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
Here is some information from your municipality.
Becoming a Dutch national
Do you want to become a Dutch national? There are 2 ways of applying for Dutch nationality. Either by way of naturalisation or through option.
You must meet several conditions if you want to become a Dutch national. You must for instance have a valid residence permit. And you must have been living in the Netherlands for some time. To find out more, consult information about conditions on the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Department / Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND).
You apply for Dutch nationality at the municipality. To do so, call 14015 (0031 15 2602222 for foreign calls).
The municipality will set an appointment with you for an initial interview. During this interview, you will be informed about how to become a Dutch national. The municipality will also verify if you meet the conditions. At your initial interview, ensure you bring:
- Valid passport or European identity card
- Valid residence document
- Birth certificate if you were born abroad and this information is not registered with the municipality (also consult: Buitenlandse documenten registreren) / Registering Foreign Documents)
- School certificates, integration certificate or exemption from this obligation (not for requests for option)
Submitting an application
Do you meet all conditions? In that case the municipality will set a second appointment with you so that you can submit your application. At this appointment, ensure you bring:
- Valid passport or European identity card
- Valid residence document
- All documents prescribed by the municipal official during your initial interview
There are charges due on applications for Dutch nationality. On the website of the IND you find the amounts of these charges. You moreover pay charges for an excerpt from the Personal Records Database (BRP).
The application procedure for Dutch nationality takes 1 year at the most. This period is 3 months at the most in case of a request for option. You will be informed by letter at regular intervals about the progress of your application.
Ceremony
Have you been given Dutch nationality? In that case the mayor will invite you to a town hall ceremony. Here you will sign a Statement of allegiance ('Verklaring van verbondenheid'). You will subsequently be a Dutch national officially. You will receive your invitation for the ceremony roughly 8 weeks after the positive decision has been issued by the IND.
For more information, go to delft.nl. Any questions? Call 14015 (0031 15 260 2222 for foreign calls).
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Delft
Visiting address
Stationsplein 1
2611BV Delft
| Monday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 8:30 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |