Get your Dutch passport back quickly

Questioner

I have ex-Dutch citizenship from and until 25-11-1975 I had Dutch nationality, I was born 29-11-1959 and have been living in the Netherlands since 3-11-2018, before that in Suriname, I am now married to a Dutch man since 22-5-2018, how long do I have to wait before I get my neutralization, or that I get my Dutch passport, or can I just apply for it because I am an ex-Dutch citizen.

Lawyer

Because you are an ex-Dutch citizen, I believe you can apply for Dutch citizenship via the option procedure if you have lived in the Netherlands for one year with a valid residence permit. This has advantages over a regular application for naturalization: a. you do not have to prove that you are sufficiently integrated, so you do not have to obtain an integration diploma b. you do not have to renounce your previous nationality c. the fees are lower.

Questioner

Hello, what you are writing now, are you sure about that? Or is it better to inquire via the IND? And what do you mean by the fees are lower, are those the costs to apply for it? And what do I mean by ex-Dutchness from 25-11-1975, the Dutch national time was available, but all Surinamese who were born before that time had that, I was born on 29-11-1959, so I wonder if this is correct, at the IND they said last week, when I went to pick up the identity card, that you first have to live in the Netherlands for three years, and that you can only apply for your passport after 3 years, and that also takes almost 10 months, is this correct????? What you are writing now, do you know that for sure, or should I inquire via the IND, and what do you mean by the fees being lower?

Lawyer

What you can ask the IND to be eligible for the 'option procedure' is whether you are considered a former Dutch citizen. If this is not the case, the option option will lapse and you can indeed only apply for naturalization after 3 years (you must remain married). The entire application procedure takes more than 10 months. 'Fees' are indeed the costs you pay for the application. For option 184 euros, for naturalization 844 euros.