Sort out the baby's nationality and papers with your own country
Being born in the Netherlands does not by itself make your baby Dutch. In general a child is Dutch at birth only if at least one parent is Dutch, so if you are both foreign nationals the baby usually is not. Checked against rijksoverheid.nl on 22 September 2026.
- Who it applies to
- People who moved to the Netherlands from another country
- On your timeline
- Paperbump schedules this within 4 months of the birth
- Official source
- rijksoverheid.nl
- Last checked
- 22 September 2026
What else to know
An unmarried Dutch father has to acknowledge the child before it passes on his nationality. 2 things follow for a foreign family: ask your own embassy or consulate how to register the birth and get a passport, because every country does it differently and some take months, and check whether your baby needs a residence permit — babies of EU, EEA or Swiss parents do not. There is no published deadline for the residence side, which is exactly why it is worth asking early rather than assuming.
Before you contact them
Who you need Your own country's embassy or consulate in the Netherlands
What to ask
- How do I register the birth with you, and is there a deadline?
- Which Dutch documents do you need, and in what form?
- Does my child have a claim to our nationality?
- How long does a passport from you take?
What happens next Being born in the Netherlands does not by itself make your baby Dutch.
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