Becoming a Dutch citizen abroad through the option procedure

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• At the time of your birth your mother had Dutch nationality.
• At the time of your birth your father did not have Dutch nationality.
• You have not previously become a Dutch citizen via the option procedure.
• You are not a threat to the public order or national security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• You have the required documents relating to you, your mother and your father. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. You must have any foreign documents legalised first.

Required documents relating to you

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • your place of birth
   • both of your parents’ full names.
2. A passport for each nationality you currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country you are applying from.
4. The option procedure application form for adults (in Dutch).
5. Declaration of good conduct. This declaration is issued by the local authorities.

Required documents relating to your mother

1. Proof of your mother’s Dutch nationality at the time of your birth.
   For instance a certificate from the Central Population Registers Office (Bureau Vestigingsregister) in The Hague. Your mother’s nationality and marital status at the time she left the Netherlands must appear on the certificate.
2. A copy of your mother’s Dutch passport and/or, if possible, a copy of her passport that was valid at the time of your birth.
3. Proof of legal residence if your mother does not reside in the country of her nationality.
4. An official copy of your parents’ marriage certificate, giving their full names and date of marriage.
5. If your mother’s nationality has changed, her naturalisation certificate(s).
6. If your mother is divorced, an official copy of the divorce certificate.
7. If your mother is deceased, her death certificate.

Required documents relating to your father

1. A complete official copy of your father’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • his place of birth
   • the complete names of both his parents
2. A photocopy of his passport.
3. Proof of legal residence if your father does not reside in the country of his nationality.
4. If possible, a photocopy of your father’s passport issued around the time of your birth.
5. If your father’s nationality has changed, his naturalisation certificate(s).

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• Your parents were married to each other at the time of your birth
  or
  your father acknowledged parentage before your birth
  or
  your mother was unmarried at the time of your birth.
• Your mother or father became a Dutch citizen through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens.
  or
  your mother or father died before they could apply for Dutch citizenship through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens.
  In this case, contact the embassy or consulate for more information.
• You have all the required documents relating to you and your parents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. You must have any foreign documents legalised first.

Required documents relating to you

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • your place of birth
   • both of your parents’ full names.
2. A passport for each nationality you currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country you are applying from.
4. If you are married, an official copy of your marriage certificate.
5. The option procedure application form for adults (in Dutch).
6. Declaration of good conduct. This declaration is issued by the local authorities.

Required documents relating to your Dutch parent

1. Proof of acquisition of Dutch nationality through the option procedure, form 1:33a.
2. A photocopy of their passport for each nationality they currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where they live.
4. If the parent is married, an official copy of their marriage certificate.
5. If the parent is divorced, their divorce certificate.
6. If the parent is deceased, their death certificate.

Required documents relating to your other parent

1. A complete official copy of their birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • their place of birth
   • both of their parents’ full names.
2. A photocopy of their passport for the nationality they currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence if your parent does not reside in the country of their nationality.
4. If possible, a photocopy of their passport issued around the time of your birth.
5. If your parent’s nationality has changed, their naturalisation certificate(s).

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• Your Dutch father acknowledged parentage of you on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, and this occurred before you reached the age of 7
  or
  your Dutch father acknowledged parentage of you, and proved his parentage with a DNA test, on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, and this occurred after you reached the age of 7
  or
  your parents married on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, and this was after your birth. You were legitimated by the marriage.
• You have the required documents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. You must have any foreign documents legalised first.

Required documents relating to you

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) stating your place of birth and both of your parents’ full names. If the Dutch father is not explicitly stated as declarant on the birth certificate, you will need the acknowledgement certificate.
2. A passport for each nationality your currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country you are applying from.
4. The option procedure application form for adults (in Dutch).
5. Declaration of good conduct. This declaration is issued by the local authorities.

Required documents relating to your Dutch acknowledger

1. Proof of Dutch nationality at the time of recognition.
2. A photocopy of his passport for each nationality he currently holds.

Required documents relating to your mother

1. A photocopy of her valid passport
2. If possible, a photocopy of her passport issued around the time of your birth.
3. Declaration of being unmarried at the time of recognition.

