoming a Dutch citizen through naturalisation or option

According to the IND, you must:

• be 18 or older;
• prove your identity and nationality with valid documents;
• have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least five consecutive years with a valid residence permit, always applying for extensions on time;
• hold a qualifying status at the time of application, during the procedure and on the day of the ceremony, for example a permanent residence permit, a long-term EU resident permit, a temporary permit for a non-temporary purpose (such as highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card, paid employment or family with a non-temporary sponsor), or EU right of residence as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen;
• have met the civic integration requirement, usually by passing the civic integration exam at least at level A2, or the NT2 state exam at B1 or B2;
• not be a danger to public order or national security;
• be willing to renounce your current nationality, unless an exception applies;
• be willing to make the declaration of solidarity at the naturalisation ceremony.

Permits for temporary purposes, such as study, the orientation year, intra-corporate transfer or au pair, do not count.

The IND lists several exceptions, including:

• Three years of continuous lawful residence if you have been living together for three years with the same Dutch partner, married, registered or unmarried, and continue to live together during the procedure.
• Two years of continuous lawful residence if you have lived in the Kingdom with a valid residence status for a total of at least ten years.
• Married or registered partners of Dutch citizens who have lived together for three years can sometimes apply without living in the Kingdom, for example from abroad.
• Specific groups such as people adopted as adults by a Dutch parent, or people recognised by a Dutch parent.

Adults who naturalise must in principle renounce their other nationality. Exceptions apply, among others, if you are married to or in a registered partnership with a Dutch citizen on the date the Royal Decree is signed, if you hold an asylum residence permit, if you were born in the Kingdom and live here now, or if your country does not allow renunciation. You can also ask to keep your nationality if renouncing would have serious consequences, such as paying a large sum or losing inheritance rights. Some countries withdraw your nationality automatically when you become Dutch.

If you have to renounce and do not do so after becoming Dutch, you may lose Dutch nationality again. The IND has a country list on its renunciation page.

1. Check the requirements and collect documents. Foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German, unless the municipality already has them in the Personal Records Database (BRP).
2. Make an appointment at your municipality. An official discusses the requirements with you, completes the application form with you and checks your documents. You sign declarations about solidarity and renunciation.
3. Pay the fee at the municipality: €1,139 for one person, €1,454 with a partner, €168 per child under 18 included (2026).
4. Wait for the decision. The municipality sends the file and its advice to the IND, which has 12 months to decide, starting when the fee is paid. You can follow the application in My IND.
5. Royal Decree. After a positive decision, the King signs a Royal Decree granting Dutch nationality.
6. Naturalisation ceremony. You only become Dutch after attending the ceremony organised by your municipality, where you make the declaration of solidarity. You must attend within one year of the positive decision. You then receive the naturalisation decision and can apply for a Dutch passport or ID card.
7. Renounce your other nationality, if required.

Children under 18 cannot apply on their own, but can be included in a parent's application (mee-naturalisatie) if they live in the Netherlands with a qualifying residence permit. Children aged 12 and over must come to the municipality appointment and give their view; children aged 16 or 17 must have lived in the Netherlands for three consecutive years, agree to the application and make the declaration of solidarity. If only one parent applies, the other parent must give consent in person. Minors who become Dutch do not have to renounce their other nationality.

Option is a shorter procedure for specific groups, for example some people who have lived in the Kingdom since childhood or who used to be Dutch. According to the IND, option usually does not require renouncing your nationality (with exceptions, such as option based on living in the Kingdom since your fourth birthday), does not require a civic integration exam, and costs less: €241 for one person or €412 with a partner in 2026. Use the IND's option page to check whether you qualify.

If you were not required to integrate on arrival, for example as a highly skilled migrant or EU citizen, you still need to pass the exams for naturalisation. DUO explains that you need the integration exams at at least A2 level, or the NT2 state exam at B1 or B2. Some exemptions or dispensations granted during civic integration are not sufficient for naturalisation, so check with DUO and your municipality. If you are eligible for a state pension (AOW) because of your age, you do not need the labour market orientation exam. See civic integration in the Netherlands.