Applying for Dutch citizenship by naturalisation in the Netherlands

Do you want to apply for the Netherlands (Dutch) nationality? One of the ways is to apply for naturalisatie (naturalisation). You can hand in your application via your municipality.

Usually one of the conditions is that you have been legally living in the Netherlands for at least 5 years. Read all conditions of naturalisation on the website of the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst – IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service).

In some cases there are exemptions to the condition of 5 years of legal residence.

The municipaity will send the application to the IND. The decision will be made by the IND.

The decision-making process takes a maximum of 12 months. You can track the progress of your application on the Mijn IND online portal.

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:

Municipality of Culemborg

Here is some information from your municipality.

Becoming Dutch

As a non-Dutch citizen you can become a Dutch citizen in various ways. The easiest way is by option. Can't you become a Dutch citizen by option? Then you can submit an application for naturalization as a Dutch citizen.

First check with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) whether you meet the conditions to become a Dutch citizen via option or to become a Dutch citizen via naturalisation. Do you think you can become a Dutch citizen? Then make an appointment with the municipality.

Please note: you can only apply for Dutch citizenship by naturalisation if you live in the Netherlands and are registered with a municipality.

Needed for the application:

Your residence permit
Your valid passport
Your birth certificate if you were born abroad and have never shown it
The integration diploma (or a comparable diploma)
Your debit card

The municipality must be able to see that foreign documents are genuine. This can be done by legalizing the documents. Ask the municipality in advance whether this is necessary.

Make an appointment with the municipality via:

Online via https://www.culemborg.nl/afspraak-maken#select/
Phone: 0345 477 700
Email: info@culemborg.nl

Naturalisation per person: € 945,-

Naturalisation of partners: € 1 206,-

Naturalisation of a child at the same time: € 139,-

Naturalisation for persons who have an asylum residence permit of indefinite duration: € 703,-

Naturalisation for partners who have an asylum residence permit for an indefinite period: € 965,-

You pay a fee for this service. For more information, contact the municipality of Culemborg.

The municipality assesses whether you meet all conditions for naturalisation and provides the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst – IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) with advice. The municipality sends your file to the IND.
The IND checks whether you meet all conditions and takes a decision. The IND must take a decision within 12 months. If you have any questions about the application in the meantime, you can contact the IND.
You officially become a Dutch citizen only after the naturalisation ceremony.
You can apply for a Dutch travel document 1 week after the naturalisation ceremony.

During the naturalization procedure, it takes a maximum of 1 year before you know whether you will become a Dutch citizen. The IND can extend this period a maximum of 2 times by six months.

In the procedure for option, it takes a maximum of 13 weeks before you know whether you will become a Dutch citizen.

More information