Belgium - Apply for Citizenship

ProcedureEdit

Citizenship granted by the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium

Application forms and instructions for information are issued by the local administration.
Required documents are collected, translated and legalized if necessary.
The application form is sent with the required documents to the Registrar of Vital Statistics of the place of residence or the Clerk of the House of Representatives - Naturalisation Service
This service requires the opinion of the prosecutor responsible for the applicant's residence.
After receipt of notice, the application is reviewed by the Committee on Naturalization of the House . The commission may propose possible further investigation, the adjournment, the adoption or rejection of the application.
The Commission proposal is submitted to the plenary session of the House of Representatives .
The document containing the proposals adopted by the Board is subject to Royal Assent.
The act is published in the Belgian Official Gazette .
The applicant becomes a citizen of Belgium from the date of publication. It will be convened by the local authority who will deliver his identity card.

Required DocumentsEdit

The required documents vary according to the legal base of the application. It is advisable to address the competent service for detailed information.

Documents issued abroad must be legalized and translated.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Civil Status

Nationalities

Administrative centre

Boulevard Anspach 6

4th floor

1000 Brussels Map

Tel: 02 279 34 61

Fax: 02 279 35 74

Email: [email protected]

Opening hours : Monday to Wednesday from 8:30 am to 3 pm, Thursday from 8:30 am to 6 pm, Friday from 8:30 am to 12 pm, the distribution of tickets takes place from 8:15 am

Telephone hours : from Monday till Friday from 8:30 am till 4 pm

Naturalization Service of the House of Representatives

Btiment Forum

Rue de Louvain 48

B-1000 Bruxelles

Mtro: Station Madou

Tl :+32 (0)2 549.93.00

e-mail: eb.erbmahcal@larutan

House of Representatives Website

EligibilityEdit

To apply for naturalization, the applicant must:

have reached the age of 18;
legally stay in Belgium;
be proven or can prove exceptional merits in science, sports and socio-cultural and thus can make a special contribution to the international reputation of Belgium;
convince authorities why it is almost impossible to acquire Belgian nationality by making a declaration pursuant to Article 12a of the Code of Belgian nationality.

or:

have reached the age of 18;
a stateless person in Belgium in accordance with international agreements;
legally stay in Belgium for at least 2 years.

Note:

Legal residence means:
regarding the time of submission of the request to be admitted or allowed to stay indefinitely in Belgium or to settle on the basis of the Aliens Act (2) ;
regarding the previous period: to be admitted or allowed to stay more than three months in Belgium or to settle there under the Aliens Act or the law of regulation (3).

(2) the law of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, establishment and expulsion of foreigners.

(3) the law of 22 December 1999 on the regularization of residence of certain categories of aliens residing in the territory of the United.

FeesEdit

The naturalization application form is free of any charge.

Other Cost:

paying the registration fee at the Registration Office in the Rue de la Rgence 54 - 1000 Brussels: 150 euro
for the demand of acquisition of the Belgian nationality: 12,50 euro (to be paid by Bancontact/Mister Cash preferably)
for the demand of attribution of the Belgian nationality for children of less than 5 years born in another country and from a Belgian father who was born in another country as well, for children of less than 12 years born in Belgium and after adoption: 5 euro (to be paid by Bancontact//Mister Cash preferably)

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.

Processing TimeEdit

Application procedures for citizenship may last about 5 to 8 months.

The procedure is finished immediately for children of less than 5 years born in another country and from a Belgian father who was born in another country as well, and after adoption.

For applications submitted to the House of Representatives

The naturalization process takes at least 2 years. Due to the large number of applications for naturalization, the process may take longer than the time announced.

The applicant will be notified about the decision of the commission in writing.

InstructionsEdit

Application for naturalization may be submitted in the following:

Naturalization Service of the House of Representatives:

Rue de Louvain 48

1000 Brussels

Contact Numbers: 02 549 93 00

at the municipality (Nationalities service), who will forward your application to the federal service of Naturalizations

Required InformationEdit

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the DocumentEdit

Citizenship represents the link between a person and a state or an association of states. Possession of citizenship is normally associated with the right to work and live in a country and to participate in political life.

There are several procedures to become a Belgian citizen.

naturalization, granted by the Federal Parliament on the basis of exceptional merit or to stateless
acquisition of citizenship based on birth in Belgium
declaration of acquisition based on a legal residence of 5 years in Belgium, the knowledge of one of the 3 national languages and social and economic integration
declaration of acquisition on the basis of marriage with a Belgian, a legal residence of 5 years in Belgium, the knowledge of one of the 3 national languages and social integration
declaration of acquisition for the parent of a minor child, based on a legal residence of 5 years in Belgium, the knowledge of one of the 3 national languages and social integration
declaration of acquisition for a person with disabilities or a disabled who can prove his or her inability to work
declaration of acquisition for a person who has reached the age of retirement based on a legal residence of 5 years in Belgium
declaration of acquisition on the basis of a legal stay of 10 years in Belgium, the knowledge of one of the 3 national languages and an active participation in the life of the welcoming community
attribution to children of less than 5 years, born abroad, from which the Belgian father was also born abroad and Belgian before the birth of the child
attribution to a child under the age of 12, born in Belgium and having its main home in Belgium since his birth and with parents who are staying in Belgium for at least 10 years (one parent has to have an unlimited legal stay)
statement of attribution following adoption
regaining of the Belgian nationality

Naturalization applications in Belgium are processed in accordance with the legislation in force at the time of their introduction. Applications submitted before 1 January 2013 will be treated in accordance with the regulations in force at the time. Applications submitted after January 1, 2013 will be processed in accordance with the rules laid down in the new law. The Royal Decree of 14 January 2013 (Moniteur belge of 21 January 2013) gives effect to this Act.

Information which might helpEdit

Denial of Application (House of Representatives)

The applicant has one month to comment regarding the decision of the commission. Appeals should be sent by mail to the recommended Naturalization Service. If the appeal is rejected, the applicant may submit a new application.

External LinksEdit

Belgian Nationality:

http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/4875

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.