Dutch nationality law

Dutch nationality law is based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis and is governed by the Kingdom act regarding Dutch citizenship (Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap). Thus citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Dutch parent, irrespective of place of birth. Children born in the Netherlands to two foreign parents do not acquire Dutch citizenship at birth, unless special criteria are met.

Despite the presence of four different countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, only one category of citizen is distinguished in Dutch nationality law (Nederlandse, Dutch).

The Kingdom law regarding Dutch citizenship was significantly amended with effect from 1 April 2003.

Acquisition of citizenship

By descent

A person born on or after 1 January 1985 to a married Dutch father or mother, or an unmarried Dutch mother, is a Dutch subject at birth. It is irrelevant where the child is born.

A child born to an unmarried Dutch father and a non-Dutch mother must be acknowledged by the Dutch father before birth, in order for the child to be a Dutch subject at birth. Before 1 April 2003, an acknowledgement could be given after birth. Since then children who were not acknowledged before birth may nonetheless acquire Dutch citizenship through the option procedure, or through obtaining proof of paternity from a court. In the last case, the child gets Dutch nationality retroactively, since his/her birth.

From 1 January 1985 the Kingdom of the Netherlands' nationality law (Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap 19 December 1984, Stb. 628) permits children of either a Dutch father or mother to receive Dutch nationality by descent. Prior to that date Dutch nationality law (Wet op het Nederlanderschap en het ingezetenenschap, 12 December 1892, Stb. 268) did not permit children to obtain Dutch nationality through descent from a Dutch mother (through matrilineal descent) and a non-Dutch father. Netherlands nationality was only passed through patrilineal (father) descent. Only if the father was not known or acknowledged did a child born to a Dutch mother receive Dutch nationality prior to 1 January 1985.

Between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 1987 children born after 1 January 1964 but before 1 January 1985 of a Dutch mother and non-Dutch father and who had never been married could use the ‘option procedure’ to acquire Dutch nationality. This possibility was not widely known and many in this situation missed the temporary opportunity to register themselves or their children as Dutch subjects.^[1]

In 2004, a number of these children of Dutch mothers and non-Dutch fathers (so-called "latent Dutch" or "latente Nederlanders") began to organise themselves in the hope of persuading the Dutch government that Article 27 of Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap condones the discrimination against women enshrined in the earlier Dutch Nationality Law (before its 1985 revision), and it should therefore be revoked. In 2005, several Dutch lawyers^[2] agreed to take on the case and formalised the group into “Stichting Ne(e)derlanderschap Ja!”.^[3][4] The legislative change was discussed by parliament in 2006,^[2][5] but then stalled when the government fell and the bill was withdrawn.^[6]

In December 2008, a new proposal was presented to the Dutch Lower House of Parliament,^[6] and in January 2010 Legislative bill 31.831 (R1873) passed a majority vote amending the Kingdom of the Netherlands' nationality law to allow so-called 'latent Dutch' to opt to receive Dutch nationality, regardless of their current age and marital status, and without requirement to renounce their original nationality.^[7] In June 2010, the Dutch Upper House approved the legislation.^[8] It was signed into law in July 2010 by Minister of Justice Mr Hirsch Ballin and H.M. the Queen, and published in the Gazette issued by the Dutch Government (Staatsblad van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden),^[9] with effect 1 October 2010.^[10] Latent Dutch now have the opportunity to receive Dutch nationality by option. Many latent Dutch regard themselves as having been Dutch since birth.^[1][11] However, while latent Dutch are by definition descended from a Dutch mother, nationality granted through the option procedure is not retroactive to the date of their birth. Under the law, these individuals are not considered to be Dutch since birth (van rechtswege), but rather are legally ‘Dutch by option’ from the date that the requirements of the ‘option procedure’ are fulfilled.^[9]

By option

The option procedure is a simpler and quicker way of acquiring Dutch citizenship compared to naturalisation. In effect, it is a form of simplified naturalisation.

