The nomination must be submitted to the authorities on the island where the candidate lives. The nomination is then sent to the Honour Commission of the Netherlands Antilles. In some cases, the authorities will first consult the advisory commission on the island.
After it receives a nomination, the Honour Commission sends a recommendation to the council of ministers of the Netherlands Antilles. This council determines whether a nomation is submitted.

If the council of ministers decides positively, the nomination is then submitted to the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles. He sends the nomination, together with his advice, to the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, the nomination is studied by the Civil Honours Advisory Commission. From that moment, the procedure is the same as in the Netherlands. The decision to recommend to Her Majesty the Queen is taken by the minister for the Interior and Kingdom Relations.