The routes
| Permanent residence | Naturalisation | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | The right to stay indefinitely | Dutch nationality and passport |
| Usual wait | 5 years of legal residence | 5 years of uninterrupted legal residence |
| Integration | Civic integration diploma (non-EU) | Civic integration diploma or equivalent |
| Your other nationality | You keep it | Usually given up, with exceptions |
| Vote in national elections | No | Yes |
Plans to lengthen the residence requirement for naturalisation have been announced. Check the IND for the rules that apply on the day you apply.
Naturalisation step by step
- 1Check the requirements
Residence period, a valid permit, integration diploma, no serious criminal record.
- 2Apply at your municipality
Bring your documents and pay the fee.
- 3IND decides
This takes months.
- 4Naturalisation ceremony
Attend the ceremony and make the declaration of solidarity. Only then are you Dutch.
Keeping your nationality
In principle you must give up your current nationality. Exceptions include: you are married to or a registered partner of a Dutch citizen, you are a recognised refugee, or your country does not allow you to give it up. Some groups, such as people born and raised in the Netherlands, can use the faster option procedure.
EU citizens get a permanent right of residence automatically after five years. See also first steps after moving.
Sources
This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.