Eligibility quiz
Were you adopted by a Belgian citizen?
Benefits
Benefits for your childBenefits for your child
Belgian passport and ID
Belgian citizens can get a Belgian passport and identity card.
Live in Belgium for life
Belgian citizens can enter, live in and return to Belgium without renewing their citizenship.
They can use ordinary public services on the same basis as other Belgian citizens.
Study in Belgium
Belgian citizens can study in Belgium on the same basis as other Belgian citizens.
Work in Belgium
Belgian citizens can work or run a business in Belgium on the same basis as other Belgian citizens.
Get help abroad
Belgian citizens can seek consular help abroad.
Those registered at a Belgian consulate can get documents and more effective emergency help; help for an unregistered visitor is narrower.
Vote in elections
Belgian citizens can vote in federal, regional and European elections if they meet the age and other rules.
Those abroad can vote in federal elections from 18 and European elections from 16, if they register at a consulate and enrol, and meet the other conditions.
Use public healthcare
Belgian citizens who are insured or otherwise meet the rules can get healthcare costs reimbursed; citizenship alone does not make healthcare free.
Get social support
Belgian citizens may qualify for social support, including unemployment benefits, pensions, family benefits and a living wage, if they meet the relevant work, residence, contribution or financial conditions.
How to apply
Applying automatic in BelgiumApplying automatic in Belgium
Find your town hall
Your adoptive parent finds the town hall where you live and asks which documents it needs for your Belgian nationality record.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which town hall in your city handles Belgian nationality records?”
Complete your adoption
If it has not already taken effect, your adoptive parent completes the adoption and obtains any recognition it needs. If you qualify because you have no other nationality, you automatically lose Belgian nationality if you receive another nationality before age 18.
Find adoption guidanceSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a parent get an adoption recognised for Belgian nationality?”
Gather your documents
Your adoptive parent prepares the documents required by the town hall.
See required documentsProvide your records
If your nationality record needs to be created or corrected, your adoptive parent gives your adoption and civil-status records to the town hall. Your parent can then ask the town hall about a Belgian passport for you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How does a parent provide adoption records for a child's Belgian nationality record at the town hall in your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Bring your birth certificate and an official record of your Belgian adoptive parent's date and place of birth. Bring originals or copies certified by the offices that issued them.
Adoption decision
Bring the adoption decision or deed showing when your adoption took effect. If the date is shown in a separate official record, bring that too. Bring originals or copies certified by the offices that issued them.
Parent's citizenship record
Bring an official record showing that your adoptive parent is Belgian. Ask your municipality or consulate which record it accepts, and bring the original or a copy certified by the office that issued it.
Parent's residence record
Bring an official record showing where your Belgian adoptive parent usually lives. This may be included in the official record identifying your parent; bring the original or a copy certified by the office that issued it.
Parent's identity record
Bring an official record identifying your Belgian adoptive parent and stating their date and place of birth, nationality and usual residence. Bring the original or a copy certified by the office that issued it.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Citizenship can be lost
At 28, some born abroad after 1 January 1967 lose citizenship: another citizenship, mainly abroad at 18–28, no qualifying Belgian work, retention declaration or voluntary grant after 18.
Adults can give it up or lose it by taking another citizenship.
Courts can remove it for fraud, serious breaches, certain crimes or sham marriage; minors can lose it with a parent or by adoption, with safeguards against statelessness.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Life in Belgium
English Facebook group for people living in Belgium interested in Belgian local life
Join on Facebookr/AnchorLessEurope
English Reddit group for people living in Europe interested in visas
Join on Redditr/europe
English Reddit group for people interested in local life in Europe
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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