Dutch nationality law

Would you like to become a Dutch citizen? The most common procedure for this is the naturalisation procedure. To qualify, you must meet various strict conditions. For example, you must have lived legally in the Netherlands for the five years prior to your application, you must be integrated into Dutch society and you must not have a significant criminal record. You start the naturalisation procedure at the local council where you live, and you can contact your local council for general information. However, your local authority does not advise you in your own best interests, does not proactively seek out exceptions for you, and a conversation at the local authority desk is not confidential. Because there is a lot at stake with your naturalisation application, it may be advisable to seek advice in advance. Orion Immigration Law has extensive experience with Dutch nationality law. We know what is and is not possible and can therefore help you quickly and effectively to determine your own strategy in advance. And, of course, we are also happy to guide you through the procedure.

Would you like to become a Dutch citizen? In specific situations, you can become a Dutch citizen through a faster and less strict procedure. This is called 'option'. A major advantage over the naturalisation procedure is that you are usually not required to renounce your current nationality. You also do not need to take a civic integration exam. Orion Immigration Law is familiar with the various option categories. During a consultation about your desire to become a Dutch citizen, we always first examine whether you can achieve this goal through the option procedure.

Are you a former Dutch citizen or the spouse of a (former) Dutch citizen living in a country of which you are not a national? If so, you can probably apply for naturalisation from abroad, without first having to live in the Netherlands for five years. These procedures are rare and require a great deal of evidence from you. Good guidance in this matter is therefore certainly of added value. Orion Immigration Law has extensive experience with naturalisation procedures from abroad and can therefore effectively

The commonly used term 'latent Dutch citizen' is actually misleading, because the group of people referred to by this term are not Dutch citizens in the legal sense. Until 1 January 1985, newborn babies were only granted Dutch nationality if their father was Dutch. Mothers only passed on Dutch nationality if there was no (legal) father. Were you born before 1 January 1985 and was your mother Dutch, while your father was not? Then you probably belong to the group of "latent Dutch citizens”. You should actually be Dutch if men and women had been treated equally at the time of your birth. Unfortunately, the old nationality legislation that applied at the time was discriminatory, which meant that you did not become Dutch at birth. Do you fall into this group of 'latent Dutch nationals'? If so, you can still acquire Dutch citizenship through a special option scheme. Your children can also become Dutch after you. We invite you to make an appointment for advice. Together with you, we can review your case, advise you on what evidence is required, and assess with you whether your request has a good chance of being granted. Of course, we are also happy to help you through the option procedure.

Would you like to naturalise or have you recently naturalised and do you have minor children? The position of minors in nationality law is special. Minors cannot, like adults, independently apply for naturalisation. But they do not automatically become Dutch citizens because you, as a parent, become Dutch. Are you considering naturalisation or have you recently become a naturalised citizen, and are you wondering whether (and how) your children can also become Dutch citizens? Orion Immigration Law can advise you on this. We will discuss your situation and that of your children during an (online) consultation. Would you like further guidance with your procedure? We are of course happy to assist you with this as well.

Do you have questions about acquiring Dutch nationality by birth, recognition, judicial parental order or (international) adoption?  If you are unsure, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Nationality law is particularly complex, and the inexorable logic of the Dutch Nationality Act allows for no exceptions, so prevention is far better than cure.

Would you like to become a Dutch citizen without renouncing your current nationality? Or are you a Dutch citizen wishing to acquire a second citizenship? You are not alone. In principle, Dutch law disapproves of dual nationality. You must therefore renounce your original nationality if you want to become a Dutch citizen. However, the Dutch Nationality Act also provides for exceptions to this general rule. It is your right to make creative use of these exceptions. Your nationality is one of your most important assets, largely determines your freedom of movement, and is too valuable to expose to risk. At Orion Immigration Law, we understand this very well. With our experience and great care, we help you determine a sound strategy and protect you from unnecessary and sometimes very costly mistakes.

It may be that you or a member of your family is Dutch, while the Dutch government is not (yet) aware of this or disagrees with you on this point. If there is any doubt about your Dutch nationality, it may be advisable to seek advice before applying for a (new) Dutch passport yourself. Orion Immigration Law can provide clarity about your situation in a consultation, based on your own story. What facts determine whether or not you are Dutch? How do you prove your story? The answers we give you to these and similar questions will guide you in the further procedure. Would you like us to present your situation clearly and well-founded in the context of a passport application? We can certainly help you with that.

Do you expect that the IND may revoke your Dutch citizenship, for example because you made an incomplete statement during your naturalisation, because you did not renounce your original nationality, or after a criminal conviction? Or have you already received a notice of intent or decision from the IND? We understand that this can be very stressful. You can call on Orion Immigration Law at any time. We will work with you to determine whether and why you should expect a revocation. We will also assess whether an objection or appeal is likely to be successful. And, of course, we will work with you to determine whether you could apply for a new residence permit and subsequently regain Dutch citizenship.

Have you lost your Dutch nationality and would you like to return to the Netherlands? There is a special immigration scheme for former Dutch nationals who were born and raised in the Netherlands. Orion Immigration Law can tell you more about this and help you with your application. But our advice does not stop if this specific scheme does not apply. After all, we are familiar with all aspects of immigration law, which means we also see other possibilities. Did you know that, as a former Dutch citizen, you only need to live in the Netherlands for one year to regain your Dutch citizenship through the option procedure?

Have you lost your Dutch citizenship and, at the same time, your EU citizenship? EU law stipulates that you must have the opportunity to have the proportionality of this loss (re)assessed. The Netherlands have established a special option scheme for this purpose. For example, were you unable to prevent the loss of your EU citizenship? Has the loss of your EU citizenship caused you particular difficulties in continuing to visit family members in the Netherlands? Did you want to work in the Netherlands or another EU Member State, but were you unable to do so because you lost your EU citizenship? These are matters that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the IND can consider. Orion Immigration Law can help you with this, first of all by working with you to identify the issues at stake and the evidence you need. Together, we will determine whether your application has merit. We are realistic about this and will not paint a rosy picture if we do not expect success. We can also assist you with the option procedure itself, by guiding you in your search for evidence and highlighting the relevant facts for you. Did you know that one of our lawyers actually handled the Tjebbes case?

Of course, it is always preferable for your application to be approved, but you cannot always avoid having to litigate. Orion Immigration Law is particularly skilled in conducting objection and (higher) appeal proceedings. We have appeared before all Dutch immigration judges and even before the Court of Justice of the European Union. With Orion Immigration Law, you are assured of excellent legal assistance.

Of course, you want to keep your legal costs under control. Orion Immigration Law works with fixed, competitive rates wherever possible. Our specialism enables us to quickly get to the heart of your case. Is there a clear, practical solution? Then we offer our assistance at a fixed rate. Is a particular approach more complicated? Then we will let you know immediately. We always work with you to find the most efficient solution for you and try to avoid protracted proceedings. But sometimes you simply have no choice and you have to go to court. Even then, we offer a fixed rate where possible, which you can often pay in instalments. This way, you always know what our assistance will cost you and you can keep control of your expenses.