Born in Belgium

Belgium gives nationality at birth only to a child whose foreign parent was also born in Belgium and has 5 years' residence there (or who would otherwise be stateless). Parents with 10 years' residence can declare for a child under 12 later.

Passport135 visa-freeof 218 countriesPapers ready inUp to 14 daysafter