Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I object to this proposal.

As a software engineer who has lived and worked in the Netherlands for several years, I find this change unfair and counterproductive. Integration happens through contribution, not through waiting. People who work, pay taxes, study, start companies and participate in Dutch society for five years or more have already shown commitment.

The proposal ignores current labour market realities. With rapid technological change and the rise of AI, stable long term employment is harder to secure. It is already difficult to find employers who will sponsor a highly skilled migrant permit for many years. Expecting continuous sponsorship for ten years is unrealistic and will force people to leave before they can apply for citizenship.

This harms the Dutch economy. My wife, also a migrant, owns a BV in the Netherlands that employs about ten people. We create jobs and pay taxes. If the path to citizenship doubles, planning a stable future here becomes impossible. If we have to relocate, the Netherlands loses taxpayers, jobs and talent.

The proposal also undermines legal certainty. Many residents moved and invested their lives here based on a five year rule. Changing the expectation mid-stream damages trust in Dutch institutions and the investment climate.

A ten year requirement would make the Netherlands an outlier in the EU, where most countries use five to seven years. That weakens the country’s attractiveness for international talent and entrepreneurship.

The current five year term already exceeds the EU minimum and is enough to assess integration and commitment. There is no clear evidence that doubling it improves outcomes. There is clear risk of talent flight, lower tax revenues and weaker innovation.

I urge the government to withdraw this proposal. At a minimum, keep the current five year term for highly skilled migrants and long term residents who already contribute to Dutch society. The Netherlands should reward commitment and contribution, not postpone citizenship for people who are already part of the community.