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Language requirements for Belgian nationality

Question

Due to the Brexit I'm considering applying for Belgian nationality but I have a lack of language skills - I understand a but of French and can ask for a loaf of bread in Flemish :-) How thoroughly is your proficiency in one of the three official languages checked? I meet all the other criteria for being a Belgian citizen.

Sally Tipper

According to allrights.be, you need one of the national languages to A2 standard. Levels are described here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for...

Perhaps another reader can advise on how rigorously this is checked.

More info and links in this article: http://www.xpats.com/going-native-how-become-belgian

Jun 28, 2016 18:12
BXL

I would like to tag in another question for Brits : is it possible to have dual nationality Brit / Belgian ? Would make travel a little easier (that's the only advantage I can think of). Thanks

Jun 29, 2016 09:49
kasseistamper

@BXL
I have dual nationality Brit / Belgian. You can travel around the EU and to various other - mainly holiday - destinations on your Belgian ID card. A passport is not needed.

Jun 29, 2016 12:09
AJ

Not sure about this second question. But I really would not rush into applying for Belgian passport. As long as you are "established" here (not sure how many years that will be), you will surely get permit to live in "Schengen-land". So you will have best of both worlds: you can reside here as well as in UK, should you ever want to in the future. If you have to surrender your UK passport, you would most likely also give up your automatic right to UK residence.

Jun 29, 2016 12:13
kasseistamper

@AJ
I don't understand your comments.
Most Belgians do not hold a passport. Why would they need one? A Belgian ID card covers travel throughout most of Europe as well as the common holiday destinations in N Africa - Morocco, Tunisia etc. - and elsewhere.
Why do you imagine that a Brit would have to surrender their UK passport? Dual nationality is perfectly acceptable and, if you are born British, you never lose your right to UK residence.
When my UK passport expired I did not bother to renew it as I had not needed it since taking dual nationality; I have no expectation of ever again travelling outside Europe. I've never had any problem travelling to the UK on my Belgian ID card and my very obviously British surname often causes comment at border checks that I must have dual nationality.

Jun 29, 2016 14:03
AJ

@Kasseistamper
Many people do travel outside Europe like myself, and for this you need a full passport. It is my understanding that the Belgian "ID cards" which we hold, are in fact "residence cards", not quite the same thing. They are not equivalent to Belgian nationality. My primary point is that people dn't need to panic and apply for Belgian nationality - unless you want to be a Belgian of course. If you're established here (working, paying taxes) you'll be fine.

Jun 29, 2016 17:14
kasseistamper

If you take Belgian nationality you will get a Belgian ID card rather than the "residence card" which you hold.
If you hold a Belgian ID card as a Belgian national then that is sufficient to allow you to travel around Europe.
The vast majority of Belgians - and, I suspect, Europeans generally - don't travel outside Europe and so don't need a passport.

Jun 29, 2016 18:39
becasse

And if you do need a passport, a Belgian one is very much easier to obtain, one visit to the commune to order it, another visit to pick it up - and no silly background colour requirement for the photo, just plain white.

Jun 29, 2016 21:25
J

I was told that as I fall under the "5 years continuous residency" and "Working and paying social security for at lease 485(?) days in the past 5 years" category, that I would not have to prove my language skills.

It is assumed that if you've been living and working here for 5 years, then that proves that the following criteria are fulfilled:
- Social integration
- Economic integration
- Sufficient knowledge of at least 1 national language

Your personal circumstances may differ. My local commune were extremely helpful in advising which of the various routes to Belgian nationality would be the best for me to follow. I suggest you do that as well.

Jun 30, 2016 09:45
J

I was told that as I fall under the "5 years continuous residency" and "Working and paying social security for at lease 485(?) days in the past 5 years" category, that I would not have to prove my language skills.

It is assumed that if you've been living and working here for 5 years, then that proves that the following criteria are fulfilled:
- Social integration
- Economic integration
- Sufficient knowledge of at least 1 national language

Your personal circumstances may differ. My local commune were extremely helpful in advising which of the various routes to Belgian nationality would be the best for me to follow. I suggest you do that as well.

Jun 30, 2016 09:45

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