After having (legally) lived in the Netherlands for a five-year period, an expatriate can apply for naturalization. After positive adjudication, (s)he may receive the Dutch nationality and may subsequently apply for a Dutch passport.

An expatriate (registered) partner or expatriate spouse of a Dutch person may apply for naturalization after three years of living together or after three years of marriage. Some refugees may apply after four years of residency.

The Immigratie & Naturalisatie Dienst (IND) and afdeling Burgerzaken (part of the municipality) are the responsible Dutch organizations for all naturalization matters.

Following an official advice from afdeling Burgerzaken, IND will check if the expatriate/applicant is suitable for naturalization, in the light of rules and regulations laid down in the Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap and the Vreemdelingenwet (aliens law).

The expatriate/applicant is required to pay a fee (leges) for the naturalization procedure, and must be over 18 years old.

The expatriate/applicant must have a valid Dutch residence permit (non-temporary purpose), and must have resided in the Netherlands for a five-year period (in certain cases three or four years, re. above).

The expatriate/applicant should be able to speak and understand some Dutch and also be part of the Dutch society (inburgering). The expatriate/applicant’s past will be checked, meaning no criminal record related to a certain number of years preceding the naturalization application.

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