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Belgian nationality


Acquisition of Belgian nationality

A foreigner can apply for the Belgian nationality by declaration, subject to several variable conditions depending on their situation (residence, economic, linguistic, integration, etc.).

Granting of Belgian nationality

A minor child of a foreigner who has become Belgian may be granted the Belgian nationality under certain conditions.

Recovery of Belgian nationality

A foreigner who lost the Belgian nationality by acquiring another nationality before 2007 or by failing to declare retention between the ages of 18 and 28 may submit a motivated request to recover their Belgian nationality from the Embassy or from Belgium (after obtaining a visa D).

Possession of status

A foreigner who has been mistakenly considered as Belgian for more than ten years by the Belgian authorities may submit a motivated request to retain this Belgian nationality.

Extension of the five-year deadline for children born abroad to Belgian parents who were themselves born abroad

A Belgian parent born abroad who has been unable to declare their child's Belgian nationality within five years of birth is entitled to submit a request to the Belgian courts to seek an extension of this deadline.

Naturalisation

A foreigner who can demonstrate exceptional merits may apply to the House of Representatives for Belgian nationality.