Naturalisation course
will be in two parts
PHILIPSBURG--The naturalisation course each foreigner living in the Netherlands Antilles who wants to obtain the Dutch passport has to take starting October 1 will consist of two parts.
Kingdom Minister of Justice Ernst Hirsch Ballin published the new regulations on July 13. The first part is a test of the candidate’s knowledge about the Netherlands Antilles constitution and of orientation in society.
In the second part, the ability to read, speak and understand the language spoken locally will be tested. In St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba the English language will be used for the test. In Curaçao and Bonaire the language used will be Papiamentu.
The person will only be admitted to the second part if he or she completes the first test successfully.
A candidate who passes the tests successfully will receive two original certificates. One of the copies has to be added to the dossier of the applicant when he or she applies for Dutch nationality.
The Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles will be mandated by the Kingdom Minister of Justice as the authorised entity to give the exams. After consultation with the Lt. Governor, the Minister will appoint the entity that will give the exam on behalf of the Minister.
If the Minister of Justice rejects the naturalisation request, the Dutch Naturalisation and Immigration Department IND will send the original certificate back to the applicant.
An applicant who can prove he or she is not able to take one or more parts of the test will be exempted from taking the entire test. If the authority that receives the naturalisation request has any doubts, it can send the applicant to his or her doctor, who can refer the patient to a specialist or another expert. The specialist or expert advises the Lt. Governor whether the exemption is possible. The applicant then applies to the Lt. Governor for naturalisation.
Ultimately, IND will decide on the exemption requested.
Finally, an applicant who fails the test can re-take the test in six months. It will be up to the Lt. Governor to update the questions of the test.
