Becoming a Dutch citizen abroad through the option procedure

Conditions for applying through the option procedure

• Your mother was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth.
• Your legal father was not a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth.
• You have not previously become a Dutch citizen through the option procedure.
• You are not a threat to the public order or national security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• You have the required documents relating to you, your mother and your father. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.

Required documents relating to you

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate), which must state:
   • your place of birth
   • both of your parents’ full names.
2. A passport for each nationality you currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where you live.
4. The option statement/application form for adults (in Dutch). Please note: do not sign the form until asked to do so at the embassy or consulate-general.
5. Certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where you live.

Required documents relating to your mother

1. Proof of your mother’s Dutch nationality at the time of your birth. For instance, a certificate from the Central Population Registers Office (Bureau Vestigingsregister) in The Hague. This certificate states your mother’s nationality and marital status at the time she left the Netherlands.

2. A photocopy of your mother’s Dutch passport and/or, if possible, a photocopy of her passport that was valid at the time of your birth.
3. Proof of legal residence if your mother does not reside in the country of her nationality.
4. An official copy of your parents’ marriage certificate, giving their full names and date of marriage.
5. If your mother’s nationality has changed, her naturalisation certificate(s).
6. If your mother is divorced, an official copy of the divorce certificate.
7. If your mother is deceased, her death certificate.

Required documents relating to your father

1. A complete official copy of your father’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate), which must state:
   • his place of birth
   • both his parents’ full names.
2. A photocopy of his passport.
3. Proof of legal residence if your father does not reside in the country of his nationality.
4. If possible, a photocopy of your father’s passport issued around the time of your birth.
5. If your father’s nationality has changed, his naturalisation certificate(s).

Conditions for applying through the option procedure

• Your mother became a Dutch national through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN).
  or
  Your mother, who was not a Dutch national, died before she was able to apply for Dutch nationality through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN). In this case, contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information.

• You have all the required documents relating to you and your mother. Find out below which documents you need. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.
• You have completed the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.K for adults. Please note: Do not sign the form until asked to do so at the embassy or consulate-general.

Required documents relating to you

• A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate), which must state your place of birth and your parents’ full names.

• A passport for each nationality you currently hold.

• Proof of legal residence in the country where you live.

• Certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where you live.

Required documents relating to your mother

1. Proof of her having acquired Dutch nationality through the option procedure, RWN section 6, subsection 1 (i) (form 1:33a).
2. A photocopy of her passport for each nationality she currently holds.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where she lives.

Conditions for applying through the option procedure

• Your father became a Dutch citizen through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN).
  or
  Your father, who was not a Dutch national, died before he was able to apply for Dutch nationality through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN). In this case, contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information.
• Your parents were married to each other at the time of your birth.
  or
  Your father acknowledged parentage of you before your birth.
  or
  Your father acknowledged parentage of you after your birth but before you reached the age of 7.
  or
  Your biological father acknowledged parentage of you after you reached the age of 7 but before you reached the age of 18, proving he is your biological father with a DNA test.

• You have all the required documents relating to you and your father. Find out below which documents you need. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.
• You have completed the option statement/application form. Find out below which form to complete in your situation.

Required documents relating to you

• A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate), which must state your place of birth and your parents’ full names.
• A passport for each nationality you currently hold.
• Proof of legal residence in the country where you live.
• Certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where you live.

Required documents relating to your father

1. Proof of him having acquired Dutch nationality through the option procedure, RWN section 6, subsection 1 (i) (form 1:33a).
2. A photocopy of his passport for each nationality he currently holds.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where he lives.
4. If he is married, an official copy of his marriage certificate.
5. If he acknowledged parentage of you after you were born and is not listed on the birth certificate as the person who registered the birth, you will need the declaration of acknowledgement of parentage.

Option statement/application form

Which option statement/application form you need to complete depends on your situation.

• If your parents were married to each other at the time of your birth or your father acknowledged parentage of you before your birth, complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.K for adults.
• If your father acknowledged parentage of you after your birth but before you reached the age of 7, complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.L for adults. You can request this form from the embassy or consulate-general.
• If your father acknowledged parentage of you after you reached the age of 7 and before you reached the age of 18, complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.M for adults. You can request this form from the embassy or consulate-general.

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• Your Dutch father acknowledged parentage of you on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, after you were born and before you reached the age of 7.
  or
  Your Dutch father acknowledged parentage of you on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, after you reached the age of 7 and before you reached the age of 18, proving he is your father with a DNA test.
  or
  You became the legitimate child of your Dutch father on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009 after your birth through your parents’ marriage outside the Netherlands.
• You have all the required documents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.

Required documents relating to you

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate), which must state your place of birth and your parents’ full names. If the Dutch father is not explicitly named on the birth certificate as the person who registered the birth, you will need the declaration of acknowledgement of parentage.
2. A passport for each nationality your currently hold.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where you live.
4. The option procedure application form for adults (in Dutch). Please note: do not sign the form until asked to do so at the embassy or consulate-general.
5. A certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where you live.

Required documents relating to your Dutch father

1. Proof of Dutch nationality at the time of acknowledgement.

2. A photocopy of his passport for each nationality he currently holds.

3. Proof of legal residence in the country where he lives.

Required documents relating to your mother

1. A photocopy of her valid passport.
2. Certificate of unmarried status at the time of acknowledgement.

Conditions for applying via the option procedure

• You lost your Dutch nationality on or after 1 November 1993.
• You are not a citizen of another EU country
• You can prove that you had ties with an EU country other than the Netherlands on the date that you lost your Dutch nationality.
• You have all the required documents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.

