Progress and Challenges: Dutch Citizenship Application Backlog Shows Improvement Amidst Growing Demand

In February 2024, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Services (IND) disclosed that a significant number of applicants, totaling 18,860, were awaiting decisions on their Dutch citizenship requests. Among these, 460 applications had been languishing in the backlog for over 12 months, indicating prolonged waiting times for some hopeful individuals. This data, sheds light on the persistent issue of backlog within the citizenship application process.

However, amidst this backlog, there are signs of improvement compared to previous years. The backlog has notably reduced from its peak in 2023, where it reached a staggering 24,740 applications. IND's latest statistics reveal that decisions have been reached for roughly a quarter (24.7%) of the total backlog, underscoring progress in addressing the backlog and moving applications forward.

Rhodia Maas, the Director-General of the IND, attributed this positive shift to several factors, including enhanced efficiency in processing applications deemed to have a high probability of success, such as those for family reunification and naturalization. Maas also highlighted the agency's expansion, with staff numbers surpassing 6,000 in the past year, as a pivotal contributor to this progress.

The reduction in backlog is evident across different timeframes. Applications awaiting decisions for up to six months decreased from 19,410 to 17,360, representing a 2.8% decrease. Moreover, there was a notable decline in the number of one-year-old applications awaiting decisions, dropping by 41% from 780 to 460.

However, the most significant improvement was observed in applications pending for six to 12 months, which decreased by an impressive 77.1% to only 1,040 applications left undecided. This substantial decrease indicates significant strides in expediting the processing of applications that were previously stuck in limbo.

Despite the progress in reducing the backlog, there has been a surge in citizenship applications, indicating a growing interest in obtaining Dutch citizenship. Compared to February 2023, the number of individuals acquiring Dutch citizenship increased by 67%, with 4,850 individuals gaining citizenship during this period. However, there are indications of a potential downward trend, with a 5.64% decrease in applications from January to February 2024.

Furthermore, there has been a notable decline in the number of decisions issued for citizenship applications. While 6,070 decisions were made in 2023, only 4,750 decisions were reached in February 2024, reflecting a 21.7% decrease. This discrepancy between the increase in applications and the decrease in decisions underscores the challenges faced by the IND in managing the surging demand for Dutch citizenship while maintaining efficient processing times.

These developments underscore the ongoing efforts by the IND to address the backlog and streamline the citizenship application process. While progress has been made, there are still challenges to overcome in managing the increasing demand for Dutch citizenship and ensuring timely decisions for applicants.

By fLEXI tEAM