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There are several ways for foreigners to obtain the citizenship of Belgium. The main method is called "declaration of citizenship." At the same time, there is a system called "naturalization," which is available to certain categories of migrants.
The main goal of the law is to limit the number of immigrants who can actually obtain citizenship. Each application is thoroughly reviewed and subsequently approved by government authorities. The processing time for submitted documents is up to 2 years.
Ways to Obtain Citizenship
According to Belgian law, it is not possible to become a citizen through investment activities. Purchasing real estate is also not an accelerator. All naturalization procedures are controlled by the municipalities of the country.
A foreigner can obtain Belgian citizenship by choosing one of the grounds provided by migration laws.
By Right of Descent
Children of Belgian citizens (both parents) automatically receive citizenship if:
- Born in the country.
- Born outside the country, but during the first 5 years of life, the parents applied for citizenship.
- Born abroad before reaching the age of 18, they have not obtained a passport of another country (this also applies to descendants of Belgians).
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By Adoptive Parents
An applicant can become a Belgian citizen if they were adopted by a Belgian citizen before the age of 18. The place of birth does not matter. The adopting parent must establish the child's status within 5 years of establishing guardianship. Additionally, a child born in the country and adopted by Belgian citizens or a foreigner residing in the country for at least 5 of the last 10 years becomes a citizen.
By Birth
Citizenship based on the right of birth is granted in the following cases:
- To an applicant born and permanently residing in the country, provided that the parents (or at least one of them) were also born and lived here for at least 5 years.
- To an orphan residing in Belgium without parents. However, the status is annulled if immigrant parents are found.
- To a child (both biological and adopted) under 12 years old, born in the country, if the parents (or parent) have obtained the right to permanent residence and filed an application for legalization of stay after 10 years of residence.
After a Certain Period of Residence
The option requires 5 years of legal residence in the country and evidence of integration into society. The applicant must be at least 18 years old and have legally resided in the country for 5 years. Proof of language proficiency (in German, French, or Dutch), integration into society, and economic participation in the life of the state are also required.
Pensioners (65 years of age or older) and persons with disabilities can also apply for a Belgian passport. Applicants are required to provide proof of their details to the Federal Social Security Office.
Through the Naturalization
Adult immigrants who have lived in Belgium legally for at least 2 years have the opportunity to apply under special conditions, bypassing the requirement to stay in the country for a certain period. Candidates need to demonstrate outstanding achievements in the field of research, social work, in sports. Obtaining a passport in this case is a privilege, not an obligation on the part of the applicant.
Persons who do not have citizenship of another state and have been legally residing in the country for at least 2 years can become a citizen through naturalization procedure.
Through the Restoration of Previously Lost Citizenship
Any adult applicant who has lost their citizenship of the country may apply for restoration, provided they have legally resided in the country for at least one year with the right of permanent residence. If the citizenship was voluntarily renounced, the royal prosecution may deny the restoration request.
Advantages of Belgian Citizenship
A Belgian passport offers its holder a number of benefits:
- Visa-free travel. Citizens can enter 184 countries worldwide without a visa, including the Schengen Zone, the EU, the USA, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
- Tax advantages. Business owners gain access to a favorable taxation system, enabling cost optimization.
- High-quality healthcare. Regardless of their place of residence, Belgian citizens have access to high-quality medical care in European clinics.
- Citizenship for family members. Spouses and children of the primary applicant are also eligible for Belgian citizenship.
- Freedom of residence within the EU. Belgian citizens can live permanently in any European Union country without restrictions.
Dual Citizenship
A second passport is not prohibited in Belgium. After obtaining a Belgian passport, there is no obligation to renounce your original citizenship.
There are no special procedures or restrictions for dual citizenship in Belgium. However, in case of application, it is important to take into account the legislation of both Belgium and the country where the second citizenship is held. Emigrants from some countries have the right to obtain a Belgian passport without renouncing oroginal citizenship.
Citizenship by Investment Program
In Belgium, you cannot “buy” a passport for a large investment, but the “golden visa” program has become one of the alternative options for obtaining citizenship. However, this method also takes time.