Required documents

1. A complete official copy of your birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued certificate), which must state:
   • your place of birth
   • both parents’ full names.
2. A passport for each nationality you currently hold.
3. A photocopy of your most recent Dutch passport.

4. Proof of legal residence in the country where you live.

5. If you are married, an official copy of your marriage certificate.

6. If you are 16 or older, you will also need a certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where you live.

7. Documents proving your links with the EU, for example
   • Documents issued by an official government body of an EU member state other than the Netherlands
   • Documents issued by companies in the EU, such as employment contracts, salary slips, proof you performed work as a self-employed person (for example, registration with a Chamber of Commerce), proof of enrolment at a school or university
   • Proof that you own or owned immoveable property (in an EU-country other than the Netherlands)
   • Proof of payment of travel tickets and boarding passes (for journeys to EU-countries)
   • Visas and immigration stamps in your passport
8. If you are applying for Dutch nationality for your child or children at the same time, you will also need their birth certificate or other proof of parentage.
9. The option statement/application form. Please note: Do not sign the form until asked to do so at the embassy or consulate-general.

Conditions for applying through the option procedure

• The Dutch father acknowledged parentage of the child on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, after the child was born and before the child reached the age of 7.
  or
  The Dutch father acknowledged parentage of the child on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009, after the child reached the age of 7 and before the child reached the age of 18, proving he is the child’s father with a DNA test.
  or
  The child became the legitimate child of a Dutch father on or after 1 April 2003 and before 1 March 2009 after their birth through their parents’ marriage outside the Netherlands.
• You have all the required documents. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.

Required documents relating to the child

1. A complete official copy of the child’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued document), which must state the child’s place of birth and both parents’ full names. If the Dutch father is not explicitly named on the birth certificate as the person who registered the birth, you will need the declaration of acknowledgement of parentage.
2. A passport for each nationality the child currently holds.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where the child lives.
4. The option statement/application form for minors (in Dutch).

Required documents relating to the Dutch father

1. Proof of Dutch nationality at the time of acknowledgement.

2. A photocopy of his passport for each nationality he currently holds.

3. Proof of legal residence in the country where he lives.

Required documents relating to the mother

1. A photocopy of her valid passport.
2. Certificate of unmarried status at the time of acknowledgement.

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• The child’s mother became a Dutch citizen through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN).
  or
  The child’s mother, who was not a Dutch national, died before she was able to apply for Dutch nationality through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN). If you have documentation that can prove this, contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information.
• You have the required documents relating to the child and their mother. Find out below which documents you need. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.

• Complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.K for minors aged 15 and under
  or the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.K for minors aged 16 and 17. Please note: Do not sign the form until asked to do so at the embassy or consulate-general.

Required documents relating to the child

• A complete official copy of the child’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued document), which must state the child’s place of birth and both parents’ full names.
• A passport for each nationality the child currently holds.
• Proof of the child’s legal residence in the country where the child lives.
• If the child is 16 or older they will also need a certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where the child lives.

Required documents relating to the mother

1. Proof of her having acquired Dutch nationality through the option procedure, RWN section 6, subsection 1 (i) (form 1:33a).

2. A photocopy of her passport for each nationality she currently holds.

3. Proof of legal residence in the country where she lives.

Conditions for applying for the option procedure

• The child’s father became a Dutch citizen through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN).
  or
  The child’s father, who was not a Dutch national, died before he was able to apply for Dutch nationality through the option procedure for latent Dutch citizens (section 6, subsection 1 (i) of the RWN). If you have documentation that can prove this, contact the embassy or consulate-general for more information.
• The child’s parents were married to each other at the time of the child’s birth.
  or
  The father acknowledged parentage of the child before the child’s birth.
  or
  The father acknowledged parentage of the child after the child’s birth but before the child reached the age of 7.
  or
  The biological father acknowledged parentage of the child after the child reached the age of 7 but before the child reached the aged of 18, proving he is the child’s biological father with a DNA test.

• You have the required documents relating to the child and their father. Find out below which documents you need. You must have the original and a photocopy of every document. Find out if you need to have your foreign documents legalised and/or translated.

• You have completed the option statement/application form for the child. Find out below which form to complete in your situation.

Required documents relating to the child

• A complete official copy of the child’s birth certificate or an extract from the register of births (not a hospital-issued document), which must state the place of birth and both parents’ full names.
• A passport for each nationality the child currently holds.
• Proof of the child’s legal residence in the country where the child lives.
• If the child is 16 or older they will also need a certificate of conduct or equivalent document. Request this from the local authorities in the country where the child lives.

Required documents relating to the father

1. Proof of his having acquired Dutch nationality through the option procedure, RWN section 6, subsection 1 (i) (form 1:33a).
2. A photocopy of his passport for each nationality he currently holds.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country where he lives.
4. If he is married, an official copy of the marriage certificate.
5. If he acknowledged parentage of the child after the child was born and is not listed on the birth certificate as the person who registered the birth, you will need the declaration of acknowledgement of parentage.

Option statement/application form

Which option statement/application form you need to complete depends on the situation.

• If the child’s parents were married to each other at the time of the child’s birth or parentage of the child was acknowledged before the child’s birth, complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.K for minors aged 15 and under or the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.K for minors aged 16 and 17.
• If parentage of the child was acknowledged after the child’s birth but before the child reached the age of 7, complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.L for minors aged 15 and under or the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.L for minors aged 16 and 17. You can request these forms from the embassy or consulate-general.
• If parentage of the child was acknowledged after the child reached the age of 7 and before the child reached the age of 18, complete the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.M for minors aged 15 and under or the option statement/application form RWN 6.1.M for minors aged 16 and 17. You can request these forms from the embassy or consulate-general.