Residency and citizenship details for Belgium

Belgium is part of the EU so people with citizenship of countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) can move, live and work freely in Belgium.

Here are some of the ways to live in Belgium if you are a citizen of a non-EEA country:

Work or business related visas

If you have a recognized university degree or professional experience as well as a work contract or binding job offer, you may be eligible for an "EU Blue Card". The Blue Card is a four-year temporary work and residence permit. This also gives you free movement within the Schengen area and enables your family to join you. If you do not have a work contract or job offer, you can register on the EU Blue Card Network, where European employers can view your details and connect with you around job opportunities. This is also where you apply for the EU Blue Card.
If are not eligible for an EU Blue Card but you are coming to work for a company in Belgium, you'll need to apply on the regional website where you will be working. Belgium is divided into three different regions; Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital region and each has its own local government and policies.

Through investment:

If you invest more than €350,000 in an existing Belgian business or incorporate a new Belgian company, you can apply for a residency visa.

Through your Family

If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident of Belgium, you are probably eligible for residency. Marriage to a Belgian citizen does not have a direct influence on your nationality. Please note that your status of spouse needs to be legally recognised in this country.
See the citizenship section below for more information on residency or citizenship based on descent.

Working Holiday Visa

Citizens of Australia, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan aged 18–30 may be eligible for a 12 month Belgian working holiday visa

Here are some of the ways to get citizenship in Belgium:

If your mother is a Belgian citizen and you were born in Belgium after 1st January 1967, you are probably also a Belgian citizen.
If your father is a Belgian citizen and you were born in Belgium, you are probably also a Belgian citizen.
If your father is a Belgian citizen, and you were born before 1st January 1985 outside of Belgium, you are probably also a Belgium citizen.
If either parent is a Belgian citizen and you were born outside Belgium after 1st January 1985 you may be a citizen of Belgium. You had to be registered as a citizen before the age of 5 OR your Belgian parent needs to have been born in Belgium or in Belgian Congo before 30th June 1960 or in Rwanda or Burundi before 1st July 1962. If your parents didn't register you before the age of 5 and you were not given another nationality before the age of 18, then you may still qualify for Belgium citizenship.

The passport for Belgium allows you to travel to 160 countries without a visa.

Its global rank is 11.

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