Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I strongly oppose the proposal to extend the naturalisation period from 5 to 10 years.

Many of us chose the Netherlands precisely because of the 5-year pathway to citizenship. We built our plans, families, and futures around this expectation, and we have spent years contributing through taxes, work, and cultural life. Changing the rules now feels not only unfair but also deeply disruptive to the lives we’ve already built here.

On a personal level, without the stability of naturalisation, many expats live with constant uncertainty. Our right to stay is tied to employment, which means that losing a job could mean losing our home. This creates instability and prevents us from fully integrating and committing ourselves to Dutch society, something naturalisation is meant to encourage.

From a policy perspective, extending the wait to 10 years risks discouraging talented people from choosing the Netherlands in the future. It undermines trust in the system and sends a message that long-term contributions may go unrecognised. If change is truly necessary, then fairness demands a grandfathering system, so those who already moved here with the 5-year expectation are not penalised retroactively.

The Netherlands benefits when expats feel secure, integrated, and committed to staying long-term. Extending the naturalisation period undermines that goal.