How to Get Belgium CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Belgium, subject to the conditions below. Belgium allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Belgium for at least 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person is proficient in language of the country (certification), unless person demonstrates that he/she cannot work due to a handicap or invalidity or is retired.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person has adequate social integration, unless person demonstrates that he/she cannot work due to a handicap or invalidity or is retired.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person has been convicted for a serious criminal offence.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person has adequate work participation, unless person demonstrates that he/she cannot work due to a handicap or invalidity or is retired
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Belgium, subject to the conditions below. Belgium requires an application, after which citizenship must be granted if conditions are fulfilled.
Person is the spouse of a citizen. Other conditions: proficiency in language of the country (certification), no convictions for serious criminal offence, adequate social integration in local community, 5 years of residence in Belgium (three years of which in common household). Only applies to marriage, not to registered partnership.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Belgium.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Belgium to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen who was born in Belgium.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen who was born abroad (by declaration within five years after birth). (Automatic acquisition if person has not acquired citizenship of another country at the age of 18.)
Birth in the country
For people born in Belgium, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship.
Birth in country
Child is born to non-citizens who have lived in Belgium at least 10 years before the birth of the child and who have filed a citizenship claim for the child before the age of 12 years.
Birth in country (two generations)
Person is born in Belgium to a person who was also born in Belgium and resided legally there at least five of the ten years preceding the person's birth.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is under the age of 12 and was born in Belgium to parents who have resided there for at least 10 years (declaration by parents).
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person was born in Belgium and has resided there since birth (by person)
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Belgium, the rules below set out what applies. No authority decides this matter, since citizenship follows directly from the law of Belgium.
Person is a minor whose parent is acquiring citizenship and has parental authority over the child, provided that the child resides in Belgium.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Belgium is the basis of this route. No authority decides this matter, since citizenship follows directly from the law of Belgium.
Person is born in Belgium and adopted by a citizen, or person is born in another country and adopted by a citizen who (1) was born in Belgium or (2) applies for citizenship for the person within five years after the adoption or (3) the person holds no other citizenship.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Belgium, the rules below set out what applies.
Transfer to other relatives
Person is the parent of a citizen. Other conditions: Belgian citizen must be a minor, proficiency in language of the country (certification), no convictions for serious criminal offence, adequate social integration in local community, 5 years of residence in Belgium.
Transfer from deceased citizen
Person is the child of a deceased citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Belgium, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Belgium requires an application, after which citizenship must be granted if conditions are fulfilled.
Person has lost citizenship other than by withdrawal and has legally resided in Belgium for at least 12 months immediately preceding the declaration.
Very long residence
This route covers people with an extended period of residence in Belgium, subject to the conditions below. Belgium requires an application, after which citizenship must be granted if conditions are fulfilled.
Persons has been resident in Belgium for at least 10 years. Other conditions: proficiency in language of the country (certification), no convictions for serious criminal offence, and adequate participation in local community.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below.
Foundlings
Person is found in Belgium of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Belgium and is not entitled to citizenship of another country (no declaration of statelessness required).
Stateless persons
Person is a recognised stateless person and has legally resided in Belgium for 2 years.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Belgium. Belgium allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Persons legally resides in Belgium and has demonstrated exceptional achievements (scientific, sports, culture) that are in the special interest of the country. Other conditions: resident in Belgium.
Not available in Belgium: Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Belgium for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Under the law of Belgium, 5 years applies, in line with the usual requirement across Western Europe.
Check where Belgium sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | 10 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
 France | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Germany | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Liechtenstein | 10 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Luxembourg | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Netherlands | 5 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 12bis(1)(2), 12bis(1)(4).
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Belgium Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/belgium/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/belgium/">How to Get Belgium Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Belgian citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Belgium requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Belgium allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Belgium accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Belgian citizenship?
A language test or certificate forms part of the requirements for Belgian citizenship.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Belgian citizenship?
Applicants must pass a civic knowledge test or present a certificate for Belgian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Belgian citizenship?
Belgium does not require you to give up your current citizenship for Belgian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Belgium citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Belgium. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Belgium citizenship by descent?
Yes, Belgium has a descent route. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Belgium citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Belgium.
Related pages
Also see: Belgium passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.