The Netherlands remains a good country for migration: even despite economic and social difficulties in its domestic politics. However, obtaining citizenship is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. But if you make an effort, it is a realistic task for everyone, including Ukrainians.
What Dutch Citizenship Provides
Obtaining Dutch citizenship is an important step for foreigners who plan to tie their life to this country for a long time. Dutch citizenship opens up not only the possibility of obtaining a passport but also the full range of political and other rights of a citizen. At the same time, the procedure is not limited to just a few years of residence. It is necessary to confirm the legality of residence, meet integration requirements, provide documents, comply with previous citizenship rules, and not have any circumstances that may hinder naturalization. As of 2026, the main pathway for most foreigners remains naturalization, though in certain situations, a simplified option procedure is available.
For Ukrainians, the issue of acquiring Dutch citizenship is particularly relevant due to the significant number of Ukrainian citizens living in the Netherlands under various legal grounds. At the same time, temporary residence does not automatically mean acquiring citizenship. For naturalization, it is important not just to have physical presence in the country but also to have the appropriate residency status and meet the legal requirements. Therefore, it is advisable to start preparing for naturalization long before submitting the application: check living history, documents, language proficiency, and the possibility of retaining previous citizenship.
Dutch citizenship means full citizen status of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its holder receives a Dutch passport and can enjoy the rights that legislation ties specifically to citizenship. Among the practical advantages, the ability to live freely in the Netherlands and return to the country without obtaining a residence permit is especially important. Citizenship also eliminates dependence on the duration of the residence permit and the grounds on which a foreigner stays in the country.
An important consequence is political rights. Dutch citizens can participate in elections according to the rules established for a specific type of election. Having citizenship also matters for access to certain government positions and areas of activity where citizenship status may be legally significant. IND explicitly states that naturalization allows one to become an official citizen of the Netherlands, obtain a Dutch passport, and vote in elections.
Another significant advantage relates to the ability to move freely within the European Union. Dutch citizenship automatically means EU citizenship. This provides the citizen with rights specified by European Union legislation, including those regarding residence, study, and work in other EU countries under the rules applicable to citizens of Union countries.
For families, citizenship can also have long-term significance. Acquiring citizenship by one of the parents in certain cases may be related to the possibility of including a minor child in the naturalization process. Separate requirements regarding age, residence, and residence permit apply for children. Therefore, family situations should be assessed separately, rather than transferring general rules for an adult applicant to a child.
Citizenship also provides a more stable legal status compared to a residence permit. A foreigner with permission must monitor its validity and comply with residence conditions. A Dutch citizen no longer has such restrictions regarding the right to reside in the country.
Main Ways to Obtain Citizenship
In the Netherlands, there are several legal mechanisms for acquiring citizenship, but they are designed for different categories of people. For most adult foreigners who have moved to the Netherlands and have been living there for an extended period, the main route is naturalization. This process involves the state verifying the fulfillment of established requirements, after which a decision is made regarding the granting of citizenship.
A second important mechanism is the option. It is not intended for all foreigners but only for those who have a special connection to the Netherlands as prescribed by law. In many cases, the option procedure is easier and cheaper than naturalization. Moreover, the option procedure usually does not require one to renounce another citizenship and there is no need to demonstrate integration as during naturalization.
Categories that may be eligible for the option include, among others, certain people born in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, specific stateless individuals, minors recognized as Dutch citizens under certain conditions, as well as some other categories explicitly defined by legislation. The mere fact of being born in the Netherlands does not mean automatic acquisition of Dutch citizenship, which is often misunderstood.
There are also rules regarding the acquisition of citizenship by children, the return of Dutch citizenship by former citizens, and specific provisions for people living outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Each situation has its specific conditions.
For an ordinary foreigner without a special basis for the option, the typical algorithm looks like this:
- legally reside in the Netherlands for the required period;
- have the appropriate permit or residence right;
- fulfill the requirement for civic integration;
- confirm identity and nationality;
- not pose a threat to public order or national security;
- fulfill the rules on renouncing previous citizenship or fall under an exception;
- submit an application to the municipality;
- undergo the necessary procedure and participate in the naturalization ceremony after a positive decision.
