Belgian citizenship by naturalization

Legal grounds for citizenship

There are several ways to obtain Belgian citizenship:

• Naturalization. After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Belgium, provided certain conditions are met.
• Marriage to a Belgian citizen. After 5 years of living in the country, at least 3 of them married to a Belgian citizen.
• Birth or descent. If one of your parents is a Belgian citizen, or if the child was born in Belgium in certain circumstances.
• Adoption. A child adopted by Belgian citizens can obtain citizenship.
• Exceptional merit. For a significant contribution to Belgian culture, sport, science or the economy.

How to get resident status for naturalization

To live in Belgium and go through naturalization, you first need resident status. The main legal grounds for a residence permit are:

• Employment. If you have a job offer from a Belgian employer and a work permit.
• EU Blue Card. For specialists with a university degree and a job offer paying above a certain amount a year.
• Self-employment and business. For people who plan to work for themselves or open a business in Belgium.
• Study. For students admitted to accredited Belgian institutions, for the duration of their studies.
• Family reunification. For spouses and children of Belgian citizens or of people legally residing in the country.
• Humanitarian grounds. For asylum seekers or other humanitarian reasons.

Conditions for the 5-year route

The main route is a nationality declaration after 5 years of continuous legal residence. You must prove all of the following:

• Language. One of the official languages - French, Dutch or German - at A2 level.
• Social integration. A Belgian school or university diploma, vocational training of at least 400 hours, an integration course or 5 years of continuous work.
• Economic participation. 468 working days in the last 5 years as an employee or 6 quarters of contributions as self-employed.
• Status. An unlimited right of residence at the time of filing.

Other periods

• 10 years - A2 language and participation in community life are enough, without the 468-day requirement.
• Spouse of a Belgian - 5 years of residence and 3 years of marriage and cohabitation in Belgium, plus language and integration.
• Retirees and people with disabilities who cannot work - 5 years and language, without economic participation.

What it costs in 2026

• Nationality declaration fee - $1,160 (1,030 euros).
• Language course and exam - public courses are often free or cost a few dozen dollars, private ones from a few hundred.
• Integration course - usually free in the regions, registration only.
• Birth certificate with apostille and sworn translation - up to $120 per document.
• ID card and passport - commune fees, around $120 for both.
• Residence permit at the relocation stage - fees for the work permit, card and health insurance.
• Belgian company registration with us if you move as an entrepreneur.
• Our support - quoted after a consultation, depending on the residence basis and family.

We work out the total for your family in the chat.

Documents and where to get them

• Birth certificate - from the civil registry, a duplicate if lost. Apostille and sworn translation into the regional language.
• Language proof - an exam certificate, a Belgian diploma or a course certificate.
• Integration proof - a diploma, integration course certificate or 400 hours of training, employment records for 5 years.
• Economic participation proof - a social security employment record or self-employed contribution statements.
• Residence history - an extract from the commune population register.
• Fee payment receipt.

Documents from Russia and other countries outside the European Union need an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator in Belgium.

Requirements and how to get approved

• A gap in legal residence - an expired card, a long absence, a period without a valid basis.
• Not enough working days - fewer than 468 days in 5 years or gaps in self-employed contributions.
• Language not proven with the right document.
• A prosecutor's objection - serious personal grounds: a criminal record, a threat to public order, false statements.
• Tax debts - planned by the government as a separate ground for refusal.

Taxes

• Income tax - from 25% to 50%, plus a municipal surcharge, usually 6-8% of the tax.
• Social security contributions - 13.07% of an employee's salary, around 20% for the self-employed.
• Capital gains tax on shares, bonds and crypto-assets - 10%, with the first $12,000 a year exempt.
• Securities account tax - 0.15% a year on accounts above $1.2 million.
• Inheritance tax - under regional rules, from 3% to 27-30% for children and spouses.

Residence for tax depends on your home and centre of interests, not your passport. More in Belgian taxes.

What changes in 2026

• The fee rose from 29 July 2025: from about $170 to $1,160 (1,030 euros) with indexation.
• A citizenship exam and B1 language. The government agreed to introduce a civic knowledge exam for all applicants and raise the language level from A2 to B1 in the regional language. Until the law is passed A2 applies, but it is wise to prepare for B1.
• Deprivation of nationality for serious crimes - a bill approved by the Chamber in January 2026.
• A 10% capital gains tax on financial assets from 2026.

Alternatives to compare

• Dutch citizenship - also 5 years, but you give up your first citizenship.
• Luxembourg citizenship - 5 years, dual citizenship allowed, Luxembourgish required.
• French citizenship - 5 years, reduced to 2 after study at a French university.

How we work

1. We choose the residence basis and check how it affects the citizenship timeline.
2. We prepare documents, translations and apostilles.
3. We support the residence permit, renewals and the move to an unlimited right of residence.
4. We track working days and integration documents over 5 years.
5. We prepare and file the nationality declaration at the commune.

We fix our fee in writing after a consultation.

Advantages of a Belgian passport

How to get Belgian citizenship step by step

FAQ

188 countries visa-free with a Belgian passport