In order to be eligible for the option procedure, it is necessary to hold a Dutch residence permit and to be any of the following:

• an adult who was born in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten, and who has lived in any of these places continuously since birth.
• a person born in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten, who has lived in any of these places for an uninterrupted period of at least three years and who has not acquired the citizenship of any other country (i.e. a stateless person).
• an adult who has been legally resident in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten since he or she was four years old.
• an adult who used to be a Dutch subject and who has been legally resident in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten for at least one year and whose residence is without any restriction as to length.
• someone who has been married to a Dutch subject for at least three years and who has been legally resident in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten for an uninterrupted period of at least 15 years.
• someone aged sixty-five years or over and who has been legally resident in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten for an uninterrupted period of at least 15 years.
• a minor who is acknowledged by a Dutch subject who has been cared for and brought up by this Dutch subject for an uninterrupted period of at least three years.
• a minor who, as a result of a Court decision or by law at the time of your birth, is under the joint custody of a non-Dutch parent and another person who is a Dutch subject and who, since the start of this custody, has been cared for and brought up by this Dutch subject for a period of at least three years during which the child has had his or her principal place of residence in the Netherlands.

Exception: Legislation 31.813 (R1873),^[12] inter alia, amends the Kingdom of the Netherlands' nationality law to allow latent Dutch to opt to receive Dutch nationality, effective 1 October 2010.^[13] The conditions of eligibility through the 'option procedure' differ somewhat from those described above. Eligibility criteria for Dutch nationality as a latent Dutch person are that the:^[14]

1. applicant was born before 1 January 1985;
2. mother was a Dutch national when the applicant was born;
3. father was not a Dutch national when the applicant was born;
4. applicant did not obtain Dutch nationality between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 1987 through the option procedure and then subsequently lose that Dutch nationality; and
5. applicant has no criminal record.

All five conditions must be met. If one or more of the conditions are not met the person is ineligible for nationality by this particular means under the recent changes to the option procedure affecting the latent Dutch. Residency in the Netherlands is not an eligibility requirement for latent Dutch applicants.

Applicants for Dutch citizenship through the option procedure are not required by Dutch law to renounce any foreign citizenship they might hold. However, the laws pertaining to their other citizenship may disagree.

By place of birth

A child born in the Netherlands, the Dutch Antilles or Aruba to at least one resident foreign national parent is a Dutch subject if at least one of the parent's parents was born in the Netherlands, the Dutch Antilles or Aruba to a resident foreign national parent.^[15]

A child found on Dutch territory (including ships and airplanes with Dutch nationality), whose parents are unknown, is considered Dutch by birth if within five years since being found it does not become apparent that he/she got another citizenship by birth.^[16]

By naturalisation

An application for Dutch citizenship by naturalisation must meet all the conditions below:

• Aged 18 or over;
• Holder of a permanent resident permit or a valid residence permit with a non-temporary reason of stay, e.g. family formation and/or reunion (gezinsvorming/gezinshereniging);
• 5 years of continuous residence in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten with a valid residence permit prior to the application date. Residency under a temporary reason of stay (e.g. study) is also counted in those five years. There are a number of exceptions to this rule.
• sufficiently integrated in Dutch society and are able to read, write, speak and understand Dutch. This must normally be proved by taking a naturalisation test. Successful completion of an eligible integration course is an alternative. The Staatsexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal diplomas NT2-I and/or NT2-II give their holder exemption from taking the naturalisation test. There are lots of other exemptions, see the Decision naturalisation test (Besluit naturalisatietoets) art. 3.
• in the four years preceding the application, the applicant has not been given any custodial sentence, training order, community service order or high monetary penalty.

Since March 1, 2009, someone who demands naturalization has to take an oath/promise his/her adhesion to the values of the Dutch state: "I swear (declare) that I respect the constitutional order of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, its freedoms and its rights, and I swear (promise) to faithfully fulfil the obligations due to my nationality. So help me God Almighty", or: "This is what I promise and declare."^[17] According to Art. 23.3. of the Royal Law upon Being Dutch,^[18] some categories of people are excepted from declaring their allegiance, through a general administrative measure. According to Art. 60a.6. of the Decision upon Obtaining and Losing the Quality of Being Dutch,^[19] persons with a physical or psychical handicap who are unable to state their allegiance are exempted from doing so.

