Naturalisation and citizenship in Belgium

How to become Belgian

1. Born in Belgium and resided there for ever

Conditions
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have always legally resided in Belgium

Documents
1. Birth certificate
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with

2. Married to a Belgian for three years (art. 12bis § 1.3 °)

Conditions
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay
• Proving knowledge of one of the 3 national languages (level A2)
• Proving social integration (by 3 possibilities)

Documents
1. Full copy of the birth certificate (legalized/apostilled and translated)
2. Duplex photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
3. Proof of Belgian nationality of the spouse
4. Excerpt from the Marriage Act (translated and legalized, if celebrated abroad)
5. Certificates of residence with address history (of each
of the spouses)
6. Proof of the social integration and knowledge of one of the three
National languages. Or:
-by a diploma of the minimum upper secondary obtained in Belgium
-by a certificate of follow-up of an integration course (with level A2) *
-by a certificate of follow-up of at least 400 hours of training
Professional + proof of 234 working days (if independent, 3
Quarters of social contributions)
* If the course has been carried out in another language region, it must be added
A proof of the knowledge of the language of the region where the application is made.
Ex: one must add proof of the knowledge of the French if the course was
Carried out in Flanders and the application for nationality is filed in Wallonia.

3. After 5 years of legal stay (art. 12bis § 1 2 °)

Conditions
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay
• Proving knowledge of one of the 3 national languages (level A2)
• Proving social integration (by 4 possibilities)
• Be able to prove its economic participation

Documents
1. Full copy of the birth certificate (legalized/apostilled and translated)
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
4. Proof of the social integration and knowledge of one of the three national languages. Or:
-by a diploma of the minimum upper secondary obtained in Belgium
-by a certificate of successful professional training of at least 400 hours
-by a certificate of follow-up of an integration course (with level A2) *
-Working for five years without interruption at the time of the application
5. Evidence of its economic participation: individual accounts proving 468 working days in the last 5 years (self-employed: 6 quarters of social contributions) **
** may be replaced by days of study or vocational training
Under certain conditions.
* If the course has been carried out in another language region, it is necessary to add proof of the language knowledge of the region in which the application is made.
Ex: A proof of French knowledge should be added if the course was carried out in Flanders and the application for nationality is filed in Wallonia.
.
4. Disabled, disabled or at the age of pension (art. 12bis § 1 4 °)

Conditions
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay

Documents
1. Full copy of the birth certificate (legalized/apostilled and translated)
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
4. Documents proving that you have been disabled for 5 years or disabled

5. Parent of a minor Belgian child (art. 12bis § 1 3 °)

Conditions
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay
• Proving knowledge of one of the three national languages
• Proving social integration (by 3 possibilities)

Documents
1. Full copy of the birth certificate (legalized or apostilled and
Translated)
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
4. Proof of the Belgian nationality of the child and proof of the relationship of filiation
5. Proof of the social integration and knowledge of one of the three
National languages. Or:
-by a diploma of the minimum upper secondary obtained in Belgium
-by a certificate of follow-up of an integration course (with level A2) *
-by a certificate of follow-up of at least 400 hours of vocational training + proof of 234 working days (if independent, 3 quarters of social contributions)
* If the course has been carried out in another language region, it is necessary to add proof of the language knowledge of the region in which the application is made.
Ex: A proof of French knowledge should be added if the course was carried out in Flanders and the application for nationality is filed in Wallonia.

6. After 10 years of legal residence (art. 12bis § 1 5 °)

Conditions
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have 10 years of uninterrupted legal stay
• Knowledge of one of the three national languages
• Proving participation in the host community

Documents
1. Full copy of the birth certificate (legalized/apostilled and translated)
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
4. Proof of knowledge of one of the 3 national languages level A2
5. Documents proving that one participates in the life of its host community. Examples: certification followed by the integration course, Diploma, Volunteer Attestation, proof of work, etc.

7. Naturalization for exceptional merits (art. 19 § 1)

Conditions
• Have 18 years minimum

Documents
1. Full copy of the birth certificate (legalized or apostilled and translated)
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
4. Proof that one has exceptional merits (a doctorate, a high-level sportsman who wants to integrate the Belgian team, a recognized artist, an important member of the sociocultural milieu ...)

8. Naturalization for recognized stateless persons (art. 19 § 2)

Conditions
• Have 18 years minimum
• Have 2 years of legal residence in Belgium

Documents
1. Attestation of birth (issued by the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons)
2. Certificate of residence with address history
3. Double-sided photocopy of the identity card, certified in accordance with
4. Evidence of the recognition of the status of Stateless persons

• The person concerned must be in possession of an unlimited residence permit at the time of application (cards B, C, F, F +, E, E +, D)
• Each application costs 150 euros
• Some documents are directly added to the file by the Civil registrar (e.g. Certificate of residence)

Hi Phipiemar,

Thank you for the detailed post.

all the best,
Bhavna

Dear Bhavna,

I have a particular motivation in wanting Belgian citizenship and that is because I'm British and want to stay in Brussels post Brexit so can only answer from that perspective. The commune where I live which is Etterbeek have told me that to become a Belgian national one needs:

*to have resided uninterruptedly in Belgium for 5 years
*be economically active i.e. working either on a freelance or employed basis and paying social security contributions 
*speak either French, Dutch or German to level A2 (elementary).
*have a clean criminal record

In terms of documents required, Belgian ID card, birth certificate, entry in the register of self-employed persons (my case), police clearance report, address history, language test and a confirmation of social security contributions paid would be required.

But to become Belgian through residency etc, one must be a permanent residence first which happens automatically after 5 years. Your 'e' card is exchanged for an 'e' plus.

The whole process costs about Eur 150 excluding translation and authentication each case being debated in parliament! You'd think they'd have more pressing issues wouldn't you?

Hope I've been of help.
Alex

Hi Bhavna,

Belgium allows dual citizenship. Whether you need to give up your current nationality depends on the policy of your country, not Belgium.

Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. My country does not allow dual citizenship and so for this reason alone, I am not considering to acquire Belgian citizenship.

I have gone from residentcy to citizenship after being here 6 years. It id fairly easy with a few considerations and not quite automatic. I had to ask for it but no real vhecks or questions asked. Not sure i will go for duel nationality given the cost at it rising and talks of stopping duel.

Main advantage for me is I could roam around Europe without having to ask for entry visa. Downside is that if I want to go to my country of origin, I am limited to 30 days stay, unless I ask for a visa allowing me to stay longer.

Hi All,

Its awesome reading about naturalisation and citizenship in Belgium

I have been living in france for six years and hope to have my French nationality (applied in March 2017)

I arrive in Belgium in July 2017.

Regards

Dear Sir

I have been living in belgium for 3 years and I have been worked for about 1and half year my wife is Belge and I have one year child who is belge as well can I apply for nationality

A quick Google check shows you have to be resident and working there for 5 years before you can apply.
I would get your wife to find out for you.

Indeed, let your wife visit the local commune and ask when can you apply for nationality.

Hi. Does anyone knows if I am qualified to have a Belgium passport as a partner of a Belgian who has been officially living together (wettelijk samenwoning) since 2012. I have had my f card renewed sometime in 2017 to f+ but I am unsure if I qualify to apply for 🇧🇪 Passport as an unmarried partner but as a legally cohabitant who has not been economically active within those years. I attended school to learn the language and also have the certificate to proof I attended a social intergration course.