Belgium Approves New Citizenship Revocation Law
Belgium’s federal parliament has approved a controversial new law expanding the judiciary’s powers to revoke Belgian citizenship from people convicted of serious crimes, particularly dual nationals and people who acquired Belgian citizenship after birth.
Under the new legislation, Belgian judges will soon be able to strip convicted offenders of their Belgian citizenship if they are found guilty of crimes considered a serious threat to society. These include organized crime, intentional homicide, rape, and serious sexual offenses.
The reform represents a significant expansion of the previous rules, which mainly linked citizenship revocation to terrorism-related cases.
The House of Representatives approved the bill on Tuesday evening following a proposal from Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden of CD&V. The measure is part of the commitments included in the federal coalition agreement.
Verlinden said the reform sends “a strong and clear signal,” stressing that people who commit serious crimes that threaten the foundations of Belgian society could lose their Belgian citizenship.
Strict Conditions for Revoking Belgian Citizenship
The law does not allow Belgian citizenship to be revoked automatically in every serious criminal case. Several strict conditions must be met.
First, the person must have received a final criminal conviction.
Second, the sentence must involve at least five years in prison.
Third, the conviction must concern crimes classified as posing a serious threat to society.
Another important condition concerns when the person obtained Belgian citizenship. The law applies to people who acquired Belgian citizenship within the 15 years before committing the crime. Under the previous legislation, this period was limited to 10 years.
A 15-Year Limitation Period and Tougher Rules for Terrorism
The legislation also introduces a 15-year limitation period for bringing proceedings to revoke Belgian citizenship.
In addition, the law provides for the automatic loss of Belgian citizenship for dual nationals convicted of terrorism.
However, courts will have an exceptional power to decide not to apply the citizenship revocation. In such cases, the court must provide a clear and detailed explanation for its decision.
When Will the New Belgian Citizenship Law Take Effect?
The new Belgian citizenship revocation law is expected to enter into force on May 1, 2026, following its publication in the Belgian Official Gazette and completion of the remaining legal procedures.
Criticism and Reactions in Belgium
The legislation has faced criticism from human rights organizations and opposition parties. Critics argue that the measure could have a disproportionate impact on dual nationals and raise questions about the principle of equality between Belgian citizens.
Supporters of the law, however, defend it as a necessary tool to strengthen public safety and take tougher action against serious crime.
The debate is likely to continue as Belgium prepares to implement the new rules, particularly over how the courts will apply the citizenship revocation provisions in individual cases.
