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Belgian Nationality Costs
It will be a few hundred euros, the costs of obtaining new copies of your certificates from the UK, getting them officially translated, the costs of any other certificates you may require (e.g. language competency), the cost of new ID photos in addition to the actual cost of the application.
Do not forget needing to speak one of the Official languages. English is not one of them. Had you considered taking up citizenship first ?
It's the price stated on all official sites if you are considering declaration procedure, 150 euro in cash Rue de la Regence, 50 euro in cash to your maison communale, any other costs involved in getting a birth certificate legalised and translated which could be 100 euro.
Go google it for the official websites.
PS speaking one of the 3 official declaration is made by a declaration, no proof needed, if you've worked continuously for 5 years.
Citizenship = nationality.
My understand of the situation is at odds with SHORTOF.
Nationality declaration
From the age of 18 a person can obtain Belgian nationality by signing a nationality declaration if that person meets one of the following criteria:
born in Belgium and with main place of residence in Belgium, without any interruptions since birth OR;
a declaration may be made by a foreigner who is the parent of a Belgian child OR;
one is married to a Belgian citizen and has been living together during the past three years and provided the foreign spouse has legally resided in Belgium for five years OR;
if one has resided in Belgium for five years provided the person is handicapped, invalid, or retired OR;
the person has had a main place of residence in Belgium for at least ten years and has an unlimited residence permit or authorisation to settle in Belgium OR;
a former Belgian citizen who lost citizenship other than by forfeiture;
I will be at the the Foreign Affairs department tomorrow and will ask for clarification.
Legally citizenship = nationality
What I wrote is accurate, you do not need to PROVE being able to speak the 3 official languages if you have fulfilled the social / economic integration by working 5 years continuous. It is assumed under these conditions, you have learned one of the 3 languages. When you put in your dossier, you have to declare, by writing by hand in one of the 3 languages, that you have a knowledge of one of the 3 languages, you are given the exact words to write and have to copy them. If you are applying under other conditions, not 5 years continuous working, you should have to prove knowledge to a certain level of one of the 3 languages. I've helped several people through this procedure.
You don't need to go to any Foreign Affairs dept, it's all on the official websites the info on conditions, also the local maison communale should provide you with the same information.
Shortof is right.
If in doubt, go and ask at your local commune what you need to do. Mine were very helpful and welcoming.
And yes, if you have lived and worked here for 5 years continuously, you don't have any language test.
I would have thought at moment in current political situation: PRICELESS
Thank you SHORTOF for clarifying this, I happily admit my understanding is limited and based upon documents I have read and probably misunderstood, along with discussions with those who have achieved Citizenship.
One question not addressed however; if at all, does this vary if one has not employed, but moved here to be with a partner.
