Belgium
Last Updated: 2026-03-31
Official Portal: Belgian Federal Public Service — Nationality
Embassy Finder: Belgian Diplomatic Network
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Residency for naturalization | 5 years lawful residence for nationality declaration; 10 years for naturalization by royal grant |
| Language requirement | A2 level in Dutch, French, or German (one of Belgium’s three official languages) |
| Civics test | No formal test; social integration demonstrated through participation in an integration course or employment, education, or vocational training |
| Processing time | 4—12 months (nationality declaration); longer for royal grant |
| Naturalization fee | EUR 150 registration fee |
| Dual citizenship | Fully permitted since 2010 (Code de la nationalite belge reform) |
| Citizenship by birth in Belgium | Limited jus soli — applies when the child would otherwise be stateless, or for third-generation residents |
| Citizenship by descent | Yes (jus sanguinis) — automatic if at least one parent is Belgian at time of birth |
| Governing law | Code de la nationalite belge (CNB) — Belgian Nationality Code (Wetboek van de Belgische nationaliteit) |
Dual Citizenship
Belgium fully permits dual citizenship. Since the reform effective 28 April 2008 (and subsequent amendments), the Belgian Nationality Code removed all restrictions:
- Belgians who acquire a foreign nationality do not lose Belgian citizenship.
- Foreign nationals who naturalize as Belgian are not required to renounce their prior nationality.
- This applies regardless of whether the other country is an EU member state or not.
Historical context: Prior to the 2008 reform, Belgian citizens who voluntarily acquired another nationality could lose their Belgian citizenship. The current position is a full liberalization aligned with the majority trend among EU member states.
Acquisition of Nationality
By Birth (Jus Soli)
Belgium applies a limited and conditional jus soli:
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Third-generation rule (Article 11 CNB): A child born in Belgium automatically acquires Belgian nationality at birth if one parent was also born in Belgium and resided in Belgium for 5 of the 10 years preceding the child’s birth. This targets third-generation immigrant families with established ties.
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Statelessness prevention (Article 10 CNB): A child born in Belgium who would otherwise be stateless acquires Belgian nationality at birth.
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Foundlings: A child found in Belgium whose parents are unknown is deemed Belgian until proven otherwise.
Important: Simple birth on Belgian territory to foreign parents who do not meet the above conditions does not confer Belgian nationality.
By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Belgian nationality is acquired automatically at birth if:
- At least one parent is a Belgian citizen at the time of the child’s birth (Article 8 CNB).
- This applies regardless of where the child is born (in Belgium or abroad).
- For children born abroad, the Belgian parent must declare the birth to the Belgian consulate within 5 years to ensure registration (Article 8(2)). Failure to register does not extinguish the citizenship but may create proof difficulties.
No generational limit with registration: Belgian nationality by descent continues through generations born abroad as long as each generation properly registers births at Belgian consular posts. However, the parent must have been a Belgian citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
By Adoption
A child under 18 adopted by a Belgian citizen acquires Belgian nationality if:
- The adoption is recognized under Belgian law (full adoption, not simple adoption for this purpose).
- The child is under 18 at the time of the adoption.
- For full adoption (adoption pleniere), the child acquires Belgian nationality automatically.
- For simple adoption (adoption simple), additional conditions may apply, including a declaration of attribution.
By Marriage
Marriage to a Belgian citizen does not automatically confer nationality. However, a foreign spouse may file a nationality declaration (Article 12bis CNB) after meeting the following conditions:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Residence in Belgium | 5 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence |
| Marriage duration | At least 3 years of marriage AND cohabitation in Belgium |
| Language | A2 level in Dutch, French, or German |
| Social integration | Demonstrated through integration course completion, 5 years of uninterrupted employment, or an educational diploma obtained in Belgium |
| No serious criminal record | No convictions for crimes carrying 5+ years imprisonment |
Note: The spousal pathway does not reduce the 5-year residence requirement. The marriage itself provides no residence reduction — it is the integration evidence that matters.
