You have either: lived in the Netherlands for an uninterrupted period of five years with a valid residence permit; been married to a Dutch national or lived with a Dutch national for three continuous years (including abroad); or you have resided in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for a period of 10 years, with at least the last two years continuously. This means being able to speak, read, write, and understand Dutch reasonably well. Three hundred years after their forefathers left Europe for a new life in Cape Town, some Afrikaners are … You have been married to or lived with a Dutch citizen for at least three years and have lived in the Netherlands for 15 years continuously. They will be allowed to depart or enter South Africa. You can see which documents you need by completing the checklist (step 1). Similar to Dutch citizenship, with a Dutch permanent residence permit you are free on the Dutch labor market, meaning you no longer need a work permit. The IND then investigates whether you can become a … With the change of the law, a new 10-year period started, and the rule was a bit different: you would have lost your Dutch nationality only if you lived in South Africa for ten years. The online platforms I've seen seems to state that. It does not matter whether you were born in the Netherlands or abroad. How Do I Compress Multiple Novels' Worth of Plot, Characters, and Worldbuilding into One? This means that a citizen of the Netherlands is also a citizen of the EU, and can travel and reside freely in any of the member states of the EU. You can acquire the Dutch citizenship through the option procedure. South Africa has seen 4,000 potential Covid-19 re-infections – what you should know Next week will be important for Covid-19 cases and lockdown in South Africa: Mkhize Follow Us If your application is successful, you can only become a Dutch national once you have attended a naturalization ceremony that includes a solidarity declaration. You’re a national of a state that the Netherlands does not recognize. There are several conditions under which a foreigner can claim Dutch citizenship. Step 4: Apply in South Africa. The ten-year period starts at the age of majority, so in your case you would have lost your Dutch nationality on your 31st birthday, except that the law was changed in 1985 and your 31st birthday fell in 1987. The option procedure is the easiest way, so it is worth initially seeing if you qualify for this process. Were you born in South Africa? You have special and objectively assessable reasons for not renouncing your nationality. The naturalization procedure is available for all individuals who have been living, working or studying in the Netherlands for a certain period of time, as well as for those entrepreneurs who have been living in the country and managing their Dutch-based company. All South Africans, 18 years and above, that want to apply for citizenship in other countries must first apply and obtain permission to retain their South African nationality before they proceed to the other country's application. South Africans who are about to apply for British citizenship should take note that they have to apply for the Retention of South African citizenship before they acquire British citizenship, in order to safeguard their South African citizenship. However, another requirement is to have been living legally in the Netherlands for at least one year at the time of your application, so you would need to find some basis for a residence permit before you can apply. Answered in 1 day by: 1/7/2012. Can my wife and two children born in South Africa then also get Dutch Passports? My knowledge of Dutch nationality law is that of an interested lay person, not of an expert. In the last four years, you have not been subject to a custodial sentence, training order, community service order, or large financial penalty (more than €810). Lawyer: Fran-mod, replied 8 years ago. This procedure takes up to one year. (If you were naturalized in South Africa, independently from your parents, but you were at the time a minor under Dutch law, then you retained Dutch nationality; if you had both South African and Dutch nationality from birth, then their being naturalized would have no effect on you, if I recall correctly.) Have a cookie Can someone tell me the purpose of this multi-tool? It is compulsory to attend the ceremony – those who fail to do so will have to apply for citizenship all over again. Verified. Through a short, easy procedure that takes three months. See the website of the IND for more information. They will then have to apply for prior permission to retain their South African citizenship – failing to do so, they … To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Then you must belong to one of the following categories: Read the full list of the IND’s requirements. The language level required is A2, which would allow you to have conversations with neighbors, purchase items in shops, be able to understand the majority of news reports, and write a short business letter. The municipality will check your details and send your request with a recommendation from the mayor to the IND. Fran-mod. South African national looking to get British dual citizenship, What is the procedure to renew a South African passport in Italy, Confused about this stop over - Turkish airlines - Istanbul (IST) to Cancun (CUN). Option procedure. You may change your settings at any time. Expatica helps make your expat journey the experience you've always wanted. You can check the latest fees. Automatically (Dutch citizen by birth or acknowledgementat birth or through paternity acknowledgement. You can then vote for parliament and obtain a Dutch passport, thus allowing you to travel freely throughout the EU and Schengen countries. before applying for an additional citizenship. In this year your have had a permanent residence permit or a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay. Expatica uses technology such as cookies and scripts to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. If you do not do this your Dutch citizenship may be withdrawn (although some, You have a valid permanent residence permit or a valid residence permit for a, Birth certificate and those of your children (if applicable). If you