Ways to Obtain Belgian Citizenship: By Birth, Marriage, and Long-Term Residency
Entrance
Belgium is a country located in the heart of the European Union and is notable for its multicultural structure. Belgian citizenship is of great importance in terms of obtaining permanent rights within the country and benefiting from the free movement advantages offered by the European Union.
The main ways to acquire Belgian citizenship are:
✅ Citizenship by birth
✅ Citizenship by marriage
✅ Citizenship by long-term residence
This article will detail the requirements for acquiring Belgian citizenship, the legal processes involved, and the reasons why applications might be rejected
1. Belgian Citizenship by Birth (Jus Soli & Jus Sanguinis)
Not every child born in Belgium automatically becomes a Belgian citizen. Citizenship the principles of Jus Soli (territorial basis) and Jus Sanguinis (blood relationship) .
A) Citizenship by Blood (Jus Sanguinis)
📌 Children born to a Belgian parent become Belgian citizens.
📌 Where the child is born is irrelevant.
📌 If at least one parent is a Belgian citizen, the child is a citizen by birth.
B) Citizenship by Birth (Jus Soli)
📌 Children born in Belgium whose parents are stateless automatically become Belgian citizens.
📌 A child can also become a Belgian citizen if one of their parents has legally resided in Belgium for at least 10 years and it can be proven that the child lived in Belgium at the time of birth.
💡 Important Note:
📌 If the child's parents are not Belgian citizens, but the child has legally resided in Belgium until the age of 18, they can apply for citizenship.
(For more information, see our article: https://ferhatkule.av.tr/dogum-yoluyla-belcika-vatandasligi-jus-soli-jus-sanguinis/)
2. Belgian Citizenship by Marriage (Naturalisation Par Mariage)
In Belgium, foreigners who marry a Belgian citizen do not automatically acquire citizenship. The Belgian government applies strict criteria for citizenship applications through marriage.
A) Conditions for Citizenship Through Marriage
✅ Applicants must have legally resided in Belgium for at least three years.
✅ The marriage must have lasted at least three years and the couple must have been living together de facto.
✅ The applicant must demonstrate integration into Belgian society.
✅ Applicants must be fluent in one of Belgium's three official languages (Dutch, French, or German).
B) Citizenship Application Process Through Marriage
📌 Applications are submitted to the local municipal offices (commune/gemeente).
📌 The application documents are as follows:
- Marriage certificate
- Residence permit (document proving at least 3 years of residence in Belgium)
- Language proficiency certificate
- Criminal record certificate (document showing no crime against public order has been committed)
📌 Applications are processed within an average of 6 to 12 months.
💡 Important Note:
📌 If a fake marriage (where the marriage was entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship) is detected, the application will be rejected and the person may be deported.
(For more information, see our article: https://ferhatkule.av.tr/belcikada-evlilik-yoluyla-vatandaslik-alma-sureci-ve-gereklilikler/ )
3. Belgian Citizenship Through Long-Term Residence
Foreigners who have lived in Belgium for a long time are entitled to apply for citizenship if they meet certain conditions
A) Long-Term Residence Requirements
📌 Legally residing in Belgium for at least 5 years
📌 Demonstrating integration into Belgian society
📌 Having economic independence and a regular source of income
📌 Proving language proficiency (Dutch, French, or German)
📌 Having a clean criminal record
💡 Important Note:
📌 The citizenship period is 5 years for EU citizens and 10 years for those from non-EU countries.
B) Citizenship Application Through Long-Term Residence
📌 Applications are submitted to the local municipality (commune/gemeente).
📌 Required documents:
- Residence permit and residency documents
- Documents proving employment or ownership of a business
- Language proficiency certificate
- Tax returns and income documents
📌 Applications are usually processed within 12 to 24 months.
(For more information, see our article: https://ferhatkule.av.tr/uzun-sureli-ikamet-yoluyla-belcika-vatandasligi/ )
4. Reasons for Rejection of Belgian Citizenship Applications
📌 Submission of incomplete or incorrect documents
📌 to meet language proficiency requirements
📌 Lack of integration into Belgian society
📌 Presence of serious criminal records
📌 Application with forged marriages or documents
📌 Presence of outstanding tax and social security debts
💡 Those whose applications are rejected can appeal the decision and initiate legal proceedings.
5. What can be done if a citizenship application is rejected?
If the citizenship application is rejected, the following legal avenues may be pursued:
A) Administrative Appeal (Recours Administrative)
📌 An appeal can be filed with the Ministry of Interior within 30 days of the notification of the rejection decision
B) Application to the Administrative Court (Recours Contentieux)
📌 If the administrative appeal is rejected, a case can be filed with the Belgian Administrative Court (Conseil d'État).
Conclusion
✅ Belgian citizenship can be acquired through birth, marriage, and long-term residence.
✅ Blood relatives have direct citizenship rights.
✅ To obtain citizenship through marriage, one must reside in Belgium for 3 years.
✅ To obtain citizenship through long-term residence, one must live in Belgium for at least 5 years.
✅ To avoid application rejection, language proficiency, economic independence, and integration requirements must be met.
Obtaining legal support is crucial for the success of the application
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