Immigration · Updated 14 Sep 2026 · ~10 min read

How to get Dutch citizenship in 2026: naturalisation and the option procedure explained

After 5 years in the Netherlands, or 3 with a Dutch partner, you can apply to become Dutch. This guide covers both routes, the exam, keeping your passport, the 2026 fees and timeline, and exactly what is and is not changing.

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Rules from the IND and Netherlands Worldwide · Checked 14 September 2026

Short answer

You can get Dutch citizenship through naturalisation after 5 consecutive years in the Netherlands on a valid residence permit, or faster through the option procedure if you belong to a group the law names, such as people born here or former Dutch citizens. Naturalisation needs the civic integration exam at level A2, no serious convictions in the last 5 years and, usually, giving up your other nationality. It costs €1,139 in 2026, the IND has 12 months to decide, and you become Dutch at the naturalisation ceremony.

Key facts for 2026

5 years of continuous residence on a valid permit is the usual minimum; 3 years living with a Dutch partner.
€1,139 is the 2026 naturalisation fee, €1,454 with a partner; option costs €241.
12 months is the decision period for naturalisation; the municipality has 13 weeks for option.
A2 is the Dutch level of the civic integration exam, the naturalisation test.
3 months is the time to send proof you asked to give up your other nationality, once the IND writes.
1 year after approval is the deadline to attend the naturalisation ceremony.
€900 or more in fines in the 5 years before you apply can block naturalisation.

This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.

Two routes

Naturalisation or the option procedure

Most people become Dutch through naturalisation; the option procedure is quicker and cheaper, but only for specific groups (IND).

	Naturalisation	Option
Who can use it	Anyone who meets the requirements, usually after 5 years	Only groups named in the law
Where you apply	Your municipality; the IND decides	Your municipality, which also decides
Decision period	12 months	13 weeks, extendable once by 13
Fee 2026	€1,139 (€1,454 with a partner)	€241 (€412 with a partner)
Civic integration exam	Required, level A2	Not required
Give up your nationality	Usually	Often not; yes if you apply because you lived here since age 4

Fees: IND fees 2026. You become Dutch only after the ceremony in both routes.

Option is open to, among others:

adults born in the Kingdom who have always lived here with a valid permit;
adults who have lived in the Kingdom since their 4th birthday with a valid permit;
people with 15 consecutive years here who have been married to or registered with a Dutch citizen for 3 years, or who are 65 or older;
former Dutch citizens living here for at least 1 year on a permanent or non-temporary permit;
people born to a Dutch mother before 1 January 1985 whose father was not Dutch.

Born abroad to a Dutch parent? You may already be Dutch: see our guide to Dutch citizenship by descent.

Requirements

Dutch citizenship requirements for naturalisation

Five years of legal residence is the core, but the IND also checks your current permit, your integration, your record and your willingness to give up your nationality (IND).

18 or older, with valid documents proving your identity and nationality.
5 consecutive years in the Kingdom with a valid residence permit, every extension applied for on time.
The right permit from application to ceremony: permanent residence, EU long-term residence, or a temporary permit with a non-temporary purpose. The orientation year and work without free access to the labour market are temporary (IND); our permanent residence guide explains the alternative.
No danger to public order. A prison sentence, community service of 36 hours or more, or fines of €900 or more in the 5 years before you apply stand in the way (IND).
Shorter terms. 3 years of living together in the Kingdom with the same Dutch partner, or 2 continuous years if you have lived here for 10 years in total (IND exceptions).

Integration

The civic integration exam

Naturalisation requires the civic integration diploma: pass the civic integration exam, also called the naturalisation test, at language level A2 (IND).

Register with DUO at inburgeren.nl. The exam covers speaking and writing Dutch, knowledge of Dutch society (KNM), the labour market module and the participation statement.
Exempt if, for example, you have a Dutch diploma above primary level from a programme taught in Dutch, a state exam Dutch as a second language (NT2), or you lived here for at least 8 years between ages 5 and 16.
Dispensation on medical grounds, with advice from Argonaut no more than 6 months old, or if you can show you did your best and still cannot pass.
Option applicants do not take the exam.

Dual nationality

Dual nationality: when you can keep your passport

Adults who naturalise must usually give up their other nationality, and you cannot apply for dual nationality as such (IND).

You keep it if on the day the Royal Decree is signed you are married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen, if you have an asylum permit, or if you were born in the Kingdom and live here now (IND).
Countries that do not allow it: if your country’s law makes renouncing impossible, the IND does not ask you to.
Serious consequences can justify an exemption, such as paying a large sum, losing an inheritance, or military service first. You ask for it when you apply.
After the ceremony the IND writes to you, and you have 3 months to send proof that you asked to give up your nationality. If you do not renounce, the IND can revoke your Dutch nationality.
Children under 18 who naturalise with a parent do not have to renounce.

Timeline

Cost and timeline

You apply and pay at your town hall, the IND decides within 12 months, and you become Dutch at a ceremony within a year of approval.