Exemptions to the residence requirement

The 5-year residence requirement may not apply where the applicant falls into any of the following categories:

• a person adopted after majority in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten by parents at least one of whom has Dutch nationality.
• married to or are the registered partner of a Dutch man or woman. If this is the case, the person can submit an application for naturalisation after 3 years of marriage or registered partnership and cohabitation. If the person has cohabited in the Netherlands with a Dutch man or woman (both partners unmarried) for an uninterrupted period of 3 years, an application may also be submitted. Note: this is true (in respect to marriage, partnership or cohabitation) if and only if in the last three years the applicant has continually lived together his/her partner inside the Netherlands. In case of marriage, it does not matter where this happened, i.e. inside and/or outside Dutch territories are both acceptable for married couples. As a rule of thumb, for each passed year, more than 6 months (per year) must have been spent under the same roof with that partner. [1] [2] There is an extra clause, namely that the couple/partners has/have to remain living under the same roof for as long as the request for naturalization is being researched.
• the 5-year term is reduced to a 3-year term if the applicant is stateless.
• the 5-year term is reduced to a 3-year term if the applicant as a minor is acknowledged or legitimised by a Dutch national and has been cared for and brought up by this Dutch national for a period of 3 years.
• the 5-year term is reduced to a 2-year term if the applicant has legally lived in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten for a period of 10 years, the last 2 of which uninterruptedly.
• a former Dutch subject. In some cases the applicant will instead be able to use the option procedure.

Exemptions to the requirement to renounce foreign citizenship

An applicant for naturalisation does not have to give up his current nationality in the following cases:^[20]

• where the original nationality is automatically lost upon naturalisation as a Dutch subject
• the legislation of the applicant's country does not allow renunciation of nationality (for example, under Greek law^[21])
• the person is married to or the registered partner of a Dutch national.
• recognised refugees
• born in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten, and still living there at the time of application.
• where the person has lived in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten for an uninterrupted period of 5 years or longer before age 18.
• where the applicant cannot be expected to contact the authorities in the country of which they are a national.
• where the applicant has "special and objectively assessable reasons" for not renouncing his existing nationality.
• where in order to give up his/her current nationality the applicant would have to fulfil military service obligations or pay for such military service instead of fulfilling it. This must be demonstrated in each case.
• where renunciation of the applicant's existing nationality would cause "serious financial losses" (for example, inheritance rights). This must be demonstrated.^[22]
• where in order to give up his/her current nationality the applicant must pay a large sum of money to the authorities in his or her country.^[23]

These exemptions do not hold for citizens/subjects of Austria, Denmark and/or Norway, since these countries (together with the Netherlands) signed and ratified without reservations and never denounced the Convention on the Reduction of Cases of Multiple Nationality and on Military Obligations in Cases of Multiple Nationality (see Chapter I, art. 1, paragraph 1). This was also the case for Belgian subjects till April 28, 2008, since Belgium denounced Chapter 1 of this treaty on such date.^[24][25] In a similar way, this was also the case for Luxembourgian subjects till July 10, 2009.^[24][25]

Children

Children aged under 18 may be added to a parent's application for Dutch citizenship. Those aged 16 and 17 will only be naturalised if they give their active consent, while those aged 12–15 inclusive are given a chance to object.

By resumption

Former Dutch subjects who hold permanent resident permits and have resided in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten) for at least 1 year may regain Dutch citizenship through the option procedure.

