Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

Increasing the naturalization period from 5 to 10 years is not a policy that benefits the economy or strengthens society. Migrants already contribute significantly after five years—working, paying taxes, and establishing their lives in their new communities. Extending the path to citizenship only delays their ability to fully participate, start businesses, and invest in the country long term.

While proponents argue that a longer waiting period supports better integration, the evidence doesn’t back this up. In fact, it often leads to the opposite—many migrants delay language learning and preparation for integration exams until they near eligibility. Doubling the timeframe does little to improve outcomes and appears more like a populist gesture than an effective policy. A better approach might be to maintain the five-year timeline while raising the standard of integration requirements.

What’s often overlooked is the hidden cost of this approach: slower economic growth, missed opportunities as talent moves elsewhere, and a society that withholds full rights from those who are already contributing. True integration is achieved through inclusion—not through prolonged exclusion.