Recognised refugees who have made Belgium their home and become part of its community may become citizens there. Refugees who are granted refugee status in Belgium have many of the same rights and protections as Belgian citizens. They may also seek for Belgian citizenship after satisfying certain legal requirements. While the procedure is open to everyone, there are legal requirements that must be met. This is to make sure that the candidate really lives in Belgium and wants to be a member of the national society.
Legal residency and length of stay
A refugee may seek for citizenship in Belgium after living there lawfully for five years without leaving. This five-year term starts when the individual is formally given refugee status, not when they first arrive in Belgium. The refugee must have a valid residence permit and dwell in Belgium the whole time. You may go on short excursions overseas, but if you are gone for a long time or go back and forth a lot, it might break the law.
The legal stay must also be based on the right status and not be broken. Refugees are allowed to live in a country for humanitarian reasons, therefore they are deemed to be living there lawfully for the purpose of applying for nationality. Having subsidiary protection status is akin to having full refugee status, but it doesn’t necessarily provide you the same privileges. You should check this before you start the citizenship application process.
Language skills and integration
One of the most crucial things you need to do to become a Belgian citizen is show that you have successfully integrated into Belgian society. Refugees must show that they have adjusted successfully to the country’s language, culture, and way of life. This usually means passing an official language exam in Dutch, French, or German, which are the three official languages of the country, or showing evidence of having studied/worked in that language.
Refugees are also expected to fit in socially and economically. You may show this by getting a job, becoming involved in your community, doing volunteer work, or finishing an official integration course offered by the local government. These classes mainly teach about Belgian laws, history, and social conventions. They assist newcomers grasp the values and structure of Belgian society.
Procedure for declaration of nationality
A recognised refugee may file a declaration of nationality at the civil register office (commune or municipality) where they live after the requirements are satisfied. Along with this statement, you need to send in confirmation of your refugee status, where you live, your language skills, and how well you are integrating. The local civil registrar looks over the application and sends it to the Public Prosecutor’s office for additional inspections and verification.
If no one objects within a certain amount of time, generally four months, the applicant is given Belgian citizenship, and the decision is written down in the civil registry. The procedure is meant to be easier for migrants who have already been through a lot of trouble and are determined to start over in Belgium. But if your application isn’t comprehensive or you don’t fulfil all the legal standards, it might take longer or be rejected.
Special considerations for stateless refugees
Refugees who are also stateless may have to deal with more problems, but they may still apply for Belgian citizenship under the same circumstances. Belgium understands it can be difficult to obtain certain legal documents in these cases, so it may show flexibility if the applicant demonstrates good faith and cooperation with the authorities. For those who don’t have a country, getting citizenship might finally provide them the stability and complete legal identity they’ve been waiting for after years of being displaced.
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