The number of people acquiring Belgian nationality is on track to reach its highest level since the early 2000s. The group is also becoming increasingly diverse in terms of country of origin.
In the first nine months of this year, 45,538 people received Belgian passports, marking a 9% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Statbel figures analysed by De Tijd.
The last time the numbers were this high by the end of September was in 2001, shortly after the introduction of the fast-track nationality law under Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. Back then, the annual figure came to just under 63,000. If the current pace continues in the last months of 2024, the threshold of 60,000 new Belgians will be in sight again for the first time since 2001.
Although this fast-track legislation has been abolished for some time, the number of new Belgians has been rising year on year since 2021. However, criteria to gain Belgian citizenship is stricter than ever. Applicants must take an integration course, demonstrate language proficiency and legal residence of at least five years, and in many cases people only pass if they are actively working.
More diverse countries of origin
Migration experts link the rise in people obtaining citizenship to the refugee crisis of 2015-2016, when the number of people fleeing conflict and other disasters rose significantly. Many individuals who were recognised as refugees then and subsequently completed integration processes have been able to become Belgian citizens in recent years.
This also explains the more diverse array of countries of origin across applications. The largest group are from Morocco, followed by Syria (between January and September, 2,725 Syrians officially became Belgian). Romanians, Afghans and Turks are expected to complete the top five this year.
There has been a large rise in Palestinians who have gained Belgian nationality: 381 in 2022 and 573 in 2023 compared to fewer than 100 in previous years. From January to September this year, 1,053 Palestinians obtained Belgian nationality.
Just over a quarter of the foreign nationals who became Belgians in 2024 come from an EU Member State. This share is in line with the figures of previous years.
