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Social integration to apply for Belgian nationality
Hello,
AFAIK, the requirements to apply for Belgian nationality (for non-EU at least) includes:
- Been in Belgium legally for 5-10 years
- The right to stay permanently (e.g. card B/C/D)
- Social integration (e.g. a Belgian university degree)
- Economic integration (works for >= 486 days, or paying tax >= 6 trimesters or 1.5 years)
I'm told that the last condition actually replaces the language requirement (knowing at least 1 of the 3 languages). But how do those 486 days count? Are they purely working days or they can include weekends and holidays? I suppose the latter is correct, and if so, having been working >= 3.5 years here (after 2.5 years of study), I should be eligible for the application (and yes, I've just got my D card).
Am I understanding this correctly, especially the requirement of 486 days?
It’s very complicated. You need to talk to the responsible person at your commune house to check everything they will require, because you need their support for your application. Officially they play no part in the decision, but in reality they can make it easy or difficult.
PR card
birth certificate legalized
5 yr stay
5 years continuous work with no break in contract (Contract A ends on a friday and Contract B starts following monday). Even a week in between is a gap.
Or
PR card
birth certificate legalized
5 yr stay
if break in job contract:
468 working days prior to application (approx 2.25 years)
Social Integration: A2 language + social classes + (maybe a separate language test for ctz so I've heard).
PR card
birth certificate legalized
5 yr stay
5 years continuous work with no break in contract (or if there's is a break then Contract A ends on a friday and Contract B starts following monday). Even a week in between is a gap.
Or
PR card
birth certificate legalized
5 yr stay
if break in job contract:
468 working days prior to application (approx 2.25 years)
Social Integration: A2 language + social classes + (maybe a separate language test for ctz so I've heard).
**social integration can also be met by completing a degree in Belgium in an official belgian language. I have heard if someone did a PHD in Belgium in English, or a master's or bachelors in English this does not count. Fortunately a few programmes are not that strict on language, so there is no minimum requirement to enter.
As for language, you need to receive a minimum of A2-but it should be in the region/community of where you are living. I heard-someone can confirm otherwise-that your A2 french may not be valid if you are applying for belgian nationality at a flemish municipality. German A2 may not be valid in Brussels, but both A2 Dutch and A2 french will be accepted in brussels.