Where the person is not resident in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the person must have lost Dutch citizenship after reaching the age of majority and through the acquisition of another citizenship. In addition one of the following conditions must be satisfied:

• born in the country whose nationality was acquired and living there at the time of acquisition of the nationality of that country, or
• before turning 18, lived in the country whose nationality was acquired for an uninterrupted period of at least five years, or
• at the time of acquisition of the nationality of the other country, the person was married to someone who possessed that nationality.

These criteria are similar to the criteria for exemption from loss of Dutch citizenship in place since 1 April 2003. The application opting for Dutch nationality may be submitted up to 31 March 2013 (i.e. 10 years from the 2003 change in the law).

Loss of Dutch citizenship

Dutch subjects may lose their citizenship through long residence outside the Netherlands while having more than one nationality, or acquisition of a foreign nationality. In addition, in some cases it is possible to be deprived of Dutch citizenship.

By residence outside the Netherlands

The Dutch law has contained for many years provisions that removed Dutch citizenship from certain Dutch persons who held another nationality at birth and remained resident outside the Netherlands in adulthood.

Prior to 1985

Before 1 January 1985, Dutch subjects lost their nationality in cases where they were born outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands, lived for an uninterrupted period of ten years outside the Kingdom after reaching the age of majority (then 21) and did not submit notification that they wished to retain their Dutch nationality before the ten-year period was up.

These provisions affected Dutch subjects born abroad before 1 January 1954

From 1 January 1985 to 31 March 2003

Under the 1985 legislation, Dutch subjects born outside the Netherlands who also held the nationality of the country of their birth lost Dutch citizenship if they lived in the country of their birth for 10 years after age 18 (and were still citizens/subjects of their country of birth).

Those who were issued a Dutch passport or proof of Dutch citizenship on or after 1 January 1990 are deemed never to have lost Dutch citizenship. This exemption was put in place on 1 February 2001.

Former subjects who were not issued a Dutch passport or proof of Dutch citizenship in 1990 or later were given a limited period of time to acquire Dutch citizenship by option. These provisions expired on 31 March 2005.

From 1 April 2003

After 1 April 2003, Dutch subjects with dual nationality may lose their Dutch nationality if they reside outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands or outside the European Union for a long period. The place of birth is irrelevant in this event.

If you hold the same foreign nationality alongside Dutch nationality for ten years, and you are resident outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union for ten years, you will lose your Dutch nationality.

In the case of Dutch subjects who possessed dual nationality on 1 April 2003 and who were then resident outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union, the ten-year period started on 1 April 2003.

It is possible to retain Dutch citizenship by:

• having a principal residence in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or another member state of the European Union for at least one year; or
• applying for a Dutch passport or proof of Dutch nationality before 1 April 2013, i.e. before the end of the ten-year period. A new ten-year period starts on the day the person is issued with a passport or proof of Dutch nationality.

By acquisition of another citizenship

A person who voluntarily acquired another citizenship before 1 April 2003 automatically lost Dutch citizenship.^[24]

From 1 April 2003, loss of Dutch citizenship upon naturalisation in another country is still automatic unless at least one of the following exemptions applies:^[24]

• the person is born in the country of the other nationality and has a principal residence there at the time of acquisition of that nationality.
• if before turning 18, the person has had a principal residence in the country of the other nationality for an uninterrupted period of five years;
• if you are married to a person who possesses the nationality you wish to acquire (a spouse who is deceased does not count).

These exemptions do not apply in the case of acquisition of Austrian, Norwegian or Danish citizenship. Before April 28, 2008, these exemptions did not apply to getting the Belgian nationality.^[24][25] Before July 10, 2009, these exemptions did not apply to getting the Luxembourgian nationality.^[24][25] This is due to the provisions of the Convention on the Reduction of Cases of Multiple Nationality which the Netherlands became party to in 1985. Details