To obtain a residence permit, an investor needs to found a company or invest in an existing one. At the first stage, a residence permit is issued, then after 3 years it is legitimate to apply for a residence permit, and after 5 years - citizenship under the naturalization program.
Financial investments in existing organizations can be an alternative. The requirements remain the same: having an office and providing jobs.
The legislation of the kingdom does not specify the investment amount. However, based on practice, it is recommended to initially invest between 200,000 and 300,000 euros, as well as an additional 100,000 to 200,000 euros over the course of five years until the application for citizenship status is submitted.
Additionally, it is necessary to account for fees associated with obtaining a residence permit and other relevant procedures. Overall, during the five years of waiting, approximately 230,000 euros will be spent on fees for the main applicant and an additional 20,000 euros for each family member.
Recent reforms of the citizenship program
The main change in the Belgian nationality law in recent years has been the modification of the naturalization program. Before the amendments came into force, it was the most affordable option for obtaining a Belgian passport.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that before the adoption of changes in the rules there were 12 options for obtaining a passport. Now the basis is family ties and a legally defined period of residence in the country.
Step-by-Step Application Process
To obtain citizenship, a relocant must reside in the country for 5 years or more.The application process usually takes about 6 months.
Stages of Citizenship Process:
The first stage of naturalization involves obtaining a residence permit based on one of the applicable grounds — employment, business, family, or other reasons relevant to the applicant. The visa application is submitted at a consulate or embassy. The procedure depends on the foreign national's location. The processing time for a visa application varies depending on the grounds for naturalization. For instance, for students, the processing period can take up to three months. Upon the immigrant's entry into the kingdom, they must apply for a resident card at the local administration in their place of residence. The process of issuing a residence permit takes approximately three weeks.
After 5 years of residence, a relocant has the right to apply to the municipality for a permanent residence permit. There are several permits with no expiration date (B, K, EU+, F+). Depending on the grounds for staying in the country, the most suitable option can be chosen. Upon obtaining this status, the applicant has the right to immediately submit a request for a passport. Applications from foreigners for permanent residence are processed within up to 5 months.
The applicant's file is submitted to the civil registry department. The registration service sends a request to the Immigration Department, the Prosecutor's Office, and the State Security Service. If the authorities make a positive decision, the Prosecutor's Office passes the information to the civil registry office, which then registers the applicant as a full-fledged citizen of the country. The relocant receives the relevant documents.
Document Gathering and Application Submission
All documents must be provided with a high-quality copy, a translation into the official language, and certification by the embassy. The cost of document preparing is not included in the registration fees and must be paid separately.
Information about the result of the application review is published on the official Moniteur belge website. If the application is approved, the passport can also be obtained at the local administration.
List of Documents
The document package must contain accurate and reliable information about the applicant.
A special form is issued for submitting the application, which is directly handed over to the governmental authority when filing the documents. Instructions for completing the form are provided.
The required document package includes:
- An application form.
- Birth certificate.
- Passport.
- Documents confirming social integration and language proficiency (diplomas, certificates).
- Proof of contribution to the economy (a statement of work performed or contributions to social funds).
- Information about owned or rented property.
If applying for citizenship as the spouse of a Belgian citizen, a marriage certificate will be required. For individuals with disabilities, proof of their status is necessary, and for those who have lived in the country for at least 10 years, a written statement confirming their participation in community life is needed.
To obtain both an internal and international passport, a valid identity card must be provided. Photographs are not required, as they are taken on-site.
The registration fee is €150.
Review and Decision
The denial of a petition occurs due to the applicant's failure to meet one or more legislative requirements. Incomplete submission of documents or providing inaccurate or false information can also result in rejection. Authorized bodies evaluate the applicant's compliance with national security conditions and adherence to laws. If violations or suspicions are identified, the request may be denied.
A notification of rejection with an explanation of the reasons is sent to the applicant by mail. After this, the applicant has 15 days to file an appeal in the family court.
Disadvantages of Belgian Citizenship by Investment
First and foremost, it should be noted that there is no direct procedure for obtaining citizenship for investors. The "Golden Visa" program also requires time and involves going through a specific process of document preparation, which can take several years.
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