Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

The proposal extends the naturalisation residency requirement from 5 to 10 years in order to strengthen the “sustainable bond” with the Netherlands. Could the Ministry clarify how this measure was evaluated against alternative policy instruments (e.g. stricter integration/language testing, labour market participation requirements, civic participation metrics) that might achieve the same goal without doubling the waiting period?

In particular:
1. Evidence base – Which studies or data show that individuals who naturalise after 10 years have a measurably stronger integration outcome than those who naturalise after 5 years?
2. Comparative law – How does this proposal align with practices in other EU member states and with the EU directive on long-term residence rights?
3. Legal proportionality – How will the government ensure the measure is proportionate and does not unjustly disadvantage residents who are already well-integrated but will be forced to wait an additional 5 years?
4. Transitional arrangements – What specific transitional protections will be available for people who have already completed 5 years of legal residence under the current rules and were preparing to naturalise?

I respectfully request clarification on whether the government has considered targeted instruments (such as raising the integration exam to level B1 or B2, or introducing post-naturalisation civic participation obligations) as potentially more proportionate means than a blanket 10-year rule.