If, as a Belgian adult, you voluntarily acquire citizenship in another country
The lifting of the prohibition on multiple citizenships for Belgian adults who voluntarily acquire citizenship in another country, established by the law of 27 December 2006, was implemented in two steps:
From 9 June 2007 onwards, Belgian nationals who acquired citizenship in a country that was not party to the Council of Europe Convention on the reduction of cases of multiple nationality, signed in Strasbourg on 6 May 1963, retained their Belgian citizenship.
States that are party to the Council of Europe Convention are Austria, Denmark, Spain, France, Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway and the Netherlands.
From 28 April 2008 onwards, the lifting of the prohibition on multiple citizenship is complete, meaning specifically that any Belgian national who voluntarily acquires citizenship in one of the countries listed above retains their Belgian citizenship.
The law on dual citizenship does not require any formality. You therefore do not need to make any declaration to a municipal service or diplomatic office abroad.
NB: this measure has no retrospective effect. If, in the past, you lost your Belgian citizenship, you do not recover it automatically; you have to make a declaration of recovery.
You may, as a Belgian holding dual citizenship, renounce Belgian citizenship by making a declaration to that effect. This declaration may be made to the registrar in the municipality where you have your main residence or at the Belgian embassy or consulate in the country where you reside.
If, as a non-national, you acquire Belgian citizenship
As a person with citizenship in another country, you can obtain dual citizenship if you acquire Belgian citizenship, for example by means of a declaration of citizenship or naturalisation, and you retain your original citizenship. It is in this case likewise the legislation in your country of origin which determines whether you can retain your original citizenship.
Legal references
- Art. 386 of the law of 27.12.2006 containing various provisions (I), MB 28.12.2006
- AR 25.04.2007 setting the date of entry into force of Article 386(1) and (2) of the law of 27 December 2006 containing various provisions (I), MB 10.05.2007
- AR 23.04.2008 setting the date of entry into force of Article 386(1) and (2) of the law of 27 December 2006 containing various provisions (I) with respect to States Party to the Council of Europe Convention of 6 May 1963 on the reduction of cases of multiple nationality and on military obligations in cases of multiple nationality, MB 30.04.2008
- Art. 22(1)(1) of the Belgian Code of Citizenship (repealed)
Published on December 12th 2020