Dutch citizenship requirements: the full list for 2026

Last checked: 29 October 2026

To become Dutch by naturalisation, you must be 18 or older, have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 years in a row with a valid residence permit, and pass the civic integration exam at level A2. You usually have to give up your current nationality, have no serious criminal record, and make a declaration of solidarity at a ceremony.

That is the short version. Below you find each requirement, the exceptions, the costs, the steps, and the other ways to become Dutch. All facts link to the IND or another official source. Rules change, so always check the official page before you apply.

The requirements at a glance

"The Kingdom" means the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands. Time in any of these counts.

Requirement 1: age

You must be 18 or older on the day you apply. Children can become Dutch with a parent who naturalises (this is called co-naturalisation). Children of 16 or 17 need at least 3 years of residence of their own (IND).

Requirement 2: 5 years of residence

You must have lived in the Kingdom for at least 5 years without a break, with a valid residence permit the whole time. You must also have extended your permit on time every time. A gap of even a few days between two permits can reset the count.

Not every permit counts. According to the IND, you need one of these when you apply:

• a permanent residence permit (asylum or regular)
• a long-term EU resident permit
• a temporary permit with a non-temporary purpose, such as stay with a partner
• a residence document as a family member of an EU citizen
• EU, EEA or Swiss nationality
• a residence document under Article 50 TEU (for British nationals covered by the Brexit agreement)

Your permit must still be valid on the day of the naturalisation ceremony. A student permit is a temporary purpose, so years on a student permit alone do not meet this rule. Check your own case with the IND if you are not sure.

Exceptions to the 5-year rule

Some people can apply sooner. The IND lists these exceptions:

• Married to or registered partner of a Dutch citizen: 3 years of living together with the same Dutch partner. This can also count if you lived together abroad.
• Unmarried partner of a Dutch citizen: 3 years living together in the Kingdom, with a valid permit.
• 10 years in total: if you lived in the Kingdom for 10 years with valid residence, you only need the last 2 years without a break.
• Stateless people registered as stateless in the BRP: 3 years.
• Former Dutch citizens, people adopted as adults by a Dutch citizen, and Moluccans have their own rules.

There is no age exception for naturalisation. People of 65 or older with 15 years of residence can use the option route instead (see below).

Requirement 3: the civic integration exam

You must show that you speak Dutch at least at level A2 and know how Dutch society works. You do this with a civic integration diploma from DUO (IND: civic integration for naturalisation).

This applies to everyone who naturalises, also to people who never had to integrate, like EU citizens. You need the digital civic integration diploma unless you have an exemption.

What the exam includes

The IND lists these parts:

You book KNM, ONA and the A2 exams in Mijn Inburgering on inburgeren.nl. Booking can take more than 6 weeks, so do it early. You can change or cancel up to 1 week before and get your money back.

If you take the exam from abroad, you do KNM and the four language skills at A2, but not ONA.

Old law or new law

There are two integration laws. Which one applies to you depends on when you became obliged to integrate:

• Wet inburgering 2013: obliged before 1 January 2022. Language exams at A2. You arrange your own course and exams.
• Wet inburgering 2021: obliged on or after 1 January 2022. Your municipality makes a plan with you (the PIP) and chooses a learning route. On the B1 route, the language exams are at B1 (staatsexamensnt2.nl).

For naturalisation itself, the level is still A2. If you already passed exams at a higher level, that counts too. Our inburgering exam guide explains both laws in more detail.

The KNM part

KNM is the part many people underestimate. You answer multiple-choice questions about everyday life: healthcare, housing, work, money, education, history, politics and Dutch norms. The questions are about real situations, like what to do when your neighbour makes noise or who to call when you get sick at night.

You can study it by topic:

• Netherlands and the Dutch
• Work and income
• Health and healthcare
• Housing
• Government, services and money
• Politics and the state
• Dutch history
• Norms and values

All ten chapters are on the KNM overview page. When you know the topics, test yourself with the free KNM practice exam. These are practice questions written by More Dutch, not real DUO exam questions. More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. For tips on the exam itself, read how to pass the KNM exam and how many questions the KNM exam has.

Exemptions from the integration requirement

You do not need the civic integration diploma if you have one of these, according to the IND:

• a Dutch diploma above primary school level, from a course taught in Dutch
• a Staatsexamen NT2 diploma, Programme I (B1) or Programme II (B2)
• a civic integration diploma under the 2013 or 2021 law at A2 or higher
• at least 8 years of school in the Netherlands between the ages of 5 and 16

There are other exemptions, and partial exemptions for people with a medical reason. A medical exemption needs a recent advice from the medical adviser (Argonaut). Check the full list on the IND page before you book exams you might not need.

For more on the language side, see the Dutch language test for citizenship and the Dutch citizenship test.

Requirement 4: no danger to public order

The IND checks your criminal record for the past years. A prison sentence, community service or a large fine can lead to a refusal. Smaller fines can also count if they add up above a limit. The rules are detailed, so read the IND public order policy if you have any record in the Netherlands or abroad.

Be honest on your application. Leaving out a conviction is a reason for refusal on its own.

Requirement 5: giving up your current nationality

The Netherlands does not normally allow dual nationality for people who naturalise. You promise to give up your old nationality after you become Dutch (IND: renouncing your nationality).

