A nomination for a Royal honour must be submitted to the minister of Foreign Affairs. This nomination can also be sent through one of the Dutch ambassadors abroad. The minister sends the nomination to the Civil Orders Advisory Commission. The remainder of the procedure is the same as for nominations for people living in the Netherlands.

The decision on a recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen is in the hands of the minister of Foreign Affairs. This procedure also applies to foreign diplomats and foreign servicemen. In the case of foreign servicemen, the minister of Foreign Affairs decides on the recommendation in consultation with his colleague, the minister of Defence.