As of February 2024, there are 18,860 individuals who have applied for Dutch citizenship and are awaiting a decision, with 460 of them having been in the backlog for over a year. Data from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Services (IND) reveals that out of the 18,860 applications, the majority (92 percent) have been under review for up to six months, with 1,040 taking up to a year. Nonetheless, compared to 2022, there has been a notable decrease in pending applications, alongside a rise in citizenship application rates.

In 2023, the backlog contained 24,740 applications, but as of February, approximately 18,860 remain, indicating that authorities have resolved a quarter (24.7 percent) of those applications. Furthermore, the number of applications in the backlog for up to six months has decreased from 19,410 to 17,360, representing a 2.8 percent reduction.

Likewise, in 2023, there were 780 applications pending for one year. This year, that figure decreased to 460, marking a 41 percent reduction. However, the most substantial change is observed in applications pending between six and 12 months, which decreased by 77.1 percent, leaving only 1,040 applications undecided. In February 2023, 2,900 individuals obtained Dutch citizenship, a figure that surged by 67 percent the following year, reaching 4,850. Despite a rise in citizenship applications this year, there might be a downward trajectory. According to IND data, the highest number of citizenship applications between February 2023 and 2024 was recorded in January (5,140), indicating a 5.64 percent drop in applications in February. Conversely, there has been a notable decrease in the number of decisions issued for such applications. While 6,070 decisions were made in 2023, that number dropped to 4,750 in February 2024, marking a 21.7 percent decline.