You do not have to give it up if, for example:

• you are married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen on the day the Royal Decree is signed (an unmarried partner does not get this exception)
• you have an asylum residence permit
• you have a long-term EU permit that notes international protection
• you were born in the Kingdom and still live there
• your nationality is not recognised by the Netherlands (for example Taiwan or the Palestinian Territories)
• your country does not allow you to give up your nationality
• giving it up would cause you serious financial loss or other serious consequences (decided case by case)

If you are an EU citizen, check the rules of your own country too. Some countries take your nationality away automatically when you become Dutch.

Requirement 6: the declaration of solidarity

After a positive decision, the King signs a Royal Decree. You then go to a naturalisation ceremony at your municipality. There you make the declaration of solidarity. You declare that you respect the Dutch constitutional order and that you will fulfil your duties as a Dutch citizen.

You must attend a ceremony within 1 year of the positive decision. If you do not, you do not become Dutch (IND).

Netherlands citizenship costs

These are the fees in the IND fee table we checked in October 2026 (IND: fees):

You pay at the municipality when you apply. The fee is not returned if your application is refused. Fees change every year on 1 January, so check the table before you apply.

On top of this come your exam costs and any documents you need, like a legalised birth certificate.

How the application works, step by step

1. Check you meet the requirements. Look at your residence history and permit type first.
2. Pass the civic integration exam or collect proof of your exemption.
3. Make an appointment at your municipality. You apply there, not directly at the IND.
4. Bring your documents. Passport, residence permit, birth certificate (often legalised and translated), your integration diploma or exemption, and anything the municipality asks for.
5. Pay the fee at the municipality.
6. Wait for the decision. The IND decides within 12 months of the fee payment. This can be extended.
7. Royal Decree. If the answer is yes, the King signs the decree.
8. Ceremony. Your municipality invites you. You make the declaration of solidarity and become Dutch on that day.
9. Renounce your old nationality if this applies to you.

After the ceremony you can apply for a Dutch passport and ID card at your municipality.

Dutch nationality requirements by option

Option is a faster and cheaper way for some groups. You apply at your municipality, it decides within 13 weeks (once extendable by 13 weeks), and there is no civic integration requirement (IND: option).

You may be able to use option if you:

• were born in the Kingdom and have lived there since birth
• have lived in the Kingdom since you were 4 years old
• have lived in the Kingdom for 15 years and have been married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen for at least 3 years
• are 65 or older and have lived in the Kingdom for 15 years
• were born before 1 January 1985 to a Dutch mother (and a non-Dutch father)
• are a former Dutch citizen (under conditions)

Each group has extra conditions about permits and residence. You still make the declaration of solidarity at a ceremony. Read the IND page for your group.

Citizenship by descent

Most people who are Dutch from birth got it through a parent. If your father or mother was Dutch when you were born, you are usually Dutch too, also if you were born abroad. The rules depend on your year of birth and on whether your parents were married, especially for people born before 1985.

Dutch citizens born abroad who also have another nationality can lose Dutch nationality if they live outside the EU for a long time and do not renew their passport. If this could apply to you or your parents, check the IND pages on Dutch citizenship or contact the IND. This article focuses on naturalisation.

Planned changes to watch

In September 2025, the Dutch cabinet announced a plan to extend the naturalisation term from 5 to 10 years (Rijksoverheid). This is a proposal: in February 2026 the bill was still being prepared, with submission to parliament planned for the third quarter of 2026. It only applies after a law is passed and comes into force. The language level for naturalisation stays A2. Until then, the rules above apply. Check the IND site for news before you apply, and if you are close to 5 years now, do not wait too long.

How to get ready

Most people spend the most time on the exams. A simple plan:

1. Find out which law applies to you and which exams you still need in Mijn Inburgering.
2. Learn the KNM topics one chapter at a time on the KNM pages and test yourself with the KNM practice exam.
3. Build basic Dutch with the flashcards and the 594 most common words.
4. Book your exams early, because slots can take more than 6 weeks.

KNM quick drills are free. If you want the full 450-question practice bank and timed mock exams, More Dutch Plus is a one-time €14.99. You can also sign up for one KNM question a week by email.

More guides

• Dutch citizenship test questions
• The Dutch citizenship test
• Dutch citizenship through marriage
• Dutch language test for citizenship
• How long does it take to get Dutch citizenship?
• Is it easy to get Dutch citizenship? An honest answer

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to live in the Netherlands to become Dutch?

Usually 5 years in a row with a valid residence permit. If you are married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen, it can be 3 years of living together. A plan to raise the standard term to 10 years is not law yet.

Can I keep my own nationality?

Usually not. You must renounce it, unless an exemption applies. The most common exemptions are being married to a Dutch citizen, having an asylum permit, or coming from a country that does not let you renounce.

What level of Dutch do I need for citizenship?

A2 for naturalisation. You show this with the civic integration diploma, or with an exemption such as a Staatsexamen NT2 diploma.

Do EU citizens need to take the integration exam to naturalise?

Yes, unless they have an exemption. EU citizens do not have to integrate to live in the Netherlands, but naturalisation still requires the A2 civic integration diploma.

How long does the IND take to decide?

Up to 12 months after you pay the fee. The IND can extend this period. An option application is decided by the municipality within 13 weeks.

How much does Dutch citizenship cost?

€1,139 for one adult by naturalisation, or €241 by option, according to the IND fee table checked in October 2026. Exam costs and document costs come on top.

What happens if I miss the ceremony?

You must attend a ceremony within 1 year of the positive decision. If you do not, you do not become Dutch and you have to apply again.