Public order policy naturalisation and option

You are suspected of a crime and your criminal case is still ongoing.

Either you have been convicted of a crime and can still appeal or your appeal is ongoing. This does not apply if you have been convicted and received a fine, transaction, penalty order or measure against financial advantage of less than € 900 for this crime. This does also not apply if you have been given a community service order of less than 36 hours.

You were convicted of a crime in the 5-year period before you applied for naturalisation or option. Or you were convicted after the application, but before the decision on the application. You have received a conditional or unconditional sentence for this crime in the Netherlands or abroad. You have received one of the following sentence:

• A custodial sentence, for example a prison sentence or a placement under a hospital order (in Dutch: TBS).

• A community service of 36 hours or more. Unless you had to do this community service because you could not pay a fine of less than € 900.

• Multiple community service orders of 18 hours or more each. And the total hours of community service is 54 hours or more.

• A fine, penalty order or transaction of € 900 or more.

• A measure of € 900 or more against the financial advantage that you have received as a result of a criminal offense (unlawful advantage). For example, you have received money or goods as a result of the crime. You must pay this money or the value of these goods to the government.

• Multiple criminal orders, transactions, fines or measures against the financial advantage of € 450 each or more. And the total amount is € 1,350 or more.

Is your sentence completed? Then you can only become a Dutch citizen again after a period of 5 years. During this period you may not be convicted of a crime. We call this the rehabilitation period. The rehabilitation period starts after the end of your sentence or after you have paid the amount in full.

You cannot become a Dutch citizen after you have been suspected of or convicted of crimes under Article 1F of the Refugee Convention. These are crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. You cannot make use of the rehabilitation period, even if you have served a sentence.

You cannot become a Dutch citizen if you have a polygamous marriage. This means you are married to more than one man or woman. Polygamy is prohibited and illegal in the Netherlands.