Okay, so I needed a new Dutch passport. I’m a Dutch citizen, but I live outside the Netherlands. Sounds like it could be a pain, right? Well, it wasn’t too bad, actually. Let me tell you how I did it.
First, I figured out where I could even apply. Turns out, there are a few municipalities in the Netherlands that handle these applications. I’m not sure how to find those municipalities, but luckily I got one.
Then, I booked an appointment with the municipality. I mean, you can’t just waltz in there, you know? I filled out the application form. They had this whole list of things they wanted, like my old passport, some forms I had to fill out, and a recent photo. I double-checked everything because the last thing I wanted was to have to do this whole thing over again.
Next, it was appointment day! I went to the municipality, and let me tell you, I was a little nervous. But the people there were pretty helpful. They checked my ID and all my documents. I had to sign some stuff, and then the official took my photo and fingerprints. It was all very official and efficient. I mean, they even have to check the identity for children! I got all of this done in one go!
After that, it was just a waiting game. They told me it would take a few weeks. I was just happy I wasn’t stuck there. About three weeks later, I got an email saying my passport was ready! Easy peasy.
I went back to the municipality, picked up my shiny new passport. Now I have a valid passport for the next ten years. Ten years! That’s a pretty good deal, I think. Oh, and they have business passports too, for people who travel a lot for work. Not me, though. Regular passport was just fine.
So yeah, that’s how I got my new Dutch passport. Wasn’t as complicated as I thought it would be. If you need to do it, don’t stress too much. Just follow the steps, get your documents in order, and you’ll be good to go.
Click to consult