Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the proposal to extend the naturalization period. While I understand the government’s aim of ensuring sufficient integration before citizenship is granted, I have concerns about the proportionality and fairness of extending the period from five to ten years.

The proposed change would have a significant impact on individuals who are currently close to completing the existing five-year requirement. Many people have already built their lives in the Netherlands with the expectation that they would soon be eligible for naturalization. A sudden extension to ten years would effectively move the goalposts, causing uncertainty and discouragement for those who have already invested years in integrating, working, and contributing to Dutch society.

In my view, this risks undermining trust in the legal framework and could negatively affect social cohesion. It is important that policies encourage integration and long-term commitment, but they should also be fair and predictable for those who are directly affected. Transitional measures should therefore be considered, allowing individuals who are already in the process of meeting the current five-year requirement to complete it under the existing rules.

Overall, I recommend that the government carefully assess the proportionality of the proposed extension, consider its potential unintended consequences, and explore alternatives such as additional integration requirements or flexible criteria. This would balance the goals of ensuring integration with fairness, legal certainty, and inclusiveness.