Dutch citizenship through marriage: the 3-year rule explained

Last checked: 29 October 2026

Marrying a Dutch citizen does not make you Dutch automatically. You still apply for naturalisation, but after 3 years of living together with your Dutch spouse or registered partner instead of 5. You can even apply from abroad. You still need the A2 integration diploma, but you usually do not have to give up your own nationality.

Below are the exact conditions, the difference between living in the Netherlands and abroad, and the points couples often miss.

The rules at a glance

Sources: IND exceptions to the 5-year term, IND: becoming Dutch abroad, IND: renouncing your nationality.

If you live in the Netherlands

You can apply after 3 years if, on the day you apply, you have lived together in the Kingdom for 3 years in a row with the same Dutch partner, with a valid residence permit the whole time (IND). A few details matter:

• Married, registered or not. Married couples and registered partners qualify. Unmarried couples qualify too, as long as they have lived together in the Kingdom for 3 years.
• Time before the wedding counts. If you lived together in the Kingdom right before you married, that period counts towards the 3 years.
• Time abroad can count. If you lived together outside the Kingdom as a married or registered couple, that period can also count.
• Your partner must be Dutch when you apply. They do not need to have been Dutch for the whole 3 years.
• You must stay together. You remain partners and keep living together during the whole procedure. If your Dutch partner dies during the procedure, you can still become Dutch.

Your permit for stay with a partner usually counts, because it has a non-temporary purpose. Keep it valid until the ceremony.

If you live abroad

You can also naturalise without ever living in the Netherlands. The conditions are stricter (IND: becoming Dutch abroad):

• You have been married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen for 3 years, and you have lived together for 3 years.
• You do not live in the country whose nationality you have. An American living in the United States with a Dutch spouse cannot apply there. The same person living in Spain can.
• You meet the requirements for a Dutch residence permit with a non-temporary purpose, even though you do not need the permit itself.
• You apply at the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you live.

You need documents that show you lived together, such as a population register extract. If you cannot get one, a rental contract or bank statements with both names and the same address can work.

Unmarried couples abroad do not qualify under this rule. Only marriage or registered partnership counts outside the Kingdom.

The integration exam still applies

Marriage does not exempt you from the civic integration requirement. You need the civic integration diploma at A2, or an exemption, like everyone who naturalises (IND). Typical exemptions are a Dutch diploma from a course taught in Dutch, an Nt2 state exam diploma, or a Belgian or Surinamese diploma from Dutch-language education.

The civic integration exam abroad that some partners take for their first visa (the MVV) is a different, basic exam. It does not replace the A2 diploma. For what the A2 exams look like, read the inburgering exam at A2 and the Dutch citizenship test.

You can usually keep your nationality

This is the biggest advantage of marriage. Normally adults who naturalise must renounce their other nationality. You do not have to if you are married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen on the date the Royal Decree is signed (IND).

Two catches:

• If you only marry or register after that date, the exception does not apply. You would have to renounce.
• Unmarried partners do not get this exception. They can naturalise after 3 years, but they must give up their nationality unless another exception applies.

Also check your own country's law. Some countries take away their nationality automatically when you become Dutch, whatever the Dutch rules say.

What it costs

Fees from the IND fee table, checked October 2026. Exam fees and legalised documents come on top.

The long-marriage option route

If you have lived in the Kingdom for 15 years in a row and have been married to or the registered partner of a Dutch citizen for at least 3 years, you can use the option procedure instead (IND: option). There is no integration exam, the fee is €241, and the municipality decides within 13 weeks.

Common mistakes

• Assuming marriage is enough. It is not. You apply, pass the exam and attend a ceremony like everyone else.
• Applying while separated. You must live together during the whole procedure.
• Marrying after the decree. If keeping your passport matters, marry or register before the Royal Decree is signed.
• Forgetting proof abroad. Without documents showing you lived together, the 3 years abroad are hard to prove.

For the full list of requirements, see Dutch citizenship requirements. For timelines, see how long it takes to get Dutch citizenship.

Start with the exam

The integration exam is usually the longest step for partners. KNM questions are about daily life, like housing, healthcare and work, so you can learn a lot from your partner too. Study the topics in our KNM chapter guides and test yourself with the free KNM practice exam.

Frequently asked questions

Do I become Dutch automatically when I marry a Dutch citizen?

No. Marriage does not change your nationality. You have to apply for naturalisation, usually after 3 years of living together.

Can I apply for Dutch citizenship after 3 years of marriage?

Yes, if you have also lived together for 3 years. In the Netherlands you also need a valid residence permit for that whole time.

Can I keep my nationality if I marry a Dutch citizen?

Usually yes. You do not have to renounce if you are married or registered on the date the Royal Decree is signed.

Does marriage exempt me from the integration exam?

No. You need the A2 civic integration diploma or another exemption, such as a Dutch diploma or an Nt2 diploma.

Can unmarried partners use the 3-year rule?

Yes, if you lived together in the Kingdom for 3 years with a valid permit. But you must give up your nationality, and you cannot use this rule from abroad.

Where do I apply if I live abroad?

At the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of residence. You cannot apply while living in the country whose nationality you have.