New naturalisation regulation
requires written examination
PHILIPSBURG--The Naturalisation Test Regulation for the Netherlands Antilles as published by the Kingdom Justice Minister will go into effect on October 1.
“With this new regulation, the procedure in the Netherlands Antilles regarding requirements for foreigners who want to obtain Dutch citizenship through naturalisation will be changed,” the Central Government Information Service RvD stated in a press release.
As of October 1, it will be required for a foreigner to pass a written naturalisation test consisting of two parts, in addition to all the conditions listed in article 8 of the Kingdom law on Dutch citizenship, before applying for naturalisation.
In St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius, the naturalisation test has to be taken in English, while in Curaçao and Bonaire it will be in Papiamentu.
According to the existing (unchanged) Kingdom law on Dutch citizenship and the Netherlands Antilles Naturalisation Test Regulation, a foreigner is allowed to take the test in Dutch after October 1, but depending on where he or she lives should take the test also in English or Papiamentu.
Part one of the naturalisation test will examine the applicant’s knowledge regarding the community in which he or she lives. Part two is an examination of the foreigner’s knowledge and ability to read, speak and write the language spoken on the island where he or she lives.
When both tests have been taken successfully, the foreigner will receive a certificate authorising him or her to submit a request for naturalisation. For the first part of the test, an applicant must pay NAf. 275 for administrative expenses and for the second part of the test NAf. 225.
If the foreigner fails the naturalisation test, he or she can take the test again after six months. In this case, the foreigner must pay NAf. 140 in administrative cost for the first part of the test. In case the foreigner needs to take the second part of the test again, the administrative cost will be NAf. 75. However, if three or more components of the second part need to be re-examined, the cost involved will be NAf. 225.
The Ministry of Education and Culture will supervise the examinations. When and where the naturalisation test can be taken will be published soon, as well as the requirements to apply. Courses will be organised to give foreigners a chance to prepare for the test.
The Ministry of Education and Culture has developed requirements with which interested educational institutions have to comply to be able to give the courses. These requirements too will be published soon, RvD stated.
