No rush from Brits to acquire Belgian nationality

As thousands of Brits race to secure European citizenship since the results of the Brexit vote on 24 June, Brussels has for the most part been spared from the rush. Several Britons residing in Brussels have applied for the Belgian nationality post-Brexit, but most have been asking only for information, writes Bruzz.

Since the referendum, about 50 British Uccle residents have started up the procedure to acquire a Belgian passport, whereas the municipal services in Schaerbeek report about five requests for information per day. But not everyone who has questions necessarily takes the next step to apply.

"Many do not meet the requirements," Stéphanie Bosmans of Saint-Gilles municipal services told Bruzz. "In order to obtain the Belgian nationality, you have to be working here already for at least five years, have a recognised diploma, demonstrate social integration and so on. Of the 35 people who came to ask for information so far, only 10 have submitted an application."

A similar trend can be seen in the other municipalities, according to Bruzz. They receive many questions, but few actual procedures. Out of a total of about 8,500 Britons residing in the capital, only about 100 have applied for Belgian citizenship.