Naturalisation Tests as a Barrier to Citizenship? The Case of the Netherlands

1. Which Integration Policies for Migrants? 28 October 2010 Naturalisation Tests as a Barrier to Citizenship? The Case of the Netherlands

2. Ricky van Oers, 28 October 2010 The case of the Netherlands • ‘Naturalisation Test’ as a condition for naturalisation since 1 April 2003 • Oral and written language skills at level A2 • Knowledge of society in multiple choice exam • No possibilities for preparation • Costs: €260 • Prior to introduction test only oral language skills in informal interview • 2007: naturalisation test replaced by integration examination • Passing examination is also a condition for permanent residence • Level A2 • Costs: vary between €250 and €1200 • (Financed) possibilities for preparation

3. Ricky van Oers, 28 October 2010 Developments in Dutch Nationality Law • 1985: new Dutch Nationality Act • Codification of requirements for naturalisation • Influenced by Minorities’ Policy: strong legal position is beneficial to immigrant integration • Naturalisation is a means for integration • 1992: Bill to alter Dutch Nationality Act (DNA) • Further relaxation of naturalisation requirements • Abolishing renunciation requirement • Immigrants should be able to acquire nationality without too much ‘fuss and costs’ • Large population of non-citizens undesirable • reformulation language and integration requirement  more uniform application

4. Developments (cont.) • Revised Dutch Nationality Act 2003 introduced formalised language and integration test • Naturalisation is ‘crown’ on completed integration, rather than goal in itself • Explanations • Political pressure exercised by Christian democrats and Conservative Liberals to strengthen requirements for naturalisation • Importance of ‘feeling Dutch’, possibilities to exercise rights and duties of Dutch citizenship, too many naturalisations • Upward pressure exercised by Newcomers Integration Act 1998 • Requiring more from newcomers than from future citizens is ‘the world turned upside down’ Requiring more from newcomers than from future citizens is ‘the world turned upside down’ • Not: pressure from far-right parties

5. Effects of test

6. Explanations of effects • Naturalisation test is mechanism of selection • About 75% of all applicants for naturalisation exempt on the basis of a diploma • Interviews showed that lower educated immigrants, women in disadvantaged positions, elderly and illiterates are refraining from naturalisation due to test (level (writing skills), costs, lack of possibilities for preparation) • Pass rate is 74% (60% if all those who registered are taken into account) • Varying pass rates per nationality • Surinamese: 76%, Moroccan: 56%, Turkish: 52% • Below 25%: Egyptian, Ghanaian and Sudanese nationalities • Level of education and country of origin play important role in selection of future Dutch citizens • No alarmed reaction by politicians

7. Changes brought about by integration examination? • Pass rate equal (71-74%) • Increase in number of succesful participants • 14,300 naturalisation test vs 24,702 integration examination • However: at the end of 2009 around 100,000 course participants still had not taken the exam • Increase in succesful candidates will lead to increase in number of naturalisations • However: in future, immigrants will have to pay for their integration • Plans of new Government to strengthen requirements for naturalisation => Re-affirms that Government no longer attributes value to high numbers of naturaisations