Dutch citizenship for South Africans

The Netherlands is a popular destination for expats. The quality of life, stable economy, and vibrant culture attract millions of tourists, students, job seekers every year. But what does it take to be a Dutch citizen? How does one go from a temporary visa to holding the coveted Dutch passport? There are several routes to Dutch nationality and fortunately for you we’ve put them all together in this guide.

We discuss ways of getting Dutch citizenship in detail and even delve a bit into how you can ensure international money transfers to South Africa from the Netherlands at the mid-market exchange rate using Wise.

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How can South Africans apply for and get Dutch citizenship⁵?

Live several other European nations, there are 3 ways to become a Dutch citizen:

• You can get Dutch citizenship at birth if you are born to one or both Dutch parents and have been adopted by Dutch citizens
• Through the option route that is available to certain special categories of individuals.
• The third and most common one for expatriates is the naturalisation route. It takes longer than the option route.

For South Africans that have migrated to the Netherlands and are seeking citizenship the latter two options are worth exploring. We discuss these in detail below.

Different routes to obtaining Dutch citizenship

Dutch citizenship by naturalisation

The naturalisation procedure is the most common way for expats to apply for Dutch citizenship. It is a way of gaining Dutch citizenship by means of an application process which takes approximately one year.

Dutch citizenship through option
This route is much easier than the naturalisation procedure and it is worth exploring if you qualify. Some of the benefits of applying through this route include:

• there are less requirements to apply;
• the process is usually quicker, taking up to three months instead of one year;
• fees are cheaper than the naturalisation application.

What are the requirements to get Dutch citizenship⁶?
The basic requirement of both the procedures is a valid residence permit, the other items are covered in the sections below.

Option Procedure:

The options route is not available to all, and you need to fall into either of the following categories to be able to apply:

• 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.
• You have lived in the Netherlands or a Dutch territory for all or most of your life.
• 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.
• You are over 65 and have lived in the Netherlands for at least 15 years.

Naturalisation Procedure:

The other way to become a Dutch citizen is through naturalisation. You are eligible apply if you:

• Are an adult (18 years and over).
• Have either: lived in the Netherlands continuously for five or more years with a valid residence permit, have a Dutch spouse or have lived with a Dutch citizen for 3 uninterrupted years. You are also eligible to apply if you have lived in the country on a valid permit for 10 years of which at least years of your residence have been continuous.
• Are well integrated in Dutch society, with proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Dutch. You can demonstrate proof of this by passing the civic integration examination. You need to pass up to the A-2 level to be eligible for citizenship. However, if you have studied in Dutch (degree or diploma) this examination may not be necessary.
• Don’t have a criminal record.
• Are prepared to renounce your current nationality. If you do not do this your Dutch citizenship may be withdrawn (although some exceptions exist for dual nationality).

Applications based on naturalisation take approximately one year.

Which documents may be required⁷?

Applications for Dutch citizenship are made via your local municipality, it is important to note that the fees for application need to be paid upfront. The municipality will check your details and send your request with a recommendation from the mayor to the IND. The IND then reviews your application and assesses whether you are eligible for citizenship. While the documents vary based on the route of citizenship you would broadly need to present the following:

• Passport
• Residence permit
• Birth certificate and those of your children (if applicable)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Civic integration certificate or other diploma.

Send money to South Africa from Netherlands using the mid-market rate

If you’re a South African expat living in the Netherlands, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Banks and money transfer services use the mid-market rate when they trade between themselves, but they rarely pass it on to you. Instead, they often mark up the rate to make extra money.¹²

It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ on an international money transfer by providing low fees and also do away with the markup on the mid-market exchange rate when making international payments from the Netherlands to South Africa.

Can I hold dual South African-Dutch citizenship⁸?

The Netherlands does not allow dual citizenship in many cases, and you may be required to give up your South African citizenship. There are exceptions to this, and you may be able to hold onto your current nationality if any of the following applies:

• If you are married to, or a registered partner of, a Dutch citizen.
• If your country of origin does not allow you to cancel your citizenship.
• If your country of origin has rules that cause you to automatically lose your current nationality when you gain Dutch citizenship (by Dutch requirements, you can only renounce your citizenship after you gain Dutch citizenship).
• If you are officially recognised as a refugee.
• If you have to pay a lot of money to authorities in your country of origin to renounce your citizenship (proof required).
• If you will lose certain rights, such as inheritance rights, in your country of origin (proof required).
• If you must complete or buy out your military service before being permitted to renounce your nationality (proof required).
• If you were born in the Netherlands or Dutch Caribbean and you’re still living there when you apply for Dutch citizenship.
• If it is not possible to contact the authorities in your country of origin.
• If you object to renouncing your nationality for special and assessable reasons.
• If your country of origin is not recognised by the Netherlands.

If one of the above categories applies to you then it is essential to make it known when you submit your application. It is not possible to claim one of the exceptions after you have received Dutch citizenship.

Can I get Dutch citizenship through investment⁹?

Under the Residence by Investment program, wealthy individuals can make a significant contribution to the country and become Dutch residents within three to five months, with the possibility to acquire citizenship after five years.

To qualify for Dutch residence, applicants must fulfil the following two requirements.

• Before application submission, invest EUR 1.25 million into a Dutch start-up business or venture capital fund. This investment must be deposited into a Dutch bank account or the bank account of another EU member state with a branch in the Netherlands.
• After application approval, purchase or rent residential real estate within eight months of visa issuance. No minimum amount applies.

Can I get Dutch citizenship through descent or ancestry?

If you are born to a Dutch father or mother, if your Dutch father acknowledges paternity or if you are adopted by Dutch parents then you can apply for Dutch citizenship by law.

Dutch citizenship fees and costs¹⁰

Naturalisation

Option

How long does application processing take¹¹?

The timelines mentioned below provide an overview and may vary on a case by case basis.

If your application for Dutch citizenship is approved, you must attend a naturalisation ceremony, where you will publicly pledge to respect and uphold Dutch laws. The event, which takes place annually on December 15, highlights both the privileges and responsibilities that come with being Dutch. During the ceremony, you will officially declare your commitment in Dutch and receive a certificate confirming your citizenship, which you’ll need to apply for a Dutch passport. Attendance is mandatory; missing the ceremony would mean restarting the application process from scratch.

A Dutch passport, though compact, holds considerable value. With it, you gain access to study opportunities at Dutch or European universities at significantly reduced fees and the freedom to live and work throughout the EU without needing work permits. Dutch nationality also brings extensive travel benefits, granting easy access to 143 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Japan, and the UAE.

With this passport, you’ll find a smoother journey through borders worldwide and with Wise you can be assured transferring money across borders is at the mid-market exchange rate.

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*Disclaimer: This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax or other professional advice, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

Sources:

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Routes to citizenship
6. Requirements
7. Documents needed
8. Dual citizenship
9. Citizenship by investment
10. Fees
11. Application processing times
12. Wise - Mid-market rate and markups