Returning from the US I found an unexpected surprise on the doormat. A letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada inviting me to do my citizenship test.
I hadn’t expected to receive this so soon, since the waiting time they indicate on their website is much longer. And a friend, who is also applying for citizenship, got his letter last week, but he started his application 3 months before me.
When I told the good news to friends one asked if I would lose my Dutch citizenship. “No, I won’t,” I replied but then he came back to me with a link to the website of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization department, the Dutch version of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The question is about dual citizenship and the last paragraph reads:
But what happens if Dutch citizens go to live abroad? In principle, they can renew their Dutch passport every ten years without difficulty. But when they adopt another nationality, they automatically lose their Dutch nationality.
That was quite alarming so I emailed the friend who’s also applying for citizenship the link. His wife replied quite soon with a link to another webpage, this one from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It says that Netherlands doesn’t allow dual citizenship but mentions 3 exceptions:
You will not lose your Dutch nationality:
a) if you were born in the country of your other nationality and have your principal residence there when you acquire the nationality of that country;
b) if, before you turned 18, you had your principal residence in the country of your other nationality for an uninterrupted period of five years;
c) if you are married to a person who possesses the nationality you wish to acquire.
Exception c) is clearly applicable in my case so I have nothing to worry about. However a bit later the article mentions this:
You have acquired another nationality and qualify as an exception. How can you prove this?
If you reapply for a Dutch passport at the Dutch embassy or consulate, you must state on the application form that you possess another nationality in addition to Dutch nationality. You must demonstrate when you acquired this nationality by submitting your naturalization certificate.
[…]
If you qualify under c. (you are married to someone with the nationality you have acquired), you will need your naturalization certificate, your marriage certificate and evidence that your spouse possesses the nationality you have acquired.
So it looks like I have to keep Alison alive until I die and we really have to stay married. My friend contacted the Dutch consulate and they told him this only applies for the first time you apply for a new passport. So I only have to keep Alison alive and/or keep our marriage afloat for the next couple of months. Then I just have to fill out a form and bring that in person to the Dutch consulate or embassy. I’ll make sure to do that.
But first I have to learn everything about Canada from the nice little booklet pictured above, A Look at Canada. It has been 25 years ago since the last time I did a test, and that was my Driving Test. I’m not very good at test taking (and especially not in learning ‘dry’ facts) so I hope I won’t fail. They will ask me questions like:
Which party is the official opposition at the federal level? What is the name of your representative in your provincial Parliament?
Since my test will take place next Tuesday, the day after the announced non-confidence vote that will bring down our gouvernment and the day after our provincial elections that might bring a new representative, next wee’s answers to those questions might be different from now. We’ll see.
Dec 3 2008
Citizenship
Returning from the US I found an unexpected surprise on the doormat. A letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada inviting me to do my citizenship test.
I hadn’t expected to receive this so soon, since the waiting time they indicate on their website is much longer. And a friend, who is also applying for citizenship, got his letter last week, but he started his application 3 months before me.
When I told the good news to friends one asked if I would lose my Dutch citizenship. “No, I won’t,” I replied but then he came back to me with a link to the website of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization department, the Dutch version of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The question is about dual citizenship and the last paragraph reads:
That was quite alarming so I emailed the friend who’s also applying for citizenship the link. His wife replied quite soon with a link to another webpage, this one from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It says that Netherlands doesn’t allow dual citizenship but mentions 3 exceptions:
Exception c) is clearly applicable in my case so I have nothing to worry about. However a bit later the article mentions this:
So it looks like I have to keep Alison alive until I die and we really have to stay married. My friend contacted the Dutch consulate and they told him this only applies for the first time you apply for a new passport. So I only have to keep Alison alive and/or keep our marriage afloat for the next couple of months. Then I just have to fill out a form and bring that in person to the Dutch consulate or embassy. I’ll make sure to do that.
But first I have to learn everything about Canada from the nice little booklet pictured above, A Look at Canada. It has been 25 years ago since the last time I did a test, and that was my Driving Test. I’m not very good at test taking (and especially not in learning ‘dry’ facts) so I hope I won’t fail. They will ask me questions like:
Which party is the official opposition at the federal level?
What is the name of your representative in your provincial Parliament?
Since my test will take place next Tuesday, the day after the announced non-confidence vote that will bring down our gouvernment and the day after our provincial elections that might bring a new representative, next wee’s answers to those questions might be different from now. We’ll see.
Now back to studying.
By mare • canada, english, paper •