Dutch Citizenship and Permanent Residence: Rules and the Proposed 10 Year Change

Last updated: 24 September 2026

After a few years in the Netherlands, many expats start asking the same question: how do I stay here for good? There are two main routes: a permanent residence permit, or becoming a Dutch citizen through naturalisation. Both usually take five years of legal residence, and both need Dutch at A2 level. But they are very different when it comes to your passport, your voting rights and your other nationality.

Naturalisation is also one of the hottest immigration topics in the Netherlands right now, because the government wants to double the waiting time from five to ten years. This guide explains the current rules, the proposed changes, and what it all means for South Africans who want to keep their South African passport.

Short answer: Under the current rules, you can apply for permanent residence or Dutch citizenship after five consecutive years of legal residence, if you have passed the civic integration exam at level A2 or are exempt. Naturalisation costs €1,139 in 2026 and usually means giving up your other nationality, unless you are married to a Dutch citizen or another exemption applies. The government plans to extend the naturalisation period to ten years, but as of September 2026 that is still a proposal, not law.

Jump to: Your options | Permanent residence | Naturalisation | Dual nationality | Proposed changes | For South Africans | FAQ

Your options at a glance

Permanent residence

A permanent residence permit lets you live and work in the Netherlands without renewing your permit or depending on an employer. The permit itself does not expire, although the card is renewed every five years. According to the IND, the main conditions are:

• You have held a valid Dutch residence permit for at least five consecutive years, and lived here as your main residence.
• Your permit is for a non temporary purpose, such as work as a highly skilled migrant or living with your partner. Student permits, for example, are temporary.
• You have passed the civic integration exam at A2 level, or you are exempt.
• You have sufficient, sustainable income.
• You are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) at your municipality.

When you apply, the IND also checks whether you qualify for the EU long-term resident status, which makes it easier to move to another EU country later. If you came as a highly skilled migrant, a permanent permit means you are no longer tied to a recognised sponsor.

Dutch citizenship through naturalisation

Naturalisation makes you a Dutch citizen with a Dutch passport, which also gives you the right to live and work anywhere in the EU. The current conditions are:

• You are 18 or older.
• You have lived in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for at least five consecutive years. If you are married to or living with a Dutch partner, the period can be shorter, usually after three years of living together.
• You have passed the civic integration exam at A2 level, or you are exempt, for example because you have a Dutch language degree.
• You are willing to give up your current nationality, unless an exemption applies.
• You are not considered a risk to public order or national security.

The process

1. Make an appointment at your municipality, which submits the application to the IND.
2. Pay the fee: €1,139 for one person or €1,454 for a couple applying together in 2026.
3. The IND decides within one year.
4. After a positive decision and the Royal Decree, you attend a naturalisation ceremony and make the Declaration of Solidarity. Only then are you officially Dutch.
5. You apply for your Dutch passport or ID card.

Can you keep your other nationality?

The Netherlands generally does not allow dual nationality for people who naturalise. You usually have to renounce your other nationality after becoming Dutch. The IND lists several exemptions, including:

• You are married to or in a registered partnership with a Dutch citizen when the Royal Decree is signed.
• You were born in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and still live here.
• You have an asylum residence permit.
• Giving up your nationality would cause serious financial loss or hardship, for example because of large costs or loss of inheritance rights. You have to prove this.

Dutch politics has discussed allowing dual nationality more widely for years, but as of 2026 the rules have not changed.

The proposed change: 10 years instead of 5

In September 2025, the Dutch government announced plans to extend the standard naturalisation period from five to ten years, and to raise the language requirement. A draft bill was put out for public consultation until early December 2025. In a letter to parliament in February 2026, the government said it was aiming to submit the bill to parliament in the third quarter of 2026.

What this means right now:

• It is not law yet. The bill still has to go through the Council of State, the Tweede Kamer and the Eerste Kamer, which usually takes months or longer.
• The current rules apply until a new law takes effect. According to the consultation proposal, applications submitted before the change would be handled under the existing rules.
• If you are close to five years, make sure your civic integration exam and documents are ready so you can apply as soon as you qualify.
• The language level may go up. Aiming for B1 now protects you if the requirement changes. See our guide on how to learn Dutch.

This is a political topic, and plans can change, especially with shifting coalitions. We will update this page as the bill progresses.

What it means for South Africans

For a long time, South Africans faced a double problem: the Netherlands wanted you to give up your South African citizenship, and South Africa automatically took it away if you voluntarily became a citizen of another country without first getting permission to keep it.

That second part changed on 6 May 2025. South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that the automatic loss of citizenship in section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act was unconstitutional. The ruling applies back to 1995, so South Africans who lost their citizenship this way are considered never to have lost it. You no longer need to apply to Home Affairs to keep your South African citizenship before becoming Dutch.

However, the Dutch side has not changed. Unless you qualify for an exemption, such as being married to a Dutch citizen, the Netherlands still expects you to formally renounce your South African citizenship after you naturalise. For many South Africans, permanent residence is therefore the more attractive option, especially if you want to keep your South African passport. Get proper legal advice before you decide, because the choice affects travel, inheritance, pensions and property back home.

Frequently asked questions

How long do you have to live in the Netherlands to get citizenship?

Currently five consecutive years with a valid residence permit, or usually three years if you live with a Dutch partner. The government wants to extend the standard period to ten years, but as of September 2026 this is still a proposal.

Can I have dual citizenship in the Netherlands?

Usually not if you naturalise, but there are exemptions, such as being married to a Dutch citizen or being born in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Do South Africans lose their citizenship when they become Dutch?

Not automatically anymore. Since the Constitutional Court ruling of May 2025, South Africans do not automatically lose South African citizenship when they take another nationality. But the Netherlands may still require you to renounce it, unless you are exempt.

How much does Dutch naturalisation cost?

In 2026, the IND fee is €1,139 for one person and €1,454 for a couple applying together.

What is the difference between permanent residence and citizenship?

Permanent residence lets you live and work in the Netherlands indefinitely while keeping your own nationality. Citizenship gives you a Dutch passport, voting rights and free movement in the EU, but usually means giving up your other nationality.

Just starting out? See our complete guide to moving from South Africa to the Netherlands.

We are not immigration lawyers. Rules change, and personal circumstances matter a lot here. Check the IND website and speak to an immigration lawyer before you apply or renounce any nationality.

Sources: IND: naturalisation, IND: permanent residence permit, IND: renouncing your nationality, Rijksoverheid: plan to extend naturalisation period, Tweede Kamer: government answers, February 2026, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr: South African citizenship ruling.