THE HAGUE – The Dutch government plans to require all employees of the public bodies of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba who work with passports and identity cards to obtain a Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag – VOG). The measure is intended to prevent fraud involving travel documents and is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The proposal follows past cases in which criminals were able to obtain Dutch passports through various municipalities, often with the help of corrupt officials who issued documents in exchange for money. By introducing mandatory background screening for staff on the BES islands as well as in Dutch municipalities, the government aims to reduce the risk of abuse and strengthen the integrity of the passport issuance process.
A VOG is an official document that individuals can request to demonstrate that they have not committed criminal offenses relevant to the duties of a specific position. Under the proposed rules, the requirement would apply to employees with permanent or temporary contracts, including hired external staff, who are involved in the application or issuance of travel documents.
Municipalities and public bodies would be given a duty of care to ensure that each relevant employee is screened at the start of their employment and subsequently every two years. This recurring screening is intended to identify potential issues that may arise during the course of employment, rather than only at the point of hiring.
The proposed legislative change will be opened for public consultation on Tuesday, December 16, running through February 23, via the national consultation platform. During this period, citizens and organizations will be able to submit feedback on the proposal. After the consultation phase, the draft regulation will proceed through the formal legislative process.
If adopted as planned, the new requirement will enter into force on January 1, 2027. Municipalities and public bodies will then have one year to fully comply with the new obligation.