Belgium — Residency: Citizenship

Key facts

• The 12bis declaration route needs five years of legal residence in Belgium, proof of knowledge of one of the three national languages, and economic participation or an integration pathway.
• Economic participation can be shown with at least 468 working days over the past five years as an employee or civil servant, or Belgian social contributions as a self-employed person.
• When filing, the applicant must have their main residence in Belgium and an unlimited right of residence; the municipality verifies the residence conditions.
• The Justice fiche is in French and may not reflect any 2025 amendment; check the Moniteur belge and Justice FPS pages.

Steps

1. Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Criteria — While the specific requirements are often unclear, applicants typically need to have resided in Belgium for a certain period, possess a good understanding of the local language, and meet other undisclosed requirements.
2. Step 2: Submit the Application — The application process typically begins with submitting relevant documents to the relevant authorities, but the exact list of required documents and authorities can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances.
3. Step 3: Wait for the Decision — After submitting the application, the applicant will need to wait for the authorities to review and process their request, but the duration and outcome of this step are uncertain and can vary greatly.