Natio passport issue remains unresolved despite legislative amendment: players fear loss of Dutch nationality

Coach Henk Fraser calls it an unacceptable situation, while international Jean-Paul Boëtius says he feels misled by earlier assurances about a so-called sports passport.

Reporting by Dutch broadcaster NOS shows that the legal problems for Surinamese-Dutch footballers are far from resolved. De Nationale Assemblée (Suriname’s parliament) adopted an amendment to the Wet op het Surinamerschap en het Ingezetenschap on 8 September 2026. The aim was to enable athletes of Surinamese descent to acquire Surinamese nationality without having to renounce their other nationality.

However, the legislative amendment does not provide automatic protection against the loss of Dutch citizenship. According to the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, each case must be assessed individually on the basis of Dutch nationality legislation.

The ministry stressed to NOS that acquiring Surinamese nationality by operation of law alone is insufficient to qualify for a statutory exception. This means players remain at risk of losing their Dutch nationality when they obtain Surinamese nationality.

Coach Fraser voices criticism

Sports law lawyer Dolf Segaar concludes, based on the Dutch ministry’s response, that the passport issue has still not been resolved.

Coach Henk Fraser is also concerned about the consequences for his players. He believes that the Netherlands and Suriname should jointly seek a solution and provide clarity on the legal position of the footballers involved.

According to Fraser, these are players who would like to represent the national team because of their ties to Suriname, but have insufficient certainty about the consequences for their Dutch nationality.

The coach indicates that several players did not play for Natio during the recent international break because of this uncertainty.

Boëtius must surrender Dutch passport

The consequences of the passport issue are now being felt by several Surinamese internationals. Jean-Paul Boëtius, who made his debut for Natio in 2025, lost his Dutch nationality after acquiring Surinamese nationality. Tjaronn Chery and Virgil Misidjan also encountered this problem.

The three footballers are trying to regain their Dutch nationality.

Boëtius told NOS that he recently received a letter from the municipality of Rotterdam ordering him to surrender his Dutch passport. According to the footballer, it is notable that he had renewed his passport shortly before going on to play for Suriname. The document was originally valid until 2036.

The former player of, among others, Feyenoord and RKC Waalwijk currently holds a Surinamese passport with a residence sticker, allowing him to stay temporarily in the Netherlands. According to him, that residence permit is valid for only one year.

The situation is causing frustration for the footballer, who was born and raised in the Netherlands and would like to regain his Dutch nationality.

Players feel misled

Although Boëtius stresses that he is proud to be able to represent Suriname internationally, he raises questions about the way the nationality issue was handled at the time by the Surinaamse Voetbalbond (SVB).

According to the international, players were previously given information about a so-called sports passport, which would allow them to represent Suriname without losing their Dutch nationality. It later emerged, he says, that such a passport did not exist.

Boëtius says that he and other players therefore feel misled by people who were involved with the football association at the time.

At the same time, he stresses that the current SVB leadership supports the footballers involved. According to him, lawyers have now been engaged to examine the legal problems and find solutions.

Uncertainty over future internationals

The continuing passport issue may affect the composition of the Surinamese national football team. Footballers with Surinamese roots who are considering representing Natio must take into account possible consequences for their Dutch nationality and right of residence.

Although Suriname has attempted to create a legal solution through the legislative amendment, the Dutch position shows that the national legislation of both countries does not automatically align.

For the internationals involved, uncertainty therefore remains as to when and under what conditions they can retain or regain their Dutch nationality.