Commissioner Brussels Webinar: Can I acquire Belgian citizenship?

Since Brexit, acquiring Belgian nationality has become increasingly appealing to UK citizens. Becoming Belgian not only offers a route to unconditional residence and democratic rights in Belgium, but also restores your rights as an EU citizen — including freedom of movement within the rest of the EU.

After a certain period of residence in Belgium, adult UK citizens residing in Belgium can acquire Belgian nationality so long as they meet specific eligibility requirements. There are various routes to citizenship, each with their own conditions. British children can also acquire Belgian nationality, but they have access to a different set of possible routes with their own specific rules.

In recent years, a number of questions have arisen regarding the eligibility of UK citizens for Belgian citizenship, in particular in light of isues related to their residence status (for example, as holders of Special Identity Cards) or to their employment status (for example, as posted workers or EU civil servants).

This webinar will outline the general eligibility conditions and process for Belgian nationality, while especailly focusing on some of the questions that have arisen for UK citizens. We will also share some insights into the latest developments in practice and in caselaw. After the presentation, we will open a Q+A and address questions from participants.

Speakers

• Chair: Amélie Bovy, Legal Adviser Welcome Desk, commissioner.brussels
• Wout Van Doren, Senior Associate, Fragomen Brussels
• Jana Schellemans, Senior Associate, Fragomen Brussels
• Anthony Valcke, Avocat au Barreau de Bruxelles, Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales, Avvocato presso il Consiglio dell' Ordine degli Avvocati di Palermo, Adjunct Professor of Law at Vesalius College, and Visiting Lecturer in EU Migration Law at the University of Kent

If you are interested in joining this session, please contact [email protected].