What nationality does my child have?
The nationality your child acquires at birth depends on the nationality of you and your partner.
Choose your situation
If both parents have Dutch nationality on the day the child is born, the child automatically acquires Dutch nationality.
If you have Dutch nationality at the time of the child’s birth, your child automatically acquires Dutch nationality.
If you have Dutch nationality at the time of the child’s birth, the child acquires Dutch nationality only if:
- you are married to or are the registered partner of the child’s non-Dutch mother, or
- you acknowledged parentage of your child before the child was born.
You can acknowledge parentage of your child in the Netherlands and sometimes also abroad. Acknowledgement of parentage abroad is not always legally valid in the Netherlands. If it is not valid, your child will not have Dutch nationality.
Find out more about acknowledging parentage outside the Netherlands
Acquiring Dutch nationality after birth
If your child did not automatically acquire Dutch nationality at birth, they can in some cases still become a Dutch citizen.
Dual nationality
Depending on your situation, your child may have two or more nationalities at birth.
If one of the parents is not a Dutch citizen, your child may also acquire that parent’s nationality at birth. This varies by country. Find out more about this from the authorities of the country in question.
In a few countries, including the United States, a child born there automatically acquires the nationality of that country, regardless of the nationality of you and your partner.
- Read also: when is having dual nationality possible? (information in Dutch)
Applying for a Dutch passport for your child
If your child is a Dutch national, you can apply for a Dutch passport or identity document for them.
If your child automatically acquired Dutch nationality at birth, you do not have to apply for a passport or ID card for your child in order to secure Dutch nationality for them.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.