Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I am strongly opposed to the proposal to extend the naturalisation period from 5 to 10 years.
Five years is a sufficient period for newcomers to prove their integration, language skills, and commitment to Dutch society. Doubling this to 10 years would make the path to citizenship unnecessarily long, discouraging, and unfair.
Citizenship is not only a legal status, it is what motivates people to fully invest in Dutch society through work, education, and community life. Extending the waiting period risks creating exclusion instead of inclusion.
This harm will be felt most by children. Many already grow up here, attend Dutch schools, and speak Dutch as their first language. For them, the Netherlands is the only home they know. Denying them timely citizenship deprives them of the security, belonging, and equal opportunities they deserve.
Furthermore, such a change could have the opposite effect of what is intended. Highly skilled migrants, who bring innovation, pay taxes, and strengthen the diversity and competitiveness of the Dutch economy, may choose countries with shorter naturalization periods instead. Meanwhile, those with fewer opportunities, who are less mobile, will not be deterred by a longer waiting period. If the aim is to manage migration more effectively, a differentiated approach would make far more sense: keep the 5-year rule for skilled workers actively contributing to the economy, while applying stricter rules only where truly necessary. I strongly call on decision-makers to maintain the 5-year rule, a policy that balances integration requirements with fairness, inclusion, and the long-term interests of the Netherlands itself.