There are currently 18,000 individuals in the Netherlands awaiting a verdict on their citizenship application.

Here are the main points:

- In February 2024, there were 18,860 individuals applying for Dutch citizenship.
- Most of these applicants have been waiting for a decision for a period of up to six months.
- Approximately 460 applicants have had their citizenship applications pending since nearly 2022.

In February 2024, a total of 18,860 individuals awaiting Dutch citizenship are awaiting a verdict on their applications, with 460 of them lingering in the backlog for over a year. According to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Services (IND), out of this figure, the majority (92 percent) have been under review for up to six months, while 1,040 have been pending for up to a year.

Comparatively, there has been a significant reduction in the number of pending applications without a decision compared to the same period in 2022, despite an increase in citizenship application rates. This year, 18,860 applications remain pending, whereas in 2023, there were 24,740 applications in backlog, indicating a 24.7 percent decision rate.

The backlog for applications under review for up to six months has decreased from 19,410 to 17,360, marking a 2.8 percent decline. The IND has attributed this efficiency to their strategic handling of applications, prioritizing those with favorable prospects, such as family reunification and naturalization, based on national policies. Moreover, the IND expanded its workforce to over 6,000 staff members in the preceding year, contributing to this improved efficiency.

In 2023, there were 780 applications pending for over a year, which decreased to 460 in 2024, reflecting a 41 percent decline. However, the most notable reduction is observed in applications pending between six and 12 months, dropping by 77.1 percent to just 1,040 undecided applications.

Furthermore, citizenship application rates surged by 67 percent in February 2024 compared to the previous year, with 4,850 individuals obtaining Dutch citizenship, up from 2,900 in 2023. Although there has been an increase in citizenship applications, there appears to be a downward trend, as evidenced by a drop in applications from January to February 2024. 

Conversely, there has been a decline in the number of decisions made for such applications. In February 2023, a total of 6,070 decisions were rendered, which decreased to 4,750 in February 2024, marking a 21.7 percent decrease.