Nationality
Significant changes since 2013
The Belgian parliament has adopted an important and significant amendment to the Belgian Nationality Code: citizens who do not legally reside in Belgium will no longer have the possibility to acquire voluntarily the Belgian nationality. Subsequently, from 01/01/2013 onwards:
- Naturalization of persons who do not have their principal residence in Belgium, is no longer possible;
- the Declarations of Option (Option of nationality on the basis of the Belgian nationality of the spouse or Option of nationality between 18 and 22 years) are no longer possible at the Embassy;
- the Declaration of possession of status is void;
- Re-acquisition of the Belgian nationality is no longer possible in a foreign country.
The attribution of the Belgian nationality to a child and the Declaration of retention of the Belgian nationality, remain unchanged. The Embassy is therefore still competent.