The fee in 2026 is €1,139, €1,454 with a partner, and €168 for a child naturalising with a parent. You pay straight away.
The decision. The municipality sends the file to the IND; the acknowledgement letter states the decision period of 12 months. If the IND approves, the King signs the Royal Decree.
The ceremony. Attend within 1 year of approval and make the declaration of solidarity, or you will not become Dutch and must apply again (Netherlands Worldwide).
Your passport. After the ceremony you can apply for a Dutch passport or identity card.
Applying from abroad is possible if you have been married to or registered with a Dutch citizen and living together for 3 years, or were Dutch before (Netherlands Worldwide).

2026 update

What’s changing: proposals, not law

On 14 September 2026 the rules above still apply: 5 years and language level A2. Two plans to change them are on record, and neither is law.

10 years. On 26 September 2025 the cabinet sent a bill extending the naturalisation term from 5 to 10 years out for consultation (Rijksoverheid.nl). In an answer received by the House on 20 February 2026, the minister said the bill was being prepared and was aimed at the House in the third quarter of 2026 (Tweede Kamer).
6 years with B1. The coalition agreement of 30 January 2026 says the permanent residence permit disappears under the EU migration pact, so naturalisation should become possible on a temporary permit. Someone who has received a temporary permit twice and meets a B1 language requirement could naturalise after 6 years, with a hardship clause (Coalition agreement 2026-2030).
Dual nationality. The same agreement keeps renouncing the other nationality as the starting point for newcomers who naturalise.
Before you apply, check ind.nl: a longer term or a higher language level needs a change to the Netherlands Nationality Act.

Refusals

If your application is refused

A refusal can be challenged: for naturalisation you apply for review with the IND, and for option the municipality’s letter explains how to appeal.

Check the basics first: an application fails on a gap in legal residence, a permit with a temporary purpose, a missing exam or exemption, or a conviction within the 5-year period.
Information withheld can lead to your Dutch nationality being withdrawn later, if the IND would not have granted it had it known.
The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

Our guide to objecting to an IND decision covers the deadlines, and our IND processing times guide helps if the decision is late.

Naturalisation refused? Talk to a lawyer

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Keep reading

Related guides

More guides for long-term residents of the Netherlands.

Citizenship

Dutch citizenship by descent

Born abroad to a Dutch parent, and the rules on losing Dutch nationality.

Permits

Permanent residence

The alternative that lets you keep your passport, compared.

Permits

Types of residence permit

Which permits count towards naturalisation.

Family

Partner visa

Coming to live with your partner, and the 3-year route to citizenship later.

Entry

MVV visa

The entry sticker for family members who join you from abroad.

Visas

All Netherlands visas

Every route to living here, with the 2026 fees.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the Dutch citizenship requirements in 2026?

For naturalisation you must be 18 or older, have lived in the Kingdom for 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit, hold a permanent permit or one with a non-temporary purpose, pass the civic integration exam at A2, not be a danger to public order, usually renounce your nationality and make the declaration of solidarity at the ceremony.

Can I become Dutch sooner if I am married to a Dutch citizen?

Yes. After 3 consecutive years of living together in the Kingdom with the same Dutch spouse, registered partner or unmarried partner, you can apply for naturalisation. If you live abroad, 3 years of living together as a married couple or registered partners lets you apply at the embassy, as long as you stay together during the procedure.

Can I keep my current nationality when I become Dutch?

Usually not after naturalisation, but there are exceptions: you are married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen, you have an asylum permit, or you were born in the Kingdom and live here now. You can also ask to keep it if giving it up would cost you a large sum, an inheritance or military service.

How long does Dutch naturalisation take?

The IND has a decision period of 12 months from the application you make at your municipality. After approval the King signs the decision, and you must attend a naturalisation ceremony within 1 year. Only after the ceremony are you Dutch and able to apply for a Dutch passport.

How much does Dutch citizenship cost in 2026?

Naturalisation costs €1,139 for one person and €1,454 together with a partner, plus €168 for a child who naturalises with a parent. The option procedure costs €241, or €412 with a partner. The civic integration exam and the passport are paid separately, and the fee is not refunded after a refusal.

Can I apply for Dutch citizenship on a temporary residence permit?

Only if its purpose is non-temporary, such as paid employment with free access to the labour market, self-employment or living with a Dutch partner. Permits for the orientation year, for work without free access to the labour market or for temporary humanitarian reasons do not qualify; you first need a different permit or permanent residence.

Which criminal records stop naturalisation?

In the 5 years before you apply, a prison sentence, community service of 36 hours or more, a fine or penalty order of €900 or more, or a driving ban of 2 months or more makes you a danger to public order. An ongoing criminal case does too. After the sentence ends, a 5-year period without new convictions applies.

Is the Dutch naturalisation period going up to 10 years?

Not yet. In September 2025 the cabinet proposed 10 years, and in February 2026 the minister said the bill was still being prepared, aiming for the House in the third quarter of 2026. The coalition agreement of January 2026 describes 6 years with a B1 language test instead. Until a law passes, the IND applies 5 years and A2.

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Official sources, checked 14 September 2026

Final notes and legal disclaimer

This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
No rights can be derived from this article.
For decisions about a naturalisation or option application, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.

FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.

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