Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I would like to express my concerns regarding the proposal to extend the general term for naturalization from five to ten years. While I understand the government’s intention, this measure is deeply unfair to expats who contribute to Dutch society by paying taxes, working, and actively integrating into the community.

Expats already face challenges such as limited job security and mobility. Extending the naturalization period to ten years makes the Netherlands a less attractive destination for skilled workers and professionals, who may instead choose countries with more inclusive pathways to citizenship. This will ultimately harm the Dutch economy, as fewer expats will choose to settle here long-term and contribute their knowledge, skills, and taxes.

If the goal is to strengthen integration, I believe there are more effective measures than simply delaying citizenship. For example, raising the language and inburgering requirements (e.g., to B1 or B2) would better ensure that applicants are truly integrated, while still making the Netherlands an attractive place for skilled migrants. A fairer approach would also allow those who reach Dutch language level B2 as soon as possible to qualify earlier for citizenship, as they have already demonstrated serious commitment to integration.

At the same time, the bill should distinguish between highly skilled expats who legally come to the Netherlands and contribute economically, and asylum seekers who arrive under very different circumstances. If a ten-year waiting period is to be introduced at all, it should apply primarily to asylum seekers, not to tax-paying expats who strengthen the economy.

In the end, the government must decide: does it want to encourage taxpayers who strengthen the economy, or discourage them with increasingly restrictive policies? Extending the naturalization term risks sending a signal that expats are not welcome, which will have long-term consequences for the Netherlands’ competitiveness and prosperity.