The exemptions lead to internal problems in the case of acquisition of Japanese or South-Korean citizenship, since neither Japan nor South Korea allows its nationals to hold foreign citizenships in their adult years. (See Japanese and South Korean nationality laws.) Of course, they are strictly Japanese/South Korean internal affairs and have to be solved by Japanese/South Korean citizens themselves, according to the laws of their own country. They are not problems of the Dutch state, and all the Dutch laws say in this respect is that such Dutch subjects with dual nationality are allowed to renounce to their Dutch nationality.^[26] Dutch subjects are not allowed to renounce their nationality if they become stateless,^[26] so this rennunciation has to occur while they have dual nationality, which is illegal in Japan and South Korea. Therefore acquiring Japanese of South Korean nationality cannot be done by exempted Dutch subjects without breaking the laws of such countries. Each sovereign state decides for itself who are its citizens, therefore other states are not allowed to bother with such internal affairs.^[27]

By deprivation

Dutch citizenship by naturalisation may be withdrawn if procured by fraud, or if the naturalised Dutch subject does not renounce a foreign citizenship as per the requirements for naturalisation (i.e. if one did not have the right to be exempted from such requirement or if he/she did not claim his/her right to such exemption before signing a paper wherein he/she agrees to renounce his/her original nationality). A similar requirement exists for citizens of Japan and South Korea (see above).

Dutch citizenship may also be revoked in the case of service in a foreign army at war with the Netherlands.

Dual citizenship

Although Dutch law restricts dual citizenship, it is possible for Dutch subjects to legally hold dual citizenship in a number of circumstances, including:

• those who acquire another citizenship at the time of birth (for example, a child born to Dutch parents in the United States would hold both U.S. and Dutch citizenship).
• persons who acquire Dutch citizenship through the option procedure (including former Dutch citizens resuming citizenship)
• persons who become naturalised Dutch subjects, who obtain an exemption from the requirement to renounce their foreign citizenship, such as those married to Dutch subjects.
• Dutch subjects who naturalise in another country who are exempted from the loss of nationality rule (such as those married to a citizen/subject of that country).

The Dutch nationality law dispute

Dutch nationality law is an object of enduring dispute, dissension and debate, since the electoral campaign of Pim Fortuyn, turned immigration into a hot issue in Dutch politics. Since the assassination of Pim Fortuyn, anti-immigration politicians like Geert Wilders and Rita Verdonk have opposed dual citizenship.

Citizenship of the European Union

Although the European territory forms part of the European Union, Dutch citizens are also citizens of the European Union and thus enjoy rights of free movement and have the right to vote in elections for the European Parliament.

Former territories

Before independence, Dutch citizenship was held by many persons in Suriname and Indonesia. In general, those acquiring citizenship of these countries at independence lost their Dutch citizenship. A request for determination of citizenship status can be addressed to the Dutch authorities.

Dutch citizenship statistics

Figures from the Dutch government show that approximately 11,500 people were granted Dutch citizenship by naturalisation in the first 6 months of 2003. There were close to 20,000 applications. Details

According to the country's statistics office Details, nearly 21 thousand people were granted Dutch nationality through naturalisation in 2004 (13,000 adults and 8,000 children at the same time). This is 4 thousand fewer than in 2003 and half the number in 2002.

