Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

For years, it was common to find Moroccan and Turkish nationals among the largest groups of foreigners acquiring Belgian citizenship. However, recently, Palestinians and Syrians have also been among those who have obtained citizenship after residing in Belgium for a period, arriving only a few years ago. This contrasts with the arrival of Moroccans and Turks in Belgium since the mid-20th century.

According to media reports in Brussels, Belgium has recorded an unprecedented increase in the number of foreigners acquiring Belgian citizenship in recent years, reaching its highest levels since 2001 and surpassing previous decades in both number and diversity. This increase reflects the dynamic demographic changes in Belgian society and the competitiveness of the integration requirements within the Belgian legal system. According to the Belgian news website, under the headline "Belgian Citizenship: Official Figures and Statistics," data from the Belgian statistics office, Statbel, shows that the number of people who acquired Belgian citizenship in 2023 exceeded 54,000. This is the highest figure since 2001, when the "fast-track naturalization" law, which facilitated the acquisition of Belgian citizenship, was implemented.

In the first nine months of 2024, approximately 45,600 people obtained Belgian citizenship, an increase of about 8% compared to the same period of the previous year, demonstrating the continuation of this upward trend in citizenship applications.

Advanced estimates indicate that the number of those acquiring citizenship in 2024 may reach approximately 59,650, an increase of about 7.7% compared to 2023, making it one of the highest levels in approximately 26 years. Nationalities of Foreigners Most Likely to Acquire Belgian Citizenship

Official statistics show that most foreigners who became Belgian citizens come from various countries, with Morocco topping the list, followed by Syria, Afghanistan, Romania, and Turkey, among the top nationalities in terms of the number of people granted Belgian citizenship in 2023.

A significant increase in the granting of Belgian citizenship to Palestinians in Belgium has also been observed compared to previous years, a trend highlighted by an analysis by VTM based on Statbel data.

Reasons for the Increase in Acquiring Belgian Citizenship

Immigration experts attribute this notable increase to several key factors:

1. The refugee and migration crisis in Belgium in 2015–2016: Many refugees and migrants who arrived in Belgium during that period have now met the requirements for legal residency and integration into Belgian society, making them eligible to apply for and be granted Belgian citizenship.

2. Integration Requirements and Meeting Language and Employment Requirements in Belgium: Current Belgian policy requires applicants to complete an integration process that includes proficiency in the language and legal residency for a specific period (usually five years or more) before they can obtain Belgian citizenship. Adherence to these requirements has contributed to the high number of accepted cases.

Legal and Social Context

Belgian citizenship is a significant step towards stability, granting its holder full voting rights, access to social services, and freedom of movement within the European Union. Despite the current high number of applicants, Belgian citizenship law remains stricter than in many other European countries, emphasizing social and economic integration and language proficiency as essential requirements.

Long-term effects in Belgium
This growth in the granting of Belgian citizenship reflects a demographic and cultural shift in Belgian society, and keeps pace with the increasing proportion of people of non-Belgian origin living in the country and forming a growing part of the population structure, which is also reflected in the focus on supporting integration and active citizenship at the community and institutional levels.