Dramatic drop in Belgian citizenship approvals

Only 1,775 people have obtained Belgian citizenship this year, it appears from figures released yesterday by MP Carina Van Cauter (pictured). In 2012, 45,000 people had acquired Belgian nationality, 38,000 of whom as the result of an application. For 2013, the figure currently stands at 1,775 - a 97% drop. The dramatic decrease is explained by the strict new legislation on nationality, which came into force on January 1. Applicants must have lived legally and permanently in Belgium for five years, master one of the country’s three official languages, and either follow an integration course, get a degree, or work for five years. People with a criminal record or who have been involved in a marriage of convenience are automatically excluded. The number of applications had increased significantly late last year, before the implementation of the new legislation.