Across the globe, countries are making it more difficult for immigrants to qualify for legal residence and citizenship.
The trend is especially prevalent in Europe, fueled by an economic crisis that shows no sign of relenting. Immigrants are easy targets for politicians looking for scapegoats. Right-wing parties in Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, and Spain have enjoyed renewed popularity by blaming immigrants for soaring welfare expenses and crime.
The Netherlands is the latest European nation to make legal residence and (especially) citizenship harder to obtain. The law still requires five years continuous legal residence, good conduct, and substantial integration into the community to qualify for citizenship. But beginning Jan. 1, 2011, you'll also need to demonstrate fluency in the difficult Dutch language to obtain citizenship and a Dutch passport.
This change is especially relevant to residents of Dutch overseas territories in the Caribbean. While Dutch is the official language of government in these islands, most residents don't speak this language in everyday life. On the "SSS islands" (Saba, Saint Eustatius, and Saint Maarten) the predominant language is English. On the "ABC islands" (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), most residents speak a local language called Papiamento.
While the nationality law essentially remains the same, the Dutch government now interprets it much more stringently in terms of language. The requirement in question is the issue of "substantial integration." Therefore, beginning in 2011, residents of the ABC islands seeking Dutch citizenship will in addition to proving fluency in Papiamento also have a good command of Dutch. In the SSS islands, the citizenship test will only be administered in Dutch, rather than in English or Dutch.
The basic issue is that, in common with many other European countries, the Dutch people have become much less tolerant toward foreigners. This anti-immigrant attitude is primarily directed towards Moroccans and other Muslims. However, there is also a backlash against Latinos (primarily from Colombia and the Dominican Republic) settling in the ABC islands. Thus, the new requirements are hardly a surprise.
If you've completed five years of legal residence in a Dutch Caribbean territory, have avoided scrapes with the law, and would like a Dutch passport, you'll need to speak Dutch fluently in order to qualify for citizenship.
Veel geluk! (Good luck)