Thus, obtaining a passport is the final result of the procedure, not a separate substitute for the procedure of acquiring citizenship.
Naturalization: Conditions and Duration of Residence
Naturalization is the main way to obtain Dutch citizenship for many adult foreigners. The basic requirement involves at least five years of continuous legal residence in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Not just the fact of staying in the country matters, but the specific type of residence permit and compliance with its extension rules. The applicant must timely extend their document if their permit has a limited validity period.
As of 2026, the standard five-year period is not an absolute rule for all situations. The law provides for exceptions under which naturalization may be possible earlier. For example, certain individuals may apply for citizenship after three years of cohabitation with their Dutch spouse or registered partner under established conditions. In some cases, other shortened periods may apply.
An important point is the residency status. At the time of application, during the procedure, and on the day of the naturalization ceremony, the applicant must have the appropriate permit or legal right to reside. Specifically, the law provides for certain permanent permits, EU long-term resident status, and some temporary permits with non-temporary purposes of residence.
A separate requirement concerns integration. For naturalization, it is necessary to fulfill the established requirement for civic integration, which, according to IND, involves passing an integration exam at least at the A2 level unless an exemption is provided for the specific individual. This means that merely living in the Netherlands for many years is not sufficient.
The applicant's behavior is also checked. A person should not pose a threat to public order or national security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The presence of certain offenses or other circumstances may affect the decision regarding naturalization.
After submitting the application, the case undergoes verification. The application is not submitted directly to IND as the first step but to the municipality of residence. Municipality staff check the documents and forward the materials for further consideration. The decision regarding naturalization is made by IND. The standard decision-making period is up to 12 months.
A positive decision does not yet mean that the person immediately becomes a citizen. After the approval of naturalization, the necessary procedure occurs related to the royal decision, and then the applicant must participate in the naturalization ceremony. It is during this ceremony that the declaration of solidarity is proclaimed, after which the individual acquires Dutch citizenship in accordance with the established procedure.
Citizenship by Birth, Descent, and Marriage
Dutch legislation does not provide a simple rule by which every child born on Dutch territory automatically becomes a citizen of the country. The citizenship of the parents, the legal status of the child, and the specific circumstances of birth are determinative. Therefore, for children of foreigners, it is necessary to separately check whether there is a basis for acquiring citizenship automatically or for using the option procedure.
Descent from a Dutch citizen may be significant for a child's acquisition of citizenship. However, the date of birth, legal status of the parents, and circumstances of establishing parentage or maternity are also important. In some situations, a child acquires citizenship without separate naturalization, while in others, a special procedure is required.
Marriage to a Dutch citizen does not automatically mean obtaining citizenship. At the same time, the family connection may create special conditions for naturalization and reduce the standard duration of residence. For example, under certain conditions, a person who is married or in a registered partnership with a Dutch citizen and has lived with them for the required period may take advantage of an exception to the general rule of five years.
In some cases, naturalization based on marriage may even be possible when the applicant resides outside the Netherlands. Special requirements are set for this, including those regarding the duration of marriage or registered partnership, cohabitation, and maintaining family status throughout the procedure.
A special category concerns minors. If one parent submits an application for naturalization, the child may, under certain conditions, be included in the application. Separate requirements apply depending on the child's age, period of residence, and the presence of the appropriate permit. Older children may also be involved in the procedure in a special way, and in some cases, their presence during the application submission is mandatory.
Thus, birth, descent, or marriage may create additional opportunities, but none of these circumstances should automatically equate to citizenship. Legal grounds must be established for each specific situation, and the relevant documents should be checked.
Documents for Citizenship Registration
Preparing documents is one of the most important parts of the procedure. An incomplete package or discrepancies in documents can lead to delays in processing. In a standard situation, the applicant must confirm identity, nationality, birth, legality of residence, and fulfill the requirement for integration.
The main documents include:
- a valid passport or other document to confirm identity;
- birth certificate;
- a valid residence permit or other document that confirms legality of stay;
- a document on completing civic integration or confirmation of exemption from the respective requirement;
- additional documents depending on family or migration situation.
