D66 Leader Rob Jetten Criticizes Proposed 10-Year Dutch Citizenship Rule

D66 Leader Challenges Citizenship Extension

Rob Jetten, leader of the Dutch political party Democrats 66 (D66) and parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, has publicly criticized the caretaker government's recent proposal to extend the qualifying period for Dutch citizenship through naturalization. The plan seeks to double the required period of legal residency from the current five years to ten years, a move Jetten argues could discourage skilled workers from settling in the Netherlands.

The proposal, put forward by Junior Justice Minister Arno Rutte of the VVD party, was approved by the cabinet on a recent Friday and has now entered a two-month public consultation phase. Rutte stated that the extension is intended to ensure that Dutch citizenship is granted only to individuals who have developed a 'durable connection' with the Netherlands and are 'well integrated' into society.

Arguments Against the Extended Period

Jetten, whose partner is Argentinian men's hockey player Nicolás Keenan, highlighted the personal impact such policies can have, stating, 'We want newcomers in this country, whether they come here to study, for asylum or work, or for love, as in my own case, to know where they stand.' He expressed concern that the measure would make it more difficult for people to establish permanent roots and could lead to increased delays within the migration system, potentially making newcomers feel unwelcome.

The D66 leader emphasized that these 'new rules that just make things more complicated and difficult than they already are will lead to more delays in the migration system, but they also don't give people the feeling that they're welcome here and that we want them to be part of our society.' He concluded that he believes it 'will have the opposite effect' of its stated goals.

Context of Caretaker Government and Upcoming Elections

The proposal comes from a caretaker government, which assumed its status after the previous coalition collapsed in June 2025 due to disagreements over asylum policy, triggered by Geert Wilders' withdrawal. The Netherlands is currently heading towards a snap general election scheduled for October 29, 2025.

The current naturalization process generally requires individuals to have lived legally and continuously in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for at least five years, prove their identity, and fulfill an integration requirement, often involving a civic integration exam. The proposed changes would also require applicants to demonstrate they are 'fully integrated' in addition to the longer residency period.

Immigration Service Concerns

Adding to the debate, Rhodia Maas, director general of the Dutch immigration service (IND), recently warned that new immigration rules are already placing a significant burden on the service. She indicated that these changes are contributing to delays in processing applications, at a time when the IND is already struggling with its caseload.