Granting of Belgian nationality (under 18 years old)

To have one's main residence on the territory of the City of Brussels

The law identifies 3 different situations:

1. Child born of a Belgian parent

The nationality declaration must be submitted before the child turns 5.

4 conditions must be satisfied:

• child under 5 years of age
• child born abroad
• child born of a Belgian parent at the time of the child's birth
• child of a parent born abroad

2. Child born of a foreign parent or adopted by a foreign adoptive parent

The Belgian nationality of a child under 12 can be applied for by a special nationality declaration.

3 conditions must be satisfied:

• Child was born in Belgium and has had its main residence there since birth
• Parent or adoptive parent has lived for at least 10 years in Belgium
• At least one of the parent or adopter authorised to reside indefinitely in Belgium at the time of the declaration

3. Child adopted by a Belgian citizen

As a Belgian adoptive parent, you can make a declaration of granting Belgian nationality to your adopted child within 5 years from the day the adoption takes effect and as long as the child is under 18.

4 conditions must be satisfied:

• child under 18 years of age
• child born of a Belgian parent at the time the adoption takes effect
• child born abroad
• adoptive parent born abroad

Information:

• By e-mail to nationalitebelge@brucity.be stating your national number
• By calling 02 279 34 60
• By appointment, at the counter of the Administrative Centre of the City of Brussels

Submission of your complete file:

By appointment, at the counter of the Administrative Centre of the City of Brussels

• ID card or residence card
• The child's birth certificate, translated and legalised if necessary
• Other documents depend on the procedure followed

50 euros

Once the file is complete, you can make an appointment to submit it to us. We will send it to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which has 4 months to issue its opinion. If the decision is positive, you must add the administrative time needed to process and complete your file. You will then receive a call to apply for your Belgian identity card.

External site Nationality (in French, FPS Justice)