In 5 to 10 years: A significant change expected in the path to Dutch citizenship
The Dutch government has announced plans to make obtaining citizenship more difficult by doubling the minimum residency requirement. According to the proposal, the naturalization period will increase from five to ten years, meaning applicants will need to live legally and continuously in the kingdom for a full decade before they can apply for Dutch citizenship.
The proposal was presented by the Minister of State for Justice and Security, Arno Rutte, and was approved by the Cabinet on Friday. Currently, foreigners can apply for naturalization after five years of legal residence. If the change is approved, applicants will need to prove ten years of continuous legal residence and show that they are "fully integrated" into society.
According to Arno Rutte, the aim of the procedure is to ensure that Dutch citizenship is granted only after establishing a genuine and lasting relationship. He added: "By extending the naturalization period from five to ten years, we ensure that people have a stronger connection to our kingdom and are well integrated and able to fully participate in society before they become Dutch citizens."
The government believes that the extended period will give applicants more time to become part of Dutch society and demonstrate a strong and lasting connection with the Netherlands or other parts of the kingdom. Supporters of the plan say it will enhance integration, while critics are expected to question whether this step imposes unnecessary obstacles on long-term residents.
The bill will now enter a public consultation phase online for two months, during which individuals and organizations can submit their feedback. After this period, the government will take these responses into account before sending the proposal to the Council of State for advice, and then later presenting it to the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) for discussion and approval.