Dutch naturalisation period may increase to 10 years

The Dutch government has proposed a significant amendment to the Dutch Citizenship Act. The main change: extending the standard residence requirement for naturalisation from 5 to 10 years.

Key changes in the proposal

• Most applicants would need to reside legally in the Netherlands for 10 consecutive years before applying for Dutch citizenship.
• Spouses of Dutch nationals will be eligible after 5 years of legal residence and cohabitation — instead of 3 years as is currently the case.
• Spouses of Dutch nationals and former Dutch nationals can no longer apply for Dutch citizenship from abroad.
• Former Dutch nationals who previously renounced their Dutch citizenship during the naturalisation procedure and now wish to regain it via the option procedure, must renounce their current nationality. This means dual nationality will no longer be allowed in these cases.

What’s next?

• The proposal is currently open for public consultation until 1 December 2025.
• After that, it will go through the legislative process, which typically takes 1 to 2 years.
• The law will not apply retroactively: applications submitted before the law takes effect will follow the current rules.

At this stage, nothing has been finalized. This proposal comes from an outgoing government. With general elections scheduled for 29 October 2025, the future of this proposal remains uncertain and will depend on the priorities of the next government and Parliament.

We understand many clients are concerned about the potential impact. Unfortunately, we cannot provide certainty about the future of this proposal, but we are monitoring developments closely and will keep you informed.

Have your say: submit your opinion here.