• How do I renew my Dutch passport?
• How long does it take to apply for a passport renewal?
• Am I eligible for a Dutch passport?
• I have lost my passport, what do I do now?
• What happens when I take on the Australian nationality?
• How can I regain my Dutch nationality?
• How do I obtain a Dutch birth certificate?
• I have lost/must renew my driver's licence. How can I obtain a new one?
• Do I need a re-entry visa to return to Australia?
• I hold an Australian passport. Do I need a visa for the Netherlands?
• As a Dutch national, do I require a visa for e.g. Thailand?
• Can I bring my pet or any other animal to the Netherlands?
• Can I take my medication with me to the Netherlands?

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How do I renew my Dutch passport?

New regulations have come into force on 1st October 2001.  Please check the following website :  www.paspoortinformatie.nl.

Passport applications must be made in person at the Netherlands representation in your region. 
You can download the passport application form here.

For information on applying or renewing a passport, please click here.

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How long does it take to apply for a passport renewal?

Between 3 and 5 weeks.

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Am I eligible for a Dutch passport?

If you have the Netherlands nationality you are eligible for a Dutch passport.

Please consult the following websites :  www.ind.nl and  www.overheid.nl.

 

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I have lost my passport, what do I do now?

First you will have to go the police to report your passport as missing. This could also be beneficial for insurance purposes. To apply for a new passport, see question 1.
For more information, see Passport stolen.

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What happens when I take on the Australian nationality?

Article 15a of the Netherlands Nationality Act stipulates that a citizen of the Netherlands (over the age of 18) will lose his/her Netherlands nationality by obtaining another nationality voluntarily.  Please note that children included in the naturalisation or already possessing this nationality will lose the Netherlands nationality.

Under the amended Nationality Act of 1 April 2003 (unofficially translated) an adult who voluntarily acquires the nationality of another country, will lose his/her Dutch nationality except in the following cases :

• if you were born in the country of your other nationality and were living there when you acquired the nationality of that country; or
• if you, before you turned 18, lived in the country of that other nationality for an uninterrupted period of five year; or
• if you are married to a person who possesses the nationality you wish to acquire.
  

Also check the following website

 www.justitie.nl

.  

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How can I regain my Dutch nationality?

No simple answer can be given to this question. Please contact your nearest Netherlands representation regarding this matter.

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How do I obtain a Dutch birth certificate?

You are required to apply at the municipality where you were born. You will require to give your full name and date and place of birth.
Please check the website for the address: www. (complete here the name of the place).nl, for instance  www.denhaag.nl.
Please note that this information is in Dutch only.

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I have lost/must renew my driver's licence. How can I obtain a new one?

A Dutch or international driver's licence can only be obtained/renewed in the Netherlands.
For a Dutch driver's licence please consult the website of the  RDW, where you will find the application form for a Dutch drivers licence and all the requirements listed. 
For an international driver's licence please consult the website of the  ANWB.
If you are no longer registered in the Netherlands, you will require a domicile declaration.  This declaration can be issued by your nearest Netherlands representation.

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Do I need a re-entry visa to return to Australia?

Yes, you need a re-entry visa if you do not have an Australian passport.
Please check the website of the Australian Department of Immigration,  www.immi.gov.au.

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I hold an Australian passport. Do I need a visa for the Netherlands?

An Australian passport holder can stay up to 90 days without a visa as a tourist in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries. For a stay of more than 90 days in the Netherlands please check the website of the  IND.

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As a Dutch national, do I require a visa for e.g. Thailand?

This question should be directed to the Embassy/Consulate(-General) of the country in question.

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Can I bring my pet or any other animal to the Netherlands?

Dogs and cats

If you wish to bring your dog or cat with you when moving to the Netherlands, it needs a pet passport. To obtain one, you must have your pet examined by a recognised vet in the country you are moving from.

The passport contains the following information:
- a statement from the vet (in Dutch, English, French or German) that your pet has been vaccinated with an approved vaccine against rabies;
- a statement from the vet that your pet does not show any signs of clinical diseases;
- the date of vaccination; 
- your pet’s description including its breed, sex, age, colour and type of fur and its marks;
- the name of the owner.<br 

Please Note
Your dog or cat must have been vaccinated at least 30 days and no more than one year before your move. Bear in mind that applying for a passport will take some time. If you do not have a pet passport, your dog or cat will be vaccinated upon entering the country, after which it will have to remain in quarantine for 30 days.

Other animals
For a few other animals you need a health certificate. This applies in any event to birds, horses, cows (and other ungulates), ferrets, mink and foxes. You can obtain one from a recognised vet in the country you are moving from.

It is prohibited to bring certain animals into the Netherlands. Parrots and parrot-like birds (e.g. parakeets) cannot be brought if they come from one of the following countries:
Argentina,
Colombia,
Hong Kong,
Indonesia,
Brazil,
Senegal,
Thailand,
East Timor or Paraguay.

You do not need a health certificate or passport for other animals, such as rabbits, hares and fishes – you can bring these animals with you without having to take special measures.

For more details and up-to-date information please contact the Netherlands customs on tel.: + 31 45 574 3031 or by email:  douanetelefoon@douane.nl.

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Can I take my medication with me to the Netherlands?

It is recommended that a doctor's certificate should be provided with any prescription medication. In the certificate, the doctor should state what the medication is used for and the quantities prescribed. This should be presented upon arrival at customs. With regard to any over the counter medication, you will find that a lot medication in Australia will also be available in the Netherlands. In case you have any further detailed enquiries, the contact details for the Netherlands Customs is: +31 45 574 3031 or email:  douanetelefoon@douane.nl.

Please note that there is an 8 hrs. time difference from March to October between the Netherlands and Eastern Australian standard time; during the other months the time difference is 10 hrs.

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