If you delayed it until after April 1, 2003, then you have to look at the new rule that took effect on that date, which provides for loss of nationality for anyone with dual citizenship who lives outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the EU for ten years. Dutch nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis and is governed by the Kingdom Act on the Netherlands nationality (Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap), which was signed by the monarch on 19 December 1984 and officially promulgated on 27 December 1984.Thus citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Dutch parent, irrespective of place of birth. The ceremony is an annual event, held on 15 December. At the ceremony, you’ll receive a declaration of your Dutch citizenship, after which you will use to apply for your Dutch passport. Then you must belong to one of the following categories: Read the full list of the IND’s requirements. By renouncing your nationality you would lose certain rights, which would cause you serious financial losses. Once a person has been granted dual citizenship, the holder mustalways enter and depart South Africa on their valid South African passport. South African citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent or naturalisation. You’re married to or are the registered partner of a Dutch citizen. If you are a British citizen who lived in South Africa for at least two years before September 2, 1949, you can apply for South African citizenship through registration. You’re a national of a state that the Netherlands does not recognize. upper senior vocational education with language skills provision – this is language support for people who take an upper senior vocational educational program in the Netherlands. Afrikaners in South Africa may soon find out. Can someone tell me the purpose of this multi-tool? You must prove this by taking a. The option procedure typically takes around three months. I am a 56year old woman living in South Africa. (If you were naturalized in South Africa, independently from your parents, but you were at the time a minor under Dutch law, then you retained Dutch nationality; if you had both South African and Dutch nationality from birth, then their being naturalized would have no effect on you, if I recall correctly.) Have a cookie This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. You must be able to demonstrate this. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Hardness of a problem which is the sum of two NP-Hard problems, Qualis SSL Scan weak cipher suites which are secure according to ciphersuite.info. The naturalization procedure is available for all individuals who have been living, working or studying in the Netherlands for a certain period of time, as well as for those entrepreneurs who have been living in the country and managing their Dutch-based company. Many persons are concerned that they might lose their SA citizenship, due to being away for long. Resuming South African citizenship after you have lost it. Your choices will not impact your visit. The option procedure is a fast and easy way of acquiring Dutch nationality. How would a society dominated by mercenary companies work? Normally, your father's naturalizing in South Africa (or anywhere) while you were a minor would have caused you to lose your Dutch nationality along with your father. All South Africans, 18 years and above, that want to apply for citizenship in other countries must first apply and obtain permission to retain their South African nationality before they proceed to the other country's application. Both Dutch citizenship and Dutch permanent residence allow you to stay in the Netherlands indefinitely, although a permanent residence must be renewed every five years. FAQ on Dual Citizenship and Retaining your South African Citizenship South Africans are fortunate enough to be allowed to hold more than two nationalities. They are very informative and helpful. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on our website – and don’t worry, we respect your privacy. It’s no surprise that so many people from across the world are settling in South Africa permanently. Accordingly, we would like advise all South Africans who have a dual citizenship and do not have South African passports to apply for their South African passports at their earliest opportunity. The online platforms I've seen seems to state that. The alternate citizenship procedure is to apply on the basis of naturalization. Applying for citizenship via this route has certain advantages over the naturalization procedure, such as: To apply, you must firstly hold a valid residence document. Why don't video conferencing web applications ask permission for screen sharing? This could include consequences in terms of inheritance law. The Netherlands is fully part of the European Union. If you were born in South Africa, however, have probably lost your Dutch nationality after ten years of residence outside the Netherlands. You may want to consult a lawyer with experience in these matters, and you may at least want to apply to your Dutch consulate for a formal determination of your status with respect to Dutch nationality. The rules governing loss of Dutch nationality may depend on that, even if the rules governing your acquisition of Dutch nationality did not. rev 2021.1.26.38399, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Expatriates Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Show More. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. With the change of the law, a new 10-year period started, and the rule was a bit different: you would have lost your Dutch nationality only if you lived in South Africa for ten years. There are some exceptions to this, namely those who can demonstrate that they have attained sufficient knowledge of Dutch. In this year your have had a permanent residence permit or a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary purpose of stay. This should be taken into consideration for children aged 17 whose application might be void if they turn 18 before their citizenship is approved, as processing time is estimated at one year. Expatica helps make your expat journey the experience you've always wanted. One of your parents or legal guardians is Dutch and you have lived with them in the Netherlands for at least three years prior to your application. This way their SA citizenship is protected and they are able to hold dual citizenship – of both South Africa and the United Kingdom. It does not matter whether you were born in the Netherlands or abroad. I know I was 6 years old when he gave up his citizenship for South Africa. Almost everyone who wishes to become a Dutch citizen must take the integration examination. Submitted: 8 years ago. Join IS and lose Dutch citizenship Tuesday 24 May 2016 - 8:36pm File: South Africa retains its rank of 56th on the index with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 101 destinations. The municipality will check your details and send your request with a recommendation from the mayor to the IND. You can then vote for parliament and obtain a Dutch passport, thus allowing you to travel freely throughout the EU and Schengen countries. You lived in the Netherlands or a Dutch territory for all or the majority of your life. You’re over 65 and have lived in the Netherlands for at least 15 years. Before you can renounce your nationality you have to fulfill (or buy out) your military service. "Were you born before 1 January 1985? The ten-year period starts at the age of majority, so in your case you would have lost your Dutch nationality on your 31st birthday, except that the law was changed in 1985 and your 31st birthday fell in 1987. If you have dual South African and New Zealand citizenship, are you able to get an Australian one as well? In the last four years, you have not been subject to a custodial sentence, training order, community service order, or large financial penalty (more than €810). Expatica uses technology such as cookies and scripts to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You must include their application with your own. Certain social and civic rights are only available to those that become Dutch citizens, such as voting. Your South African citizenship can only be resumed by permanently moving back to South Africa. My knowledge of Dutch nationality law is that of an interested lay person, not of an expert. If you have children who are under 16, they can become Dutch citizens upon naturalization if they have lived in the Netherlands for the previous three years and held a valid residence permit. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Getting South African citizenship means being a rightful citizen of one of the most beautiful and dynamic countries in the world. I would like to know do I still qualify for citizenship? Is it offensive to kill my gay character at the end of my book? Civic integration certificate or other diploma. You can acquire the Dutch citizenship through the option procedure. AFAIK, the recommended way to do it is to leave and re enter SOuth Africa using your SA passport.. 3. How to reply to students' emails that show anger about their mark? Automatically (Dutch citizen by birth or acknowledgementat birth or through paternity acknowledgement. You must be able to demonstrate this. If you did live outside South Africa, you would have delayed your loss of nationality until ten years after your return to South Africa. Similar to Dutch citizenship, with a Dutch permanent residence permit you are free on the Dutch labor market, meaning you no longer need a work permit. South African citizenship and time out of South Africa. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. You must be able to demonstrate this. Thanks for contributing an answer to Expatriates Stack Exchange! Show Less. In terms of Section 6 of our Citizenship Act, South Africans are obliged to seek permission to hold on to their South African citizenship (and accordingly their right to the South African passport, and the right to vote in South African elections – a big deal for expats living abroad!) Step 4: Apply in South Africa. In general, many foreigners are eligible to apply for Dutch citizenship after living in the Netherlands for at least three or five years – depending on their individual situation – or less if they have close family ties in the Netherlands. You have special and objectively assessable reasons for not renouncing your nationality. You can see which documents you need by completing the checklist (step 1). You may change your settings at any time. Can my wife and two children born in South Africa then also get Dutch Passports? Lawyer: Fran-mod, replied 8 years ago. There is a provision for former Dutch citizens to regain their Dutch nationality through a simplified ("option") procedure, and it seems that you are almost certainly a former Dutch citizen if you are not now a Dutch citizen. You have been married to or lived with a Dutch citizen for at least three years and have lived in the Netherlands for 15 years continuously. If you don’t qualify for Dutch citizenship you could consider Dutch or European permanent residence, also available to foreigners after five years of residence (or less in some cases), which allow you to live indefinitely in the Netherlands without requiring a work permit, although with fewer rights than Dutch citizenship. How does this statement from the https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/pages/by-birth-or-acknowledgement.aspx How Do I Compress Multiple Novels' Worth of Plot, Characters, and Worldbuilding into One? This states the freedoms and rights of Dutch citizenship and also the obligations and duties, and you need to declare (in Dutch) your allegiance to uphold Dutch law. With the change of the law, a new 10-year period started, and the rule was a bit different: you would have lost your Dutch nationality only if you lived in South Africa for ten years. South African citizens by birth, who automatically lost their South African citizenship, never lose their right to Permanent Residence in South Africa. you are born in South Africa and at least one of your parents is a South African citizen or a SA permanent residency permit holder if you are adopted by a South African citizen. The Immigration and Naturalisation S… If you retained Dutch nationality until April 1, 2003, you probably lost it on March 31, 2013, depending on your residence history. Therefore, unless you lived outside South Africa for part of the time between 1985 and the end of 1994, you would have lost your Dutch nationality at the end of 1994. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You should also check what additional requirements apply in South Africa (step 2). To be eligible for Dutch citizenship by naturalisation you must meet these conditions: You are more than 18 years old. In essence legislation provides that a South African dual citizen can use his or her foreign passport/citizenship/nationality freely outsideSouth Africa. However, in order to make this possible a South African Citizen aged 18 years or older must apply to the Department of Home Affairs for the retention of … South African national looking to get British dual citizenship, What is the procedure to renew a South African passport in Italy, Confused about this stop over - Turkish airlines - Istanbul (IST) to Cancun (CUN). The option procedure is the easiest way, so it is worth initially seeing if you qualify for this process. If you are not eligible for the option procedure, you can apply for naturalisation. You are a Dutch citizen by law if your father was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth. If your application is rejected you can register an objection with the IND. Disclaimer: there are some exceptions to the ten-year rule that do not apply to most people, but could apply to you. What's the difference between a 51 seat majority and a 50 seat + VP "majority"? Applications are made via your local municipality, where you will have to pay the fees upfront. You will usually have to give up your current nationality in order to become a Dutch citizen, although there are some exceptions in the following situations: Lower fees apply for children, multiple requests, and refugees. And you have been living in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least 1 year. 3 ways to become a Dutch citizen Through birth or acknowledgement. Three hundred years after their forefathers left Europe for a new life in Cape Town, some Afrikaners are … However, I believe that this would not be true if you were South African from birth, because you would not have been acquiring South African nationality at the time of your father's naturalization. Satisfied Customers: 48. Many do not, however; check with the authorities in your country of origin to find out if you can maintain both. My father was born in Holland, then moved to South Africa. You have either: lived in the Netherlands for an uninterrupted period of five years with a valid residence permit; been married to a Dutch national or lived with a Dutch national for three continuous years (including abroad); or you have resided in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit for a period of 10 years, with at least the last two years continuously. You might be exempt if you have undertaken: You can read the IND’s full requirements and exemptions here. Citizenship Law in Africa describes the often arbitrary, discriminatory, and contradictory citizenship laws that exist from state to state, and recommends ways that African countries can bring their citizenship laws in line with global norms. South Africa has seen 4,000 potential Covid-19 re-infections – what you should know Next week will be important for Covid-19 cases and lockdown in South Africa: Mkhize Follow Us You are a former Dutch citizen. The naturalization procedure for obtaining Dutch citizenship. Distributed by the Department of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs. What is the purpose of the fenced-off area on this board? Then you can make an appointment. Thank you all so much for your comments. You can apply for South African citizenship by descent or naturalisation. There are two principal