Foreign official documents may require legalization and translation. IND states that foreign documents must be duly legalized and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German if they are not yet registered in the Dutch personal data database BRP.
For Ukrainians, this means that documents issued in Ukraine must be assessed not only in terms of content but also in terms of the form of their acceptance by Dutch authorities. It is particularly important to check the requirements for a specific document in advance, as the rules may vary based on the type of document and the circumstances of its acquisition.
If a person cannot provide a passport or birth certificate, it does not mean that the issue is automatically closed. In the Netherlands, there is a procedure for cases of insufficient documentary evidence. However, the applicant must prove that they attempted to obtain the necessary documents but were objectively unable to do so. IND separately considers such situations.
The application is submitted to the municipality where the applicant resides. The municipality employee checks the conditions and documents, helps to prepare the application, and forwards it for further consideration. The fee for the procedure must also be paid at the time of application submission in accordance with current tariffs.
After a positive decision, the procedure does not end with receiving a letter. Participation in the naturalization ceremony is required. If the invited person does not attend the mandatory ceremony within the established time frame, citizenship is not acquired, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
Dual Citizenship: Is it Allowed by Dutch Law
The issue of dual citizenship in the Netherlands has its peculiarities. The country generally tries to limit multiple citizenships, so upon naturalization of a foreigner, they may typically be required to renounce their prior citizenship if it is legally possible. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
It is important to understand the difference between the possibility of having two citizenships in practice and the legal obligation to renounce a previous citizenship during naturalization. Dutch legislation provides for situations in which renunciation is not required. For example, exceptions may apply to individuals who are married or in a registered partnership with a Dutch citizen, as well as to recognized refugees. There are also other legally prescribed grounds.
At the same time, the legislation of the country of origin is crucial. Even if the Netherlands does not require an actual renunciation of another citizenship, the country of origin may establish its own rules regarding the consequences of acquiring new citizenship. Therefore, the issue of Ukrainian citizenship for Ukrainians planning to naturalize in the Netherlands should be considered separately in light of Ukrainian legislation.
Having a second citizenship may also affect an individual's obligations to another state. The Dutch government specifically points out that with multiple citizenships, a person's rights and obligations may be governed by the laws of different countries.
There is also another aspect to the matter: Dutch citizenship may be lost under certain circumstances when acquiring another citizenship. Therefore, the rules of dual citizenship cannot be reduced simply to the moment of obtaining a passport. After naturalization, there may also be circumstances that affect the retention of citizenship.
For a Ukrainian, it is advisable to separately check whether renouncing Ukrainian citizenship is needed in their specific situation and what consequences the acquisition of Dutch citizenship will have. This is especially important for individuals who obtain citizenship through marriage, have refugee status, or fall under another exception to the general rule.
Thus, dual citizenship in the Netherlands is not guaranteed to every applicant. The rules depend on the method of acquiring citizenship, family status, previous citizenship, and other legal circumstances.
Reasons for Denial of Citizenship
Denial of Dutch citizenship is possible if the applicant does not meet the established legal conditions. One of the most common issues is insufficient duration of legal residence or an inappropriate type of residence permit. Five years of residing in the Netherlands does not guarantee a positive decision if the person did not have the necessary legal status during that period.
Interruption in the required period of residence can also be a problem. Continuous residence matters. If the residence document expired, and the applicant did not take the necessary actions to extend their status, this may negatively impact the possibility of naturalization.
Another reason may be failure to fulfill the requirement for civic integration without the necessary confirmation of language knowledge and integration and having no legal basis for exemption from this requirement, naturalization cannot be completed under general terms.
Denial may also occur due to issues with confirming identity or citizenship. That is why the passport, birth certificate, and other documents must contain consistent data. Discrepancies in names, dates of birth, nationality, or other personal information may incur additional checks.
For Ukrainians, the most practical approach is to check all periods of residence in the Netherlands, types of permits, documents, results of the integration exam, and issues concerning the retention of Ukrainian citizenship in advance. Such preparation allows identifying problems well before submitting an application when they are much easier to fix.
Overall, the Netherlands remains a good option for Ukrainians. However, obtaining citizenship in this country requires navigating a complex procedure.