Country

Pathways to Belgian Residency and Citizenship

Belgium

Belgium offers EU work, self-employment, and study routes in the heart of Europe, most leading toward long-term residence and, in time, citizenship. Belgium permits dual nationality.

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Ways to qualify

Career & business

For people with a job offer, in-demand skills, or a business to build. Most of these routes lead to settlement, and in time to citizenship.

Belgium EU Blue Card Belgium's EU Blue Card is for highly qualified non-EU workers with a qualifying Belgian job offer. It generally requires higher professional… residency Belgium Single Permit Belgium's Single Permit is the main residence-and-work route for non-EU employees who will work in Belgium for more than 90 days. It generally… residency Belgium Professional Card Belgium's professional card route is for non-EU nationals who want to run a self-employed activity in Belgium. It generally requires a credible… residency Belgium Researcher Belgium's researcher route is for non-EU researchers with a hosting agreement from an approved Belgian research organization. It generally requires an… residency

Family

For joining a partner, parent, or child who already lives there — or claiming citizenship through marriage.

Belgium Family Reunification Belgium's family reunification route lets certain non-EU family members join a Belgian citizen in Belgium. It generally covers spouses, qualifying… residency Belgian Naturalization by Marriage Belgium's marriage nationality declaration is for spouses of Belgian citizens who have built a life in Belgium. It generally requires five years of… citizenship Belgium Family Reunification with Resident Belgium's family reunification route can let certain family members join a non-EU citizen who is legally living in Belgium. It generally requires a… residency

Ancestry & heritage

A parent, grandparent, or birth in the country can make you a citizen already — or let you claim it, often without relocating.

Belgian Citizenship by Birth in Belgium This citizenship pathway is for people who may already be citizens because they were born in Belgium or in another qualifying birth situation… citizenship Belgian Citizenship by Descent Belgian citizenship by descent usually depends on having a Belgian parent when you were born. Born-abroad cases may also depend on where the Belgian… citizenship Belgian Nationality Recovery Belgian nationality recovery is for people who previously held Belgian nationality and lost it. It generally requires proof of the former Belgian… citizenship Belgian Nationality for Belgium-Born Residents Belgium has a nationality declaration route for adults who were born in Belgium and have legally lived there since birth. It is separate from… citizenship Belgium Permanent Residence Belgium offers more secure long-term or permanent residence options for many non-EU residents after several years of lawful stay. It generally… residency

Study

Routes to study there, and often to stay on and work after you graduate.

Belgium Student Visa Belgium's student residence route is for non-EU students accepted into qualifying higher education or study in Belgium. It generally requires… residency

Citizenship by residence

Once you've lived there long enough and settled, you can often apply to become a citizen.

Belgian Nationality as Parent Belgium has a nationality declaration route for certain parents of Belgian children under 18. It generally requires five years of legal residence in… citizenship Belgian Naturalization (10-year residence) This citizenship pathway is for long-term residents of Belgium. It generally requires enough lawful residence, good character, and any language,… citizenship Belgian Naturalization (5-year residence) This citizenship pathway is for long-term residents of Belgium. It generally requires enough lawful residence, good character, and any language,… citizenship

Other routes

Nationality-specific schemes and special cases.

Belgium Au Pair Belgium's au pair route is a cultural-exchange residence option for young people placed with a Belgian host family. It generally requires being in the… residency