ways to acquire Dutch citizenship: If you have birth or family ties to the Netherlands – such as you were born in the Netherlands or have a Dutch parent (including adoptions and children born abroad) – you can also qualify for citizenship if you meet the IND’s requirements. A person’s individual circumstances dictates which conditions and documents are necessary for applying for Dutch citizenship. Dual nationality is allowed in South Africa. You cannot be expected to contact the authorities in the country of which you are a national. This means that a citizen of the Netherlands is also a citizen of the EU, and can travel and reside freely in any of the member states of the EU. You are prepared to renounce your current nationality. You can check the latest fees. Category: South Africa Law. Dutch intra-company visa for South African citizens Persons from South Africa who want to enter the Netherlands with an intra-company visa need to make proof they are permanent employees of the enterprise from abroad, prepare a valid passport, medical insurance, pass the tuberculosis test and offer details about the financial situation. However, this option is available only to people who belong to a special group defined by law. The language level required is A2, which would allow you to have conversations with neighbors, purchase items in shops, be able to understand the majority of news reports, and write a short business letter. Applications are made via your local municipality, where you will have to pay the fees upfront. The IND then investigates whether you can become a … Expatriates Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people living abroad on a long-term basis. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland do not need to have a residence permit. How can I motivate the teaching assistants to grade more strictly? Through a short, easy procedure that takes three months. Again, you must have a valid residence permit, but must also meet the following conditions: Applications on the basis of naturalization take approximately one year. They will then have to apply for prior permission to retain their South African citizenship – failing to do so, they … Acquiring Dutch citizenship via naturalization requires you to demonstrate that you have integrated into Dutch society. The Dutch Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst has a page on the option procedure, where you would fall under the fifth point: You are an adult. Dutch nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis and is governed by the Kingdom Act on the Netherlands nationality (Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap), which was signed by the monarch on 19 December 1984 and officially promulgated on 27 December 1984.Thus citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Dutch parent, irrespective of place of birth. This is called the option procedure. For the same reason random West African States, Congo DRC, Angola and so on don’t grant citizenship to African Americans across North America, The Caribbean, Latin America and parts of South America like Guyana and Brazil. Your country’s legislation does not allow you to give up your nationality. British Spouse visa for South African citizen. If you do not do this your Dutch citizenship may be withdrawn (although some, You have a valid permanent residence permit or a valid residence permit for a, Birth certificate and those of your children (if applicable). You will also be recorded as a Dutch national in the Municipal Administration (BRP). Once a child reaches 18 they must request naturalization. Share this conversation . South African Looking for Dutch Citizenship, https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/pages/by-birth-or-acknowledgement.aspx. a state examination – this is an examination at a higher level than the integration examination, which provides access to university or higher professional education. Category: South Africa Law. Once you have passed the examination you will receive a Civic Integration Certificate, which you can submit with your naturalization application. The IND then investigates whether you can become a Dutch citizen. Foreigners typically must renounce their own citizenship before they can become a Dutch citizen. the process is usually quicker, taking up to three months instead of one year; fees are cheaper than the naturalization application. There are several conditions under which a foreigner can claim Dutch citizenship. It is compulsory to attend the ceremony – those who fail to do so will have to apply for citizenship all over again. website affect me in my process? Some countries allow dual nationality. Verified. They will be allowed to depart or enter South Africa. How can my daughter acquire Dutch citizenship? You are a Dutch citizen by law if your father was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth. If your application is successful, you can only become a Dutch national once you have attended a naturalization ceremony that includes a solidarity declaration. Dutch citizenship is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood). 2. Does South Africa allow Dual Citizenship Yes, it is possible for a South African Citizen to hold dual citizenship (be a citizen of more than one country). If you are born from a Dutch mother and a foreign father you did not become a Dutch citizen by law. 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