Belgium and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Belgium has allowed dual citizenship since 2007, and Russia does not end its own. Here is what a Belgian passport takes in 2026: 5 years of residence, language, integration and work.

In short

Yes: Belgium does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, and Russia does not end its own. A Russian citizen only has to notify the Interior Ministry of the Belgian passport within 60 days.

Previous passport on naturalisation	Kept
Country rule	No need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basis	Belgian Nationality Code (Code de la nationalité belge)
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

There are no restrictions on either side, so the task is to meet the Belgian conditions for the citizenship declaration and not forget the Russian notification duty.

What Belgium requires on naturalisation

The Belgian Nationality Code does not require giving up the previous passport: dual citizenship has been allowed since 2007. The main route is a citizenship declaration after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. You must prove everything at once: one of the official languages, French, Dutch or German, at basic level; social integration through a diploma, an integration course, 400 hours of vocational training or five years of work; and economic participation, 468 working days in the last 5 years or 6 quarters of contributions as self-employed. On the filing date you need an unlimited right of residence.

After 10 years the language and participation in community life are enough, without the working-days requirement. Spouses of Belgian citizens need 5 years of residence and 3 years of marriage with life together in the country. The fee since 29 July 2025 is 1,000 euros, about $1,200 in 2026 with indexation. The government has agreed to raise the language level and introduce a test on knowledge of society, but until the law is passed the existing conditions apply.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Live in Belgium for 5 years without gaps and obtain an unlimited right of residence.
Prove the regional language with a certificate, a diploma from a Belgian institution or a course certificate.
Gather proof of integration and work: an integration course or diploma and 468 working days over 5 years.
File the declaration at the municipality and pay the fee; the public prosecutor reviews it.
Get a Belgian passport; you do not have to surrender the Russian one.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

There is no step at which you need to give up Russian citizenship. The main risk lies not in Belgian law but in Russian law: failing to file the notification carries criminal liability.

What happens to children

A child born in Belgium to a Belgian parent is Belgian by birth. If both the Belgian parent and the child were born abroad, citizenship is passed on by declaration within 5 years of birth. If the other parent is a Russian citizen, the child also gets Russian citizenship.

For Russia such a child remains its citizen, and the notification of a second citizenship for minors is filed by their legal representatives.

Taxes and military service

You become a Belgian tax resident by place of residence and centre of interests, not by passport. Income tax is 25% to 50% plus a municipal surcharge, usually 6-8% of the tax. In 2023 Russia suspended the main articles of the tax agreement with Belgium, so income from Russia may be taxed in both countries.

Compulsory conscription in Belgium has been suspended since 1994. Russia regards a person with two passports only as its own citizen, so Russian obligations, including military registration, remain.

Common mistakes

Not notifying the Russian Interior Ministry. Failing to file is a crime under Article 330.2 of the Criminal Code: a fine of up to 200,000 roubles or community service, and a late filing is an administrative fine.
Allowing a gap in residence. An expired card or a long absence resets the five years.
Falling short on working days. You need 468 days in 5 years as an employee or 6 quarters of self-employed contributions.
Proving language with the wrong document. An exam certificate, a diploma from a Belgian institution or a course certificate works.
Sending documents without an apostille. Documents from Russia are apostilled and translated by a sworn translator in Belgium.

How to get Belgium citizenship

Belgian citizenship is obtained by declaration after 5 years with language, integration and work, or after 10 years with language and participation in community life. The first step is a residence permit: work, family, study or your own business. Details on the page Belgian citizenship.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Belgium citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Build five years without gaps

The law does not stop you filing a Belgian citizenship declaration on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: a gap in residence from an expired card, too few working days, language proved with the wrong document, a forgotten notification to the Interior Ministry. We track working days and integration documents over five years, prepare translations and apostilles and file the declaration at the municipality.

The cost of support depends on the basis and the family; a consultant will calculate it in the chat.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Belgium and Russian citizenship at the same time?

Yes: Belgium does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, and Russia does not end its own. A Russian citizen only has to notify the Interior Ministry of the Belgian passport within 60 days.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Belgium citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Can you hold Belgian and Russian citizenship at the same time?

Yes. Belgium has allowed dual citizenship since 2007, and Russia does not end its own. You only need to notify the Interior Ministry of the Belgian passport within 60 days.

Do you have to give up Russian citizenship for Belgian?

No, the Belgian Nationality Code does not require renunciation.

How many years must you live in Belgium before citizenship?

5 years with language, integration and 468 working days, 10 years with language and community participation, or 5 years with 3 years of marriage for spouses of citizens.

How much does Belgian citizenship cost?

The declaration fee since 29 July 2025 is 1,000 euros, about $1,200 in 2026 with indexation.

What language is needed for Belgian citizenship?

French, Dutch or German at basic level. The government has agreed to raise the level, but the law has not been passed yet.

Will a child get both citizenships?

Yes, if one parent is Belgian and the other a Russian citizen: the child becomes a citizen of both countries.

Where do you apply for Belgian citizenship?

The declaration is filed at the municipality where you live and then reviewed by the public prosecutor.

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Belgium and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both

What Belgium requires on naturalisation

What Russia requires

How to keep both passports: step by step

What happens to children

Taxes and military service

Common mistakes

How to get Belgium citizenship

This topic in other countries

FAQ

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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