How to Obtain Belgian Citizenship

Belgian citizenship can provide a long-term path to stability for applicants who meet the legal requirements.

Belgium is one of the most important countries that receive large numbers of immigrants, who are looking for permanent residency in Belgium and then obtaining citizenship.

Of course, you must fulfill all the required conditions in order to obtain it with ease, and then benefit from all the rights of Belgian citizens within the country, which we will explain through Europedia 24 europedia24.com.

Advantages of obtaining Belgian citizenship

Belgian nationality is the nationality held by citizens of the country, and you should know that the Belgian passport is one of the strongest passports in the world, as it is ranked fifth in the world.

A passport in Belgium gives its holder many advantages, as it enables him to travel to 191 countries around the world without a visa.

The most important advantages of obtaining Belgian citizenship are the following:

1. The ability to move easily to many countries.
2. The possibility of traveling to European countries, North and South America without the need to obtain a visa.
3. The possibility of entering European Union countries without any restrictions at all.
4. Possibility of obtaining unique job opportunities.
5. Completing the academic stages.
6. Obtaining consular protection.
7. Obtaining assistance from all Belgian embassies and consulates around the world.

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Conditions for obtaining Belgian citizenship

In order to obtain Belgian citizenship, you must fulfill all the required conditions, in order to be able to submit an application to the competent authorities.

The most important required conditions are the following:

1. The necessity of residing in Belgium continuously for a period of no less than 5 years.
2. Having a license to stay within the country.
3. The necessity of integration into Belgian society.
4. It is necessary to master one of the three official languages in the country, whether Dutch, French or German.
5. Work at least 468 days in advance.

However, there are some exceptional cases that can obtain Belgian citizenship immediately without having to adhere to the previous conditions, and these cases are as follows:

• Minor children can obtain citizenship after 5 years of residence if one of the parents is Belgian.
• Foreign persons married to Belgian persons can obtain citizenship after only 3 years.
• The parent of a Belgian minor child can obtain citizenship after only 5 years.
• Stateless people can obtain it after only two years of residence.
• The required conditions are relaxed in the case of elderly or sick people.

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Conditions for obtaining Belgian citizenship for children

The conditions required to obtain Belgian citizenship from children to other people differ, due to the presence of many exceptional cases.

We will explain to you the most important conditions required for children to obtain citizenship through the following:

1. A born child obtains citizenship automatically if one of the parents is Belgian, and if he is not Belgian, he must remain in the country for 5 years, with the need to prove the parents’ ability to care for the child.
2. Minor children adopted by a Belgian citizen automatically acquire citizenship.
3. Minor children whose parents are married to a Belgian citizen obtain citizenship after 3 years of residence.
4. Minor children who have been granted refugee status can obtain citizenship after 5 years of residence.

Documents required to apply for Belgian citizenship

After meeting the required conditions, most notably continuous legal residency within Belgium for no less than 5 years, you must prepare all the required papers to submit your application.

The most important papers and documents required to apply for citizenship in Belgium are the following:

• Fill out the Belgian citizenship application form with all the correct information, which you can obtain from the municipality in which you live or through the website of the Belgian Ministry of the Interior .
• The passport is valid for a period of no less than 6 months.
• Having a valid permanent residence permit in Belgium.
• An integration certificate that proves your ability to integrate into Belgian society, which you can obtain by passing language and culture tests.
• Opening a bank account in Belgium confirms your ability to bear the financial costs during the period of stay.
• It is necessary to prove housing by submitting a rental contract or title deed.
• A clean criminal record free of any crimes committed at all.
• Personal photos.
• Pay all fees required to submit the application.

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Steps for applying for Belgian citizenship

You are now ready to apply for citizenship in Belgium, after meeting all the conditions and preparing the required papers, by following the following steps:

• Download the citizenship application form from the municipality in which you live or the website of the Ministry of the Interior in Belgium.
• Fill out the form correctly with all the required information.
• Submit the application to the municipality by setting an appointment to go.
• Waiting for the application to be studied by the competent authorities through consultation with the Foreigners Affairs Office and the Public Prosecution, knowing that this step may take up to 4 months.
• If approved, you will receive an invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
• In case of refusal, you can file an appeal in the Court of First Instance in Belgium.

Ways to obtain citizenship in Belgium

There are many different ways that help you obtain citizenship in Belgium, also within the framework of fulfilling all the required conditions, as the most important of these methods are the following:

• Obtaining citizenship by birth: Citizenship can be obtained by birth or by right of blood, by having the child have a Belgian parent, which is the most common method within the country. It must be known that the country will not grant citizenship to those born on its territory automatically, if the parents are foreigners.
• Obtaining citizenship in Belgium through marriage: You must marry a Belgian citizen in order to obtain citizenship, but on the condition of residing in the country for a period of no less than 5 years, and that the marriage has passed for 3 years, in addition to adhering to the conditions of integration into society.
• Obtaining citizenship through naturalization: It is obtained by acquiring it after the approval of the granting authority, but on the condition of adhering to all the required conditions for Belgian citizenship.

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Multinationality in Belgium

Belgium allows people who hold Belgian state citizenship the possibility of acquiring another nationality without giving up their nationality, what is known as multiple nationality.

But there are some exceptions that you should be aware of, which are as follows:

1. Persons who hold the nationality of a country hostile to Belgium cannot be allowed to acquire Belgian nationality.
2. In the event of obtaining Belgian citizenship through naturalization, the original citizenship must be renounced.

Cases of withdrawal of Belgian citizenship

There are some cases that force Belgium to withdraw citizenship from citizens after obtaining it, in order to maintain security and safety within the country.

Cases of withdrawal of nationality are as follows:

• In the event of obtaining citizenship illegally by relying on incorrect information.
• Obtaining the citizenship of another country without permission from the authorities in Belgium.
• Committing serious crimes that threaten state security.
• Not participating in social life means not integrating into society.
• Lack of proficiency in one of the three official languages.
• In case of non-compliance with Belgian laws.

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Frequently asked questions about Belgian citizenship

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