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Belgian Nationality
Hi. I'm a Filipino Citizen married to a Belgian for over 5 years now, currently residing in Gran Canaria, Spain. I just got my permanent EU community resident card in Spain. My question is: Do I have rights to apply for a Belgian Nationality? I discussed this over with the Honorary Consul in Las Palmas but she instead referred me to the Consulate in Tenerife. I sent an email to the Consul and fortunately after almost a month I got a reply directing me to a link online about, which I found irrelevant to my request. I hope you can shed light on this. Thanks very much and more power..Marlon
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/Services/services_a_letranger/nationalit...
"Depuis le 1er janvier 2013, seules les personnes qui ont leur résidence principale en Belgique sur base d’un séjour légal peuvent demander l’acquisition de la nationalité belge."
So no. You don't have the right to apply.
J is right, sure ignore the official link telling you are not eligible and apply and be turned down. Why ask, if you do not like the correct answer?
I have found it doesn't hurt to apply, no matter what the official documents say. Two reasons: first, the people who give answers all say different things, depending on who you talk to (and even sometimes the same person will say different things on different days). Second, even if you apply and get turned down, sometimes this will make them more lenient (I got a whole extra year of validity on my carte de sejour, just because the guy felt bad for turning down my application for permanent residence). Good luck!
Rules changed recently. Don't waste your money applying if your don't tick ALL the boxes.
Agree, why do you want/need it anyway? Since he is Belgian you can live here with no consequence and work. And yes the rules did change recently and no you are not eligible as you HAVE NOT LIVED HERE FOR 5 YEARS LEGALLY... Plus now you must speak an official language at a good level. But hey, go waste your time and money with all the documents and translations. In fact not one person was approved in 2013 under the new scheme so do your research before you are snitty to people.
"the Consul in Las Palmas clearly told me that I have the right to apply".
Well I suppose that it is just possible that the consul knows some kind of special law or exception to the rule, however as J and others above note, the rule has changed recently, and it is pretty clear:
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/services_abroad/nationality/vol...
more power
i have a friend that has lived here way more than five years, has worked all this years in Belgium and gets quite a good salary, has economical links with the country (mortgage and property), speak perfectly two of the local languages and applied over a year ago with the new system and still the commune is making his life hell and find every possible reason not to grant nationality or delay the process.
if you wish to apply do it, in the end is your money.