Conditions for applying via the option procedure

• You have lost your Dutch nationality
• You are not a national of another EU country
• You can show that you have links with the EU
• You have the required documents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. You must have any foreign documents legalised first.

Required documents

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • your place of birth
   • the full names of both your parents.
2. A passport for each nationality you currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country you are applying from.
4. If you are married: a copy of your marriage certificate.
5. Are you 16 or above? Then you also need a declaration of good conduct. This declaration is issued by the local authorities.
6. Documents proving your links with the EU, for example
   • Documents issued by an official government body of an EU-country other than the Netherlands
   • Documents issued by companies in the EU, such as employment contracts, salary slips, proof you performed work as a self-employed person (for example, registration with a Chamber of Commerce), proof of enrolment at a school or university
   • Proof that you own or owned immoveable property (in an EU-country other than the Netherlands)
   • Proof of payment of travel tickets and boarding passes (for journeys to EU-countries)
   • Visas and immigration stamps in your passport
7. If your child or children are included in the option statement: their birth certificate(s) or other proof of their parentage.
8. The option statement form for adults (in Dutch).

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• The child’s Dutch father acknowledged parentage of the child on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, and this occurred before the child reached the age of 7
  or
  the child’s Dutch father acknowledged parentage of the child, and proved his parentage with a DNA test, on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, and this occurred after the child reached the age of 7
  or
  a court ruled on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009 that the child was under the parental responsibility of a Dutch national.
• You have the required documents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. You must have any foreign documents legalised first.

Required documents relating to the child

1. A complete official copy of the child’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued document) containing the following information:
   • the child’s place of birth
   • both of their parents’ full names.
2. A passport for each nationality the child currently holds.
3. Proof of the child’s legal residence in the country of application.
4. The option statement form for minors aged 15 and under (in Dutch), or
5. The option statement form for minors aged 16 and 17 (in Dutch).

Required documents relating to the Dutch father

1. Proof of Dutch nationality, current proof and proof at the time of recognition.
2. A photocopy of his passport for each nationality he currently holds.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where he lives.
4. If he is married, an official copy of his marriage certificate.
5. If he is divorced, his divorce certificate.
6. If he is deceased, his death certificate.

Required documents relating to the mother

1. A complete official copy of her birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • her place of birth
   • both of her parents’ full names.
2. A photocopy of her passport for the nationality she currently holds.
3. Proof of legal residence if she does not reside in the country of her nationality.
4. If possible, a photocopy of her passport issued around the time of the child’s birth.
5. If her nationality has changed, her naturalisation certificate(s).

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• The child’s mother or father became a Dutch citizen through the option procedure (section 6.1 (i) of the Netherlands Nationality Act).
• The child’s parents were married to each other at the time of the child’s birth
  or
  the father acknowledged parentage of the child before the child’s birth
  or
  the child’s mother was unmarried at the time of the child’s birth
  or
  the child’s mother or father died before they could apply to become a Dutch citizen through the option procedure.
  If this is the case, contact the embassy or consulate for more information.
• You have the required documents relating to the child and to both of their parents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. You must have any foreign documents legalised first.

Required documents relating to the child

1. A complete official copy of the child’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued document) containing the following information:
   • the child’s place of birth
   • both of their parents’ full names.
2. A passport for each nationality the child currently holds.
3. Proof of the child’s legal residence in the country of application.
4. The option statement form for minors aged 15 and under (in Dutch), or
5. The option statement form for minors aged 16 and 17 (in Dutch).
6. Is your child 16 or above? Then you also need a declaration of good conduct. This declaration is issued by the local authorities.

Required documents relating to the Dutch parent

1. Proof of acquisition of Dutch nationality through the option procedure, form 1:33a.
2. A photocopy of their passport for each nationality they currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country of application.
4. If the parent is married, an official copy of their marriage certificate.
5. If the parent is divorced, their divorce certificate.
6. If the parent is deceased, their death certificate.

Required documents relating to the other parent

1. A complete official copy of their birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate) containing the following information:
   • their place of birth
   • both of their parents’ full names.
2. A photocopy of their passport for the nationality they currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence if they do not reside in the country of their nationality.
4. If possible, a photocopy of their passport issued around the time of the child’s birth.
5. If the parent’s nationality has changed, their naturalisation certificate(s).