Dutch passports valid for 10 years were first issued in 2014. This means that there are many passports which will be reaching their expiry date this year, and as such, the government has advised delays with appointments and issuing passports.

Therefore, if you have a Dutch passport that is expiring this year, or even the next, it is a good idea to make your appointment with waiting lists in mind. This to have it renewed so that you do not get an expired passport with sometimes serious consequences.

But I’m just Dutch. I’ll be fine, right?

If you are only Dutch, you do not risk losing your Dutch nationality by letting your Dutch passport expire. However, you may face other challenges. For example, if you are only Dutch, and have an expired Dutch passport, your ability to travel to places where a passport is required will be restricted. Your passport is also an invaluable identification document that can be used to identify yourself in various circumstances, such as at the bank or local authorities. Furthermore, if you are living outside of the Netherlands your residence permit, and any associated visas/permits, are likely dependent on the fact of having a valid passport. It is therefore in your interest to maintain a valid Dutch passport, even if your nationality is not at risk.

I’m Dutch and have another nationality. Should I worry?

Since the 10-year Clock version 3 has been abolished we are now in the era of the 13-year Clock version 1. Since this change in 2022 inadvertent losses due to this new Clock have become fairly rare. This is because there is now an extra grace period of three (3) years after a 10-year passport expires. However, it is best practice to pretend the grace period does not exist, especially for those who tend to wait until the last minute. If you have recently moved to the territory of the EU, you should also be aware of how long you have stayed, as the clock is only interrupted in this way if you have been in its territory for a period of no less than one (1) full year.

Therefore, dual/multi Dutch nationals living outside of the EU should be aware of the clock. You are not likely to lose Dutch nationality due to the clock anymore, but as the risk is still present to some degree it is important to always have a valid Dutch passport and be aware of how the clock works. Please visit our page on the 5, 10, and 13 year clocks for a refresher on this, There we also discuss the alternatives to a passport.

If you are currently a Dutch minor:

The 13-Year Clock does not apply to minors, and as such, you will not lose your Dutch nationality this way. However, if you have a Dutch parent who is subject to the Clock, due to living outside of the EU with another nationality, you are at risk of sharing in the loss if that parent loses it, and you do not have another parent who is also Dutch. Therefore, it may be wise to ascertain if the clock is running for your Dutch parent, and how much time may be left. 

If you are running out of time: 

If your grace period is running out, you have a couple of options. If you have already held a passport then applying for a Dutch nationality certificate may be an alternative way of retaining Dutch nationality. As a last resort, you may wish to present your urgency to the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (Foreign Affairs) and request an emergency passport (noodpaspoort / laissez passer), nationality certificate or ID card.

It should be noted that (border) municipalities (including Schiphol) are experiencing the same delays as the embassies and consulates, so it’s always a good idea to be proactive and schedule your appointment early if possible. You can take a look at the current wait times for an appointment at border municipalities here (in Dutch).

I need a new passport; what do I do?

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of the countries in the world where passport applicants must submit applications in person, including minors. Therefore, while you can find and fill out paperwork in advance, you must always bring and submit it in person.

This can lead to certain problems. For example, it is commonly required to secure an appointment slot online, but in many cases, appointment reservations are restricted to the following two months, and all appointments may be taken, as it can be a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. There are also known problems with communication and management from Foreign Affairs, and progress still remains to be seen despite the fact that the issues regarding volumes were made known last year. Recently Foreign Affairs even admitted that the passport printer could not supply them quickly enough (as if this could not have been foreseen.

Therefore, the route to obtaining a new passport may be more arduous than it seems (or should be). With countries such as the UK offering online passport application services, it begs the question if the Netherlands will modernise its passport services. 

You can find government instructions about getting a new passport here in English and here in Dutch if you live abroad, and here.

If you need any help with renewing your passport, if your Dutch nationality is at risk, if it is too late, or if you want to apply for a passport for the first time (and need help proving your parent was Dutch), please contact us. We are happy to assist you. Please note for regular passport applications we can not request for an urgent appointment unless your Dutch nationality is at risk. Any upcoming travel plans are not normally sufficient to be given urgent attention.

And don’t hesitate to give feedback:
Submit a complaint about a passport application, or passport application appointment (or lack thereof), etc.
(links/pages in Dutch, complaints can be made in English as well)
https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/klachten
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-buitenlandse-zaken/contact/interne-klachtbehandeling

For the very hard to reach VFS Global offices subcontractors worldwide, UK example:

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(ignore that they mention visa in stead of passport, they mess up both ways)
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