Loss of Dutch citizenship

You can lose Dutch citizenship in a variety of ways. In some cases, this becomes the result of some actions, and in others, even automatic deprivation is possible. You can lose your citizenship as a child or an adult.

Loss of citizenship by adults

Under Dutch citizenship law, you can be considered an adult if:

• you have reached the age of 18.
• either you are under the age of 18 but are married or have a registered partnership.

You can lose Dutch citizenship if:

• You voluntarily accept another citizenship, after which you automatically lose the citizenship of the Netherlands. You will not lose your Dutch citizenship in one of the following situations:
• You were born in another country and lived in that country when you received another citizenship.
• Before reaching the age of majority, you have lived in this country for at least 5

years in a row.

• You are married or have a registered partnership with a person whose citizenship you voluntarily accept.
• You officially renounce your Dutch citizenship. You can opt out at your municipality or at the Dutch embassy in the country where you live.
• You will also lose your citizenship if you have a second citizenship and have lived outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union for more than 10 consecutive years. This does not apply to any of the following situations:
• You or your spouse or partner works for the government of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao or Sint Maarten.
• You have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or the European Union for at least 1 of these 10 years.
• You received your new Dutch passport or certificate of Dutch citizenship on time. Apply for a passport or

• The father or mother loses Dutch citizenship. The minor acquires the same citizenship as his father or mother.
• There are other situations in which a minor loses Dutch citizenship.

You will not lose Dutch citizenship

The minor does not lose his Dutch citizenship in the following situations:

• If the other parent has Dutch citizenship.
• If the minor was born and resides in his country of citizenship (this does not apply if the minor renounces Dutch citizenship).
• If the minor has been living or has lived continuously in the country of which he is a citizen for at least 5 years (this does not apply to cases where the minor renounces Dutch citizenship).
• There are other situations in which a minor does not lose Dutch citizenship.

A minor may also lose his Dutch citizenship, since the Dutch government is giving up on it. It may occur in the following situations:

• He is a minor between 16 and 17 years of age and is a volunteer in the military forces of a foreign country. And it is the armed forces fighting against the Netherlands or one of their allies.
• He is a minor between 16 and 17 years of age and has joined an organization that is involved in an internal or international armed conflict and therefore poses a threat to national security.

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