| Dutch Nationality Act Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap | |
|---|---|
 | |
| States General of the Netherlands | |
| Citation | Stb. 1984, 628. |
| Territorial extent | Kingdom of the Netherlands (includes Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten) |
| Enacted by | States General of the Netherlands |
| Royal assent | 19 December 1984 |
| Commenced | 1 January 1985 |
| Status: Amended | |
Dutch nationality law details the conditions by which a person holds Dutch nationality. The primary law governing these requirements is the Dutch Nationality Act, which came into force on 1 January 1985. Regulations apply to the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands, which includes the country of the Netherlands itself, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.
The Netherlands is a member state of the European Union (EU) and all Dutch nationals are EU citizens. They have automatic and permanent permission to live and work in any EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country and may vote in elections to the European Parliament.
Any person born to at least one Dutch parent receives Dutch citizenship at birth. Foreign nationals may naturalise as Dutch citizens after living in any part of the Kingdom for at least five years, demonstrating proficiency in the Dutch language, renouncing any previous nationalities, and fulfilling a good character requirement.