Dutch nationality through a parent

Who qualifies

• Likely DutchA parent who was Dutch when you were bornSince 1985 this applies through mothers as well as fathers. If your parent became a US or Canadian citizen before you were born, they usually lost Dutch nationality then, and you didn’t inherit it.
• Can opt inBorn before 1985 to a Dutch mother and a non-Dutch fatherYou’re not automatically Dutch, but you can opt in at a Dutch embassy or consulate (€241, usually 13 weeks). Your adult children can then do the same.
• DependsAn unmarried Dutch fatherYou’re automatically Dutch only if he was married to your mother, was her registered partner, or acknowledged you before birth. If you were born after March 1, 2009, acknowledgement before you turned 7 also counts.
• Usually notOnly a Dutch grandparentDutch nationality passes from parent to child. The exception: if your parent was born before 1985 to a Dutch mother, they can opt in first, and then you can too.

The 13-year rule

From age 18, if you hold another nationality and live outside the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the EU for more than 13 years, you lose Dutch nationality, unless a new Dutch passport, ID card or declaration of Dutch nationality is issued to you within those 13 years. The issue date counts, not when you applied, so apply early. Living in the Netherlands or the EU for more than a year also stops the clock. Before April 1, 2022 the limit was 10 years: if yours ran out before then, you’ve already lost it.

Children also lose Dutch nationality if a parent loses it, in some situations.

How to apply

1. Check your parent was Dutch when you were bornAnd that they hadn’t lost it before your birth.
2. If you were born before 1985 to a Dutch mother, opt in firstSign the option statement in person at a Dutch embassy or consulate general (€241, usually 13 weeks).
3. Apply for a Dutch passportThrough a Dutch embassy or consulate, or at a Dutch border municipality. In the US or Canada it costs €169.15 for adults and €147.40 for under-18s (2026). The new passport restarts the 13-year period from its issue date.

Documents

• Your full birth certificate, showing your parents’ names
• Proof your parent was Dutch when you were born, such as their Dutch passport
• Your parents’ marriage certificate, if relevant
• Your current passport
• Proof of legal residence where you live, and a passport photo that meets Dutch rules

Netherlands Worldwide’s online checklist gives your exact list.

For UK, Irish and US certificates, see where to order certificates.

Common questions

What a Dutch passport gives you

The right to live, work, study and retire across all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. See what an EU passport lets you do.