Dual citizenship

Renouncing citizenship of other countries after naturalisation

If you hold more than 1 citizenship, it is not always clear what your rights are. For instance, your country of origin may require you to do compulsory military service. The Government of the Netherlands wants to limit dual citizenship as much as possible. If you hold only 1 citizenship, it will be clear what your rights are. That is why people who want to acquire citizenship of the Netherlands through naturalisation are, as a rule, required to give up their other citizenship if possible. This is called the renunciation requirement.

Loss of Dutch citizenship

You might automatically lose your Dutch citizenship if you acquire another citizenship.

Exceptions to the renunciation requirement

In the following situations you are not required to give up your original citizenship:

• If you automatically lose your original citizenship on acquiring Dutch citizenship, because this is set out in the citizenship law of the country in question. This is the case in Suriname and China, for example.
• It is up to every country to decide when their citizens lose their right to citizenship. Iranian citizens, for example, cannot give up their citizenship: it is not legally possible. In Morocco giving up citizenship is not accepted in practice.
• If you are married to a citizen of the Netherlands, you may keep your own citizenship. The same applies in the case of a civil partnership.
• Refugees who want to be naturalised are allowed to keep their original citizenship. This only applies to people who are recognised as refugees in the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao or St Maarten. In such cases the Netherlands does not require people to renounce their other citizenship. Please note: a country’s citizenship law may state that you automatically lose that country’s citizenship if you acquire another citizenship. If this is the case you will automatically lose that citizenship if you acquire citizenship of the Netherlands, even if you are married to a Dutch citizen or have refugee status in the Netherlands and even if the other country’s authorities don’t know that you have acquired Dutch citizenship. 

Citizenships of other countries no longer recorded in the BRP

Since 6 January 2014, second or multiple nationalities are no longer recorded in the Basisregistratie Personen – BRP (Personal Records Database). If you hold another citizenship besides that of the Netherlands, this will no longer be noted when you register at your municipality.