How to get the Belgian nationality?

You live in Belgium and would like to know how to get the Belgian nationality? Do not panic, this article will help you see more clearly through all these procedures!

Historically, the application for Belgian nationality can be submitted in two possible ways: through the declaration of nationality or through naturalization. However, naturalization is only granted in exceptional cases, which is why we will only explain here how to get the Belgian nationality by declaration.

The 5 categories of an application for Belgian nationality by declaration

Before the age of 18, we speak of an Attribution of Belgian nationality. It is obtained in 5 specific cases, namely :

1. Born of a Belgian parent.
2. Recognized by a Belgian.
3. Minor and adopted by a Belgian.
4. Born in Belgium.
5. Becoming Belgian at the same time as a parent or adopter.

After the age of 18, there are 5 different categories of declaration of nationality which will benefit from an examination for Belgian nationality:

1. Foreigners born and legally resident in Belgium.
2. Foreigners who have been legally resident in Belgium for 5 years.
3. A foreigner who has been legally resident in Belgium for 5 years and who is married to a Belgian or who is the parent of a Belgian minor child.
4. A foreigner who has been legally resident for 5 years and is of pensionable age or suffering from a disability or invalidity to carry out a professional activity.
5. Foreigners who have been legally resident in Belgium for 10 years.

For each of these categories, there are conditions to be respected in order to put all the chances on your side. Please note that you may be exempted from providing the following documents if you are listed in the National Register:

•  The certificate of nationality of the Belgian partner or child.
• Residence certificate.
• Proof of residence permit.
• The candidate is not required to produce the documents drawn up or transcribed at the municipality where the declaration of nationality is submitted: birth certificate, birth certificate of the Belgian child, documents establishing filiation, marriage certificate, etc.

1. Foreigners born and legally resident in Belgium

How to get the Belgian nationality in this case? The person applying for it must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be born in Belgium, i.e. have a Belgian birth certificate.
• To stay legally in Belgium and uninterruptedly since birth
• Be in possession at the time of the nationality application of an unlimited residence permit: card B, C, D, E, annex 8, F, E+, annex 8bis, F+.
• Have paid the 150 euro registration fee

2. Foreigners who have been legally resident in Belgium for 5 years

The person applying for Belgian nationality by declaration must:

• Be at least 18 years old; with a birth certificate (Belgian or foreign).
• Be in possession at the time of the nationality application of an unlimited stay: card B, C, D, E, annex 8, F, E+, annex 8bis, F+.
• Staying legally in Belgium and uninterruptedly for 5 years.
• Proof of knowledge of one of the three national languages (French, Dutch or German): Belgian diploma or certificate, foreign diploma or certificate (certifying a minimum A2 level in one of the three languages), 400 hours of professional training (with Forem, VDAB, Actiris, etc.), professional activity over the last 5 years or a French language test for Belgian nationality (German or Dutch).
• Proving your social integration.*
• Proving economic integration.
• Have paid the 150 euro registration fee.

*Rem: Social integration can be proven by a Belgian diploma or certificate, vocational training or by the exercise of a professional activity.

3. A foreigner who has been legally resident in Belgium for 5 years and who is married to a Belgian or who is the parent of a minor Belgian child

Here, the person is exempted from having to prove economic integration. However, he or she must still:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be in possession at the time of the application for nationality of an unlimited stay: card B, C, D, E, annex 8, F, E+, annex 8bis, F+.
• Staying legally in Belgium and uninterruptedly for 5 years.
• Proof of knowledge of one of the three national languages (French, Dutch or German).
• Proving social integration.
• Have paid the 150 euro registration fee.

1. If the foreigner is the parent of a Belgian child: he or she must demonstrate the existence of a parent-child relationship with a minor Belgian child (Belgian or foreign birth certificate), provide proof of the legal parent-child relationship with the child as well as a certificate attesting to the child’s Belgian nationality.
2. If the foreigner is married to a Belgian: he or she must demonstrate the existence of the marriage and the common residence for 3 years by means of a marriage certificate (Belgian or foreign), a certificate attesting to the partner’s Belgian nationality or a residence certificate with address history for each of the spouses justifying the common residence in the bonds of marriage during the 3 years preceding the nationality application.

4. Foreigners who have been legally resident in Belgium for five years and who have reached pensionable age or who suffer from a disability or invalidity that prevents them from working

The person is exempted from having to prove social integration, economic integration and knowledge of one of the national languages. However, he or she must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be in possession at the time of the nationality application of an unlimited stay: card B, C, D, E, annex 8, F, E+, annex 8bis, F+.
• Staying legally in Belgium and uninterruptedly for 5 years.
• A certificate of residence with a history of addresses and stays.
• Have paid the 150 euro registration fee.
• When the person has reached pensionable age (even if he or she continues to work): The birth certificate.
• When the person has a disability: A certificate from the Directorate General for Disabled Persons of the FPS Social Security proving the reduction in earning capacity.
• When the person suffers from a disability preventing him/her from exercising a professional activity. Proof by one of the following 4 documents:

1. 1. A certificate issued by the person’s insurance organization recognizing permanent invalidity.
   2. A certificate of early retirement on health grounds from the Administrative Health Service of the administration for which the person works (only for statutory civil servants).
   3. A certificate from the Fund for Accidents at Work or the Occupational Diseases Fund or the competent medical service of the administration certifying 66% incapacity (in the case of an accident at work or occupational disease).
   4. A copy of the final judgment attesting to 66% incapacity (if the person has been the victim of an accident outside the workplace).

5. Foreigners who have been legally resident in Belgium for 10 years

The applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years old (birth certificate).
• Be in possession at the time of the nationality application of an unlimited stay: card B, C, D, E, annex 8, F, E+, annex 8bis, F+.
• Have been legally residing in Belgium for 10 years without interruption.
• A certificate of residence with a history of addresses and stays.
• Have paid the 150 Euro registration fee.
• Proof of knowledge of one of the three national languages.
• Proof of economic and/or socio-cultural participation in the life of the host community.
• A reasoned statement testifying to his/her links with the host community and accompanied by any document that can attest to his/her participation in the life of the community.

How to submit your declaration of Belgian nationality?

The application for Belgian nationality by declaration should be submitted directly to your commune of residence. You can also ask there for all the necessary information you need. Go there without any hesitation!

For a complete file, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 35 days of submitting the declaration, confirming the admissibility of the file. For an incomplete file, you have 2 months to complete the missing documents which will be mentioned to you. If a negative opinion has been pronounced by the King’s Prosecutor, an appeal against this opinion may be lodged within 15 days.

Applying for Belgian nationality by declaration is not an easy task, but by following the rules indicated in this article you will succeed without any problems. You will find more details on the website.

That’s it! We have finished seeing all the essential elements for each of the cases of a declaration of Belgian nationality. If you apply correctly, you will have a much better chance of getting your application accepted.

We hope that this article has given you the smile and serenity you need to approach your various procedures. And for everything that concerns your money transfers to your loved ones, you can entrust them to Moneytrans with absolute peace of mind.