By Naturalization (Residency)
Belgium has two main pathways for foreign nationals:
1. Nationality Declaration (Article 12bis CNB) — Primary pathway:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Lawful residence | 5 years of uninterrupted lawful residence in Belgium |
| Language | A2 level in Dutch, French, or German (certificate from an official integration body, Selor, or equivalent) |
| Social integration | Proven by one of: (a) completion of integration course, (b) diploma from Belgian educational institution, (c) 5 years of uninterrupted employment in Belgium, (d) completion of recognized vocational training |
| Economic participation | 468 working days over the past 5 years (or equivalent social security contributions) |
| No serious criminal record | No convictions for crimes carrying 5+ years, or for listed offenses against public order |
| Fee | EUR 150 registration fee |
The declaration is filed at the civil registry (gemeentehuis / maison communale) of the applicant’s municipality. The public prosecutor’s office (Parquet) and State Security have 4 months to issue an opinion. The registrar then has 5 months total to approve or deny.
2. Naturalization by Federal Parliament (Article 19 CNB) — Exceptional:
For persons who have rendered exceptional services to Belgium in scientific, sporting, or sociocultural domains. This is granted by a specific act of the federal legislature and is extremely rare.
Loss and Renunciation
Voluntary Renunciation
A Belgian citizen may renounce nationality by making a declaration to the civil registrar (Article 22 CNB), provided:
- They are 18 years or older.
- They hold another nationality (renunciation must not cause statelessness).
- They are habitually resident abroad.
Renunciation is effective upon registration by the registrar. It is irrevocable.
Involuntary Loss
| Ground | Details |
|---|---|
| Acquisition by fraud | Belgian nationality acquired through fraudulent declarations, false documents, or sham marriage may be forfeited by court order (Article 23 CNB). The public prosecutor initiates proceedings. |
| Serious crimes against Belgium | Persons convicted of crimes against state security may be stripped of Belgian nationality by court order. |
| No genuine link (historical) | Under prior law, Belgians born abroad who never resided in Belgium could lose nationality at age 28. This provision was largely repealed, but some transitional cases may still exist. |
Important: Belgium does not strip citizenship for voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality (since the 2008 reform).
Restoration of Nationality
Recovery of Belgian nationality (Article 24 CNB):
Persons who previously held Belgian nationality and lost it may recover it by making a recovery declaration (declaration de recouvrement) at the civil registry of their Belgian municipality of residence, provided:
- They have been lawfully resident in Belgium for at least 12 months.
- They are at least 18 years old.
- They previously held Belgian nationality (by birth, descent, or naturalization).
The procedure follows the same timeline as a nationality declaration (opinions from the Parquet and State Security within 4 months).
For those living abroad: The declaration may be filed at the Belgian consulate, but the conditions (including return to Belgium for 12 months) still apply.
Stateless Persons and Foundlings
- Foundlings discovered in Belgium are deemed Belgian citizens until another nationality is established (Article 10 CNB).
- Stateless children born in Belgium acquire Belgian nationality at birth if they would otherwise be stateless.
- Stateless adults lawfully resident in Belgium may file a nationality declaration after meeting the standard 5-year residence and integration requirements.
- Belgium is a party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Document Checklist
Nationality declaration form (obtained from the commune/municipality)
Valid passport and Belgian residence permit (titre de sejour / verblijfstitel)
Birth certificate (apostilled + certified translation into Dutch, French, or German)
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Proof of 5 years continuous lawful residence (registration records from the commune)
Language certificate at A2 level (Dutch, French, or German)
Proof of social integration (integration course diploma, Belgian educational diploma, or employment records)
Proof of economic participation (468 working days — social security statements / DIMONA records)
Criminal background certificate (uittreksel strafregister / extrait du casier judiciaire)
Registration fee receipt (EUR 150)
Biometric passport photos
Sources
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Code de la nationalite belge (CNB) — Belgian Nationality Code, as amended. https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=1984062835&table_name=loi
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Federal Public Service Justice — Nationality. https://justitie.belgium.be/nl/themas_en_dossiers/personen_en_gezinnen/nationaliteit
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Belgian Diplomatic Network — Embassy and consulate finder. https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/embassies-and-consulates
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Myria — Federal Migration Centre — Independent body monitoring nationality law application. https://www.myria.be/
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European Convention on Nationality (1997) — Belgium is a signatory. https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=166