Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I am deeply concerned about the proposal to extend the naturalisation period from 5 to 10 years. The current 5-year period already provides sufficient time for newcomers to demonstrate integration, language skills, and commitment to Dutch society. Extending this to 10 years would make the path to citizenship unnecessarily long, discouraging, and unfair for many families who are already living, working, and contributing here.

Citizenship is not only a legal status but also a vital motivation for people to invest fully in Dutch society — in work, education, and community life. By delaying this possibility, the proposed change risks creating feelings of exclusion rather than inclusion.

This impact is felt even more strongly by children. Many of them grow up here, go to Dutch schools, speak Dutch as their first language, and feel part of Dutch society from an early age. Yet without citizenship, they remain outsiders in the only country they truly know as home. Extending the waiting period to 10 years risks depriving an entire generation of children of the security, belonging, and equal opportunities they deserve.

I therefore urge the government to maintain the 5-year rule, which already ensures that residents meet integration requirements while also providing families — and especially their children — with the stability and fairness they need to become active, engaged Dutch citizens.