See also

• History of Dutch nationality

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Article: 'Nee mevrouw, u bent te laat' by Karin Alfenaar, de Verdieping Trouw Nieuws, 13 May 2006
2. ^ ^{a b} de Hart, B.; mr. drs. H. de Voer, mr. C.A. Goudsmit (April 28, 2006). "Latente Nederlanders: Discriminatie van kinderen van Nederlandse moeders in het nationaliteitsrecht [Potentially Dutch: Discrimination of Children of Dutch Mothers in Nationality Law]" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Juristenblad (Den Haag: Kluwer) (17): 932–939. ISSN 0165-0483. http://www.everaert.nl/Actueel/NJB_20060428.pdf. Retrieved November 4, 2009. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Article: De latente Nederlanders. Radio Netherlands World Emission, by Pieter-Bas van Wiechen, 23 September 2009.
4. ^ Article: "Equal Rights for Latent Dutch citizens Expatica Netherlands, 2 July 2010.
5. ^ Latente Nederlanders wachten op hun paspoort. mr. C.A. Goudsmit.
6. ^ ^{a b} Article: De latente Nederlanders. Radio Netherlands World Emission, Pieter-Bas van Wiechen, 23 September 2009.
7. ^ Kamer voor paspoort latente Nederlanders Radio Nederland Wereldomroep.
8. ^ Einde aan het tijdperk van latente Nederlanders Radio Nederland Wereldomroep.
9. ^ ^{a b} Staatscourant, published 30 June 2010
10. ^ Hoe bepaal je of je een latente Nederlander bent? Radio Nederland Wereldomroep.
11. ^ Article: Saskia heeft Nederlandse moeder, maar moet land uit, AD Nieuws, 6 October 2009.
12. ^ Legislation 31.813 (R1873) amendments to the Netherlands Nationality Act
13. ^ Article: Hoe Bepaal je je wwn latente Nederlander Bent? How do you determine whether you are Latent Dutch? Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (in Dutch)
14. ^ Staatscourant, published 30 June 2010, Sections 6.1.i through 6.1.o
15. ^ Article 3(3) of the Netherlands Nationality Act.
16. ^ http://www.kennisbankburgerzaken.nl/algemeen/toonBijlage.asp?id=370
17. ^ Law on introducing the declaration of allegiance and for adapting the rule of getting the Dutch nationality after recognition, June 27, 2008, Art. 1.H.2.
18. ^ Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap Art. 23 onder 3.
19. ^ Besluit verkrijging en verlies Nederlanderschap Art. 60a onder 6.
20. ^ Exceptions Ind.nl.
21. ^ Dual nationality. Is this allowed? Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service.
22. ^ A peculiar case of "serious financial losses" is in the case where renunciation of the applicant's existing nationality would cost too much, in respect to his/her income. See the following footnote for explanations.
23. ^ This must be demonstrated with proof of income and proof of consulary fees to be paid in case of renunciation, specific for his/her own case or with general specifications of such consulary fees for every citizen/subject of the country in which he/she is a national of. Note: As a rule of thumb, if that sum of money is larger than your income for two months, then you have a right to keep your nationality of origin. Loans do not count as income. A testimony of this process is shown at Commons:Image:RWN Exception 1 d.jpg. That document is a sworn Dutch translation of a proof of consulary fees from the head of the Consular Section of the Romanian Embassy in the Hague. Since the sum of 515 Euro was greater than his income for two months (excluding a study loan from IB Groep), the subject naturalized by the decision of Her Majesty the Queen was allowed to retain his Romanian nationality. Such exemption had to be explained in advance to the naturalization clerk of the municipality, who filled then the naturalization request papers accordingly.
24. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Acquiring a different nationality. Dutch Department of Foreign Affairs.
25. ^ ^{a b c d} List of declarations made with respect to treaty No. 043.
26. ^ ^{a b} Nederlandse nationaliteit, afstand doen. Haarlemmermeer municipality.
27. ^ Ook Beatrix heeft dubbele nationaliteit. Radio Nederland Wereld Omroep.

External links

• Dutch Nationality, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Dutch Nationality, Embassy of the Netherlands, Ottawa
• Obtaining Dutch Nationality, Dutch Immigration and Nationality Directorate
• Article: The steep and thorny way to Naturalisation Day, a testimony by Sueli Brodin in Crossroads
• Article: Who Get's to Be Dutch? By John Tyler, Radio Netherlands Worldwide New legislation makes it harder to become a Dutch citizen while keeping another passport. At the same time the bill allows so-called latent Dutch people to finally become fully Dutch.
• Article: Hoe bepaal je of je een latente Nederlander bent? Radio Nederland Wereldomroep How do you determine whether you are latent Dutch? (in Dutch)
• Expatica Dutch residence permit application procedures
• IND - Immigration and Naturalisation Information on whether or not you may renounce your nationality
• Wikispaces.com site Latente Nederlanders/Latent Dutch established by and for members of the latent Dutch 'community' to share information on the Dutch citizenship application process