Jonathan Faull, the former leader of the Commission’s Brexit task force, requested a ‘high level action’ by the Commission to facilitate the acquisition of dual nationality for British European Union (EU) officials in Belgium and other countries. British officials seeking Read More …
In 2015, a total of 26,238 persons became Belgian nationals, according to the country’s Ministry of Justice. In the previous year, 25,738 foreigners obtained Belgian nationality, a quarter less than in 2013. Read more here and consult pur country profile Read More …
The terrorist attacks that happened in Paris on 13 November 2015 have been followed by a toughening of citizenship rules in a number of countries. This is reflected in both a more cautious approach to naturalisation and in proposals to Read More …
A Belgian citizen born and living in Hong Kong suddenly found himself stateless when the consulate of Belgium refused to renew his passport. Mr. Sze Chung Cheung was born in Hong Kong and did acquire Belgian nationality by birth through his mother, a citizen of Belgium. Subsequently the family moved to Brussels but Mr. Sze returned to Hong Kong in 2009. He had lost his citizenship because he was not born in Belgium, did not live there between ages 18-28 and did not make a declaration that he intends to remain Belgian national before the age of 28, which is required by the law in such cases. According to EUDO Citizenship expert Patrick Wautelet, the law does not require any official to warn the persons concerned that they may lose their citizenship. Last year the Court of Appeal ruled that the deprivation of Marc and Louis Ryckmans of their Belgian citizenship in similar circumstances was unlawful.
By Patrick Wautelet, EUDO CITIZENSHIP expert Figures on acquisition of Belgian nationality in 2013, the first full year of operation of the modified Code of Belgian Nationality show a dramatic decrease in the number of acquisitions. Only 4,981 foreigners obtained Read More …
Since Belgium introduced its stringent new requirements for naturalisation (applicants must now demonstrate ‘exceptional merits’ in order to qualify) this year the number of applications drastically fell. According to a recent press report there were only 508 applications from the Read More …
Read the news report in Le Soir (in French).
Read the article in the Figaro and a special report on Gérard Depardieu’s case (both in French).
On 19 July, a proposed new Belgian Nationality law passed the Belgian Parliament’s Justice Committee with a large majority from left, right, and centre (see previous news item). It was voted in the plenary session on 25 October 2012 and Read More …
Read the article in EurActiv.
