How long does it take to get Dutch citizenship?
Last checked: 29 October 2026
Getting Dutch citizenship usually takes at least 5 years of legal residence, plus the time for the procedure. The IND has 12 months to decide on a naturalisation request, and after a yes you become Dutch at a ceremony within 1 year. Partners of Dutch citizens can apply after 3 years. The option route is decided within 13 weeks.
So for most people, the real answer is about 5 to 6 years from the day their residence clock started. Below is each stage, how long it takes, and what can make it faster or slower.
The timeline at a glance
| Stage | How long | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residence before you can apply | 5 years in a row (3 years for partners of Dutch citizens) | IND |
| Integration exams | Weeks to months, depending on your Dutch | inburgeren.nl |
| IND decision | Up to 12 months after you pay | IND |
| Royal Decree | After the positive decision | IND |
| Ceremony | Within 1 year of the positive decision | IND |
| Option route (instead of naturalisation) | Decision within 13 weeks, can be extended once by 13 weeks | IND |
Stage 1: the years of residence
The standard rule is 5 years of uninterrupted residence in the Kingdom of the Netherlands with a valid residence permit. You must also have extended your permit on time every time. A gap between two permits can reset the count, so check your history in the BRP or ask your municipality if you are not sure.
The clock is shorter in some cases (IND exceptions):
- 3 years if you have lived together for 3 years in a row with the same Dutch partner, married, registered or unmarried. Married and registered partners may count time together abroad too. See Dutch citizenship through marriage.
- 2 years in a row if you have lived in the Kingdom for 10 years or more in total, always with valid residence.
- 3 years if you are stateless and registered as stateless in the BRP.
Not every permit counts. A temporary purpose, like study, does not meet the rule on its own. The full list of permits is in our Dutch citizenship requirements guide.
Stage 2: the integration exam
You need the civic integration diploma at A2, or an exemption. This is the stage you control most. If your Dutch is already good, you can pass the exams within a few months. If you start from zero, plan on a year or more of study.
Two things slow people down:
- Waiting for a date. It can take more than 6 weeks to get an exam date (inburgeren.nl).
- Waiting for results. KNM, Reading and Listening come within 8 weeks. Speaking A2 and Writing A2 can take up to 16 weeks for now, because DUO has a backlog (DUO news, 31 July 2026).
So start the exams well before your 5 years are up. Your diploma does not expire. More on this in do inburgering exams expire and inburgering exam results.
Stage 3: the application and the IND decision
You apply at the town hall of the municipality where you live, and you pay the fee there. The municipality sends your file to the IND. Your acknowledgement of receipt states the decision period: 12 months (IND). You can follow your application in My IND.
In practice the IND keeps to that term. Its own figures for January to April 2026 show that 100% of naturalisation decisions were made on time (IND figures, January to April 2026). Many people hear sooner than 12 months, but plan for the full year.
A full file helps. Missing or unlegalised documents, like a birth certificate that is not legalised and translated, are a common reason for delay.
Stage 4: Royal Decree and ceremony
After a positive decision, the IND asks the King to sign a Royal Decree. You are not Dutch yet at this point. You become Dutch on the day you attend the naturalisation ceremony and make the declaration of solidarity.
Your municipality invites you. You must attend within 1 year of the positive decision. If you miss it, you do not get Dutch nationality and you have to apply again (IND). After the ceremony you can apply for a Dutch passport.
Keep your residence permit valid until the ceremony. If it would expire during the procedure, extend it.
The faster route: option
Some people can use the option procedure instead. It is quicker, cheaper and has no integration exam. The municipality decides within 13 weeks, and can extend this once by 13 weeks (IND: option). You still attend a ceremony within 1 year.
Option is open to, among others, people who have lived in the Kingdom since age 4, people aged 65 or older with 15 years of residence, and people with 15 years of residence who have been married to a Dutch citizen for 3 years. Check the IND page for the exact conditions.
Example timelines
| Situation | Earliest you can apply | Rough total |
|---|---|---|
| Arrived with a partner permit, unmarried, Dutch partner | 3 years living together | About 4 to 5 years |
| Work permit with a non-temporary purpose, then permanent | 5 years | About 6 years |
| EU citizen | 5 years (no permit needed) | About 6 years |
| 66 years old, 15 years in the Netherlands | Option, any time | Under 1 year |
These are estimates. Your own case depends on your permits, your exams and how complete your file is.
Will it take 10 years in the future?
Maybe. In September 2025 the cabinet announced a plan to raise the naturalisation term from 5 to 10 years (Rijksoverheid). In February 2026 the minister said the bill was still being prepared and that the aim was to send it to parliament in the third quarter of 2026 (answers to parliamentary questions).
This is a proposal, not law. It needs to pass both chambers of parliament first. Today the 5-year rule applies. If you already meet it, there is no reason to wait.
How to shorten your own timeline
- Check your residence history now, so you know your real start date.
- Start the integration exams early. Learn the KNM topics in our KNM chapter guides and test yourself with the free KNM practice exam.
- Order and legalise your birth certificate and other documents while you study.
- Book the town hall appointment as soon as you qualify.
To keep studying in small steps, sign up for one KNM question a week.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the IND take to decide on naturalisation?
The legal decision period is 12 months after you pay. In early 2026 the IND decided all naturalisation requests within that term.
Can I get Dutch citizenship in 3 years?
Yes, if you have lived together for 3 years with the same Dutch partner, married, registered or unmarried. You still need the integration diploma or an exemption.
When exactly do I become Dutch?
On the day of the naturalisation ceremony, after the Royal Decree. Not on the day of the decision.
How long after approval is the ceremony?
Your municipality invites you. You must attend within 1 year of the positive decision. Many municipalities hold ceremonies every month or so.
Does the time on a student permit count?
Not on its own. The permit must have a non-temporary purpose, or you must be an EU citizen. Check your own case with the IND.
Is the 10-year rule already in force?
No. It is a proposal. Today you can apply after 5 years.