don’t qualify for Dutch citizenship you could consider Dutch or European permanent residence, also available to foreigners after five years of residence (or less in some cases), which allow you to live indefinitely in the Netherlands without requiring a work permit, although with fewer rights than Dutch citizenship. If you are not eligible for the option procedure, you can apply for naturalisation. How would a society dominated by mercenary companies work? If you are a British citizen who lived in South Africa for at least two years before September 2, 1949, you can apply for South African citizenship through registration. Dutch citizen by birth or acknowledgement; Naturalisation; Option; Becoming a Dutch citizen abroad or Caribbean part of the Kingdom; Former Dutch citizen; Loss and the revoking of Dutch nationality; Costs; Forms and Brochures; Contact About IND. At the ceremony, you’ll receive a declaration of your Dutch citizenship, after which you will use to apply for your Dutch passport. You are a Dutch citizen by law if your father was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth. This should be taken into consideration for children aged 17 whose application might be void if they turn 18 before their citizenship is approved, as processing time is estimated at one year. Share this conversation . If you delayed it until after April 1, 2003, then you have to look at the new rule that took effect on that date, which provides for loss of nationality for anyone with dual citizenship who lives outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the EU for ten years. In order to renounce your current nationality you will have to pay a large sum of money to the authorities in your country. What is the purpose of the fenced-off area on this board? You must be able to demonstrate this. Join IS and lose Dutch citizenship Tuesday 24 May 2016 - 8:36pm File: South Africa retains its rank of 56th on the index with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 101 destinations. Dutch citizenship is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood). Dutch citizenship. The alternate citizenship procedure is to apply on the basis of naturalization. Dutch nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis and is governed by the Kingdom Act on the Netherlands nationality (Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap), which was signed by the monarch on 19 December 1984 and officially promulgated on 27 December 1984.Thus citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Dutch parent, irrespective of place of birth. If you are born from a Dutch mother and a foreign father you did not become a Dutch citizen by law. Category: South Africa Law. 2. If you are the child of Dutch parents or you were acknowledged by a Dutch parent, you can become a Dutch citizen. You’re over 65 and have lived in the Netherlands for at least 15 years. website affect me in my process? Some countries allow dual nationality. It also includes being able to successfully live in Dutch society. Resuming South African citizenship after you have lost it. In terms of Section 6 of our Citizenship Act, South Africans are obliged to seek permission to hold on to their South African citizenship (and accordingly their right to the South African passport, and the right to vote in South African elections – a big deal for expats living abroad!) 3. You might be exempt if you have undertaken: You can read the IND’s full requirements and exemptions here. The rules governing loss of Dutch nationality may depend on that, even if the rules governing your acquisition of Dutch nationality did not. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. A person’s individual circumstances dictates which conditions and documents are necessary for applying for Dutch citizenship. One of your parents or legal guardians is Dutch and you have lived with them in the Netherlands for at least three years prior to your application. upper senior vocational education with language skills provision – this is language support for people who take an upper senior vocational educational program in the Netherlands. rev 2021.1.26.38399, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Expatriates Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Enter and leave any other country, using your Dutch passport. This way their SA citizenship is protected and they are able to hold dual citizenship – of both South Africa and the United Kingdom. The option procedure typically takes around three months. 3 ways to become a Dutch citizen Through birth or acknowledgement. Thank you all so much for your comments. Your South African citizenship can only be resumed by permanently moving back to South Africa. If you did live outside South Africa, you would have delayed your loss of nationality until ten years after your return to South Africa. You should also check what additional requirements apply in South Africa (step 2). The Immigration and Naturalisation S… They are very informative and helpful. You will usually have to give up your current nationality in order to become a Dutch citizen, although there are some exceptions in the following situations: Lower fees apply for children, multiple requests, and refugees. You’re married to or are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen. You must include their application with your own. You must be an adult (18 years and over). Almost everyone who wishes to become a Dutch citizen must take the integration examination. Both Dutch citizenship and Dutch permanent residence allow you to stay in the Netherlands indefinitely, although a permanent residence must be renewed every five years. In general, many foreigners are eligible to apply for Dutch citizenship after living in the Netherlands for at least three or five years – depending on their individual situation – or less if they have close family ties in the Netherlands. There are two principal ways to acquire Dutch citizenship: If you have birth or family ties to the Netherlands – such as you were born in the Netherlands or have a Dutch parent (including adoptions and children born abroad) – you can also qualify for citizenship if you meet the IND’s requirements. This could include consequences in terms of inheritance law. you are born in South Africa and at least one of your parents is a South African citizen or a SA permanent residency permit holder if you are adopted by a South African citizen. How to reply to students' emails that show anger about their mark? the process is usually quicker, taking up to three months instead of one year; fees are cheaper than the naturalization application. South African Looking for Dutch Citizenship, https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/pages/by-birth-or-acknowledgement.aspx. What's the difference between a 51 seat majority and a 50 seat + VP "majority"? The naturalization procedure for obtaining Dutch citizenship. With the change of the law, a new 10-year period started, and the rule was a bit different: you would have lost your Dutch nationality only if you lived in South Africa for ten years. Disclaimer: there are some exceptions to the ten-year rule that do not apply to most people, but could apply to you. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Dual nationality in South Africa. Application fees are typically reviewed at the beginning of the year and/or mid-year. By renouncing your nationality you would lose certain rights, which would cause you serious financial losses. The ceremony is an annual event, held on 15 December. FWIW, My Grandson has dual citizenship, SA and Italy, and he uses the SA passport to leave & enter SA, and the Italian one when he goes to Europe, or anywhere else, no questions asked. Therefore, unless you lived outside South Africa for part of the time between 1985 and the end of 1994, you would have lost your Dutch nationality at the end of 1994. Once a person has been granted dual citizenship, the holder mustalways enter and depart South Africa on their valid South African passport. You will also be recorded as a Dutch national in the Municipal Administration (BRP). You can apply for South African citizenship by descent or naturalisation. If you have dual South African and New Zealand citizenship, are you able to get an Australian one as well? They automatically retain their South African citizenship for life unless; once they have reached the age of 18, they wish to acquire a further foreign citizenship. Therefore, unless you lived outside South Africa for part of the time between 1985 and the end of 1994, you would have lost your Dutch nationality at the end of 1994. AFAIK, the recommended way to do it is to leave and re enter SOuth Africa using your SA passport.. The option procedure is a fast and easy way of acquiring Dutch nationality. a state examination – this is an examination at a higher level than the integration examination, which provides access to university or higher professional education. FAQ on Dual Citizenship and Retaining your South African Citizenship South Africans are fortunate enough to be allowed to hold more than two nationalities. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on our website – and don’t worry, we respect your privacy. You can also apply to retain your citizenship before you obtain citizenship of another country. In essence legislation provides that a South African dual citizen can use his or her foreign passport/citizenship/nationality freely outsideSouth Africa. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I am looking into getting my Dutch citizenship. Why do wet plates stick together with a relatively high force? Why don't flights fly towards their landing approach path sooner? "Were you born before 1 January 1985? If you were born in South Africa, however, have probably lost your Dutch nationality after ten years of residence outside the Netherlands. British Spouse visa for South African citizen. Here is our guide to obtaining citizenship in the Netherlands, and the conditions required to apply for Dutch citizenship. This is called the option procedure. Again, you must have a valid residence permit, but must also meet the following conditions: Applications on the basis of naturalization take approximately one year. Getting South African citizenship means being a rightful citizen of one of the most beautiful and dynamic countries in the world. Acquiring Dutch citizenship via naturalization requires you to demonstrate that you have integrated into Dutch society. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. You are a Dutch citizen by law if your father was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth. Accordingly, we would like advise all South Africans who have a dual citizenship and do not have South African passports to apply for their South African passports at their earliest opportunity. Verbs of motion - how to define local distances? If you want to follow in their footsteps, you’ve come to the right place. There are three ways to become a Dutch national: 1. Why don't video conferencing web applications ask permission for screen sharing? South African citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent or naturalisation. South African citizens by birth, who automatically lost their South African citizenship, never lose their right to Permanent Residence in South Africa. Is it offensive to kill my gay character at the end of my book? Satisfied Customers: 48. Certain social and civic rights are only available to those that become Dutch citizens, such as voting. The Dutch Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst has a page on the option procedure, where you would fall under the fifth point: You are an adult. There is a provision for former Dutch citizens to regain their Dutch nationality through a simplified ("option") procedure, and it seems that you are almost certainly a former Dutch citizen if you are not now a Dutch citizen. Then you can make an appointment. Ask Your Own South Africa Law Question. However, I believe that this would not be true if you were South African from birth, because you would not have been acquiring South African nationality at the time of your father's naturalization. South African citizenship by birth can be acquired if the individual was born in South Africa and if at least one of the parents (or one of the adopted parents) was a South African citizen or the holder of a South African Permanent Residence Permit at the time of birth. Why is this position considered to give white a significant advantage? 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