For foreign nationals who meet the necessary criteria, Belgium offers citizenship trough naturalization.
A person must meet the following criteria in order to become naturalized as a citizen of Belgium:
Once a person satisfies these conditions, they can apply to the Belgian government for citizenship. A birth certificate, a proof of address, and a criminal background certificate are just a few of the documents that must be submitted as part of the application procedure, which can take several months.
The following steps are typically involved in the naturalization procedure to become a citizen of Belgium:
Meet the prerequisites: You must have lived legally in Belgium for a specific amount of time, which varies depending on your position, in order to qualify for Belgian citizenship by naturalization. If you are married to a Belgian citizen, for instance, you must have resided in Belgium for at least three years; if you are not, you must have done so for at least five years. Along with having a spotless criminal record, you must also demonstrate your absorption into Belgian society.
To support your application, you will need to gather the necessary paperwork, including a copy of your passport, proof of your residence in Belgium, proof of your financial stability, and documentation proving your fluency in one of Belgium’s official languages (Dutch, French, or German). Additional paperwork may also be requested by the authorities.
Send your application: You can send your naturalization application for Belgian citizenship to the municipality where you now reside. It’s vital to check with the municipality or the appropriate authorities for precise instructions because the application form and requirements may change based on your scenario.
Attend a meeting: After filing your application, you can be asked to meet with the authorities for a meeting to talk about your application and your integration into Belgian society.
Wait for processing: Depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of the case, the processing time for applications for Belgian citizenship via naturalization can change. A judgment might not be received for several months.
Take the oath of allegiance: If your application is accepted, you will be invited to a ceremony where you will swear allegiance to the King and the Belgian Constitution. You will receive Belgian citizenship after taking the oath, at which point you can apply for a passport or identification card.
It’s important to remember that the guidelines for getting Belgian citizenship via naturalization can change over time, so it’s always a good idea to check with the appropriate agencies to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information.
No. You must possess a working understanding of one of Belgium’s three official languages (French, Dutch or German)
No. You must have no criminal record to be eligible for Belgian citizenship by naturalization.
No. You must demonstrate financial independence and the ability to support yourself without relying on others.
The processing time for applications for Belgian citizenship via naturalization can change. A judgment might not be received for several months or even longer.