Dual Citizenship in Belgium: Can You Keep Your Original Nationality?

Belgium allows people to hold Belgian citizenship alongside another nationality. If you already have a foreign nationality and later acquire Belgian citizenship, Belgian authorities generally do not require you to give up your original nationality. However, whether you can actually keep both nationalities also depends on the law of your country of origin.

Can You Have Dual Citizenship in Belgium?

Yes. A person can legally hold Belgian citizenship and one or more other nationalities.

Belgian authorities recognize several situations in which a person can have multiple nationalities. This includes Belgians who automatically receive another nationality, as well as foreign nationals who acquire Belgian citizenship while retaining their original nationality.

If you are a foreign national and become Belgian, Belgium does not generally require you to renounce your original citizenship.

However, this does not automatically mean that your original country will allow you to keep its citizenship. Each country has its own nationality laws, so you should check with the authorities of your country of origin before assuming that you can legally keep both.

When Did Belgium Allow Dual Citizenship?

Belgium previously had restrictions on multiple citizenships. The rules were changed through legislation adopted in 2006, with the lifting of the restrictions taking place in stages.

From June 9, 2007, Belgian citizens who voluntarily acquired the citizenship of certain countries could retain their Belgian nationality. From April 28, 2008, the removal of the restriction became complete, meaning that Belgian citizens who voluntarily acquire another nationality generally no longer lose their Belgian nationality because of that acquisition.

The change did not have retroactive effect. People who had already lost Belgian citizenship under the previous rules did not automatically regain it. They may need to follow a separate procedure to recover Belgian nationality.

What Happens If You Become Belgian?

If you already hold another nationality and acquire Belgian citizenship, Belgian authorities will not normally ask you to give up your original nationality.

This means you can potentially hold a Belgian passport as well as a passport from your country of origin, provided the other country also recognizes your right to retain its citizenship.

Belgian authorities will consider you Belgian when dealing with you as a Belgian citizen.

What If Your Original Country Does Not Allow Dual Citizenship?

This is where the rules can become more complicated. Belgium may allow you to keep your original nationality, but Belgium cannot determine the nationality rules of another country.

For example, if someone becomes Belgian while holding another nationality, the Belgian authorities will not normally require that person to renounce the original citizenship. But the authorities of the person’s country of origin may have different rules and could consider the acquisition of Belgian citizenship to affect their original nationality.

For this reason, anyone planning to obtain Belgian citizenship should check the nationality law of their original country before applying.

Important Exception for Some Belgians Born Abroad

There is an important exception that Belgian citizens with multiple nationalities should know about.

Certain people born outside Belgium can automatically lose Belgian citizenship at age 28 if they meet specific conditions.

Generally, this can apply to someone who was born abroad after January 1, 1967, holds one or more other nationalities, did not have their main residence in Belgium between the ages of 18 and 28, did not work abroad for the Belgian government or a Belgian company or association, and did not take the required steps to retain Belgian nationality.

There are specific rules concerning a declaration to retain Belgian nationality, and certain Belgian passport or identity card situations can also affect this requirement.

What Does Dual Citizenship Mean in Belgium?

For many people, dual citizenship means having Belgian nationality while also keeping the nationality of their country of origin.

This can allow a person to maintain legal ties with both countries, subject to the laws and obligations of each country.

However, having two nationalities does not mean that both countries will necessarily treat the person in exactly the same way. Nationality laws, passport rules, military obligations and other legal requirements can differ from one country to another.

Belgium generally allows dual and multiple citizenships. If you acquire Belgian citizenship while already holding another nationality, Belgian authorities do not normally require you to give up your original citizenship.

The key question is whether your country of origin also allows you to keep its citizenship after becoming Belgian.

Before applying for Belgian citizenship, it is therefore important to check both Belgian nationality rules and the law of your original country.