Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

As a 25-year-old highly skilled migrant who moved to the Netherlands to build a future here, I find the proposal to extend the naturalization period from 5 to 10 years very discouraging. I came here with the intention to integrate fully, contribute to society, and make the Netherlands my long-term home.

Extending the path to citizenship will create several problems:

Insecurity and stress: For highly skilled workers like myself, staying on a visa for such a long time is stressful and uncertain. A 10-year waiting period would mean spending the majority of my most productive years without a stable status, which can push many away instead of encouraging them to invest in life here.

Integration and belonging: Citizenship is not only a legal status; it is also a signal of belonging. The longer it takes, the harder it becomes for migrants to feel truly integrated and rooted in Dutch society. A decade is a very long time to be treated as “temporary.”

Economic competitiveness: The Netherlands benefits greatly from attracting international talent. Extending the naturalization period risks making the country less attractive compared to others in Europe where pathways to citizenship are shorter. Skilled migrants are mobile — if integration is made harder, many may choose to move elsewhere.

Contradiction with integration goals: The proposal suggests that lengthening the process will improve the system, but in reality it may do the opposite. When people feel like outsiders for too long, it hinders integration rather than supporting it.

I want to be part of Dutch society, to contribute, pay taxes, and build my life here. Extending the path to citizenship to 10 years does not help people like me; it only delays the stability and sense of belonging that would allow us to give our best to the country.