Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

For those who relocated to the Netherlands with the legitimate expectation of becoming eligible for citizenship after five years of continuous legal residence, a retroactive change would be deeply unfair and disruptive. Many expats make long-term personal, financial, and professional decisions based on this timeline — including home ownership, career planning, and integration efforts such as learning Dutch and participating in civic life. Extending the requirement to ten years would not only undermine the trust in Dutch immigration policy but also create uncertainty for thousands of residents who have already demonstrated their commitment to the country.

A policy shift of this magnitude should at least include transitional arrangements to protect those who arrived or received residence permits under the existing rules. Failing to do so risks damaging the Netherlands’ reputation as a fair, predictable, and welcoming country for skilled migrants and international talent.

We hope that policymakers will carefully consider the potential social and economic consequences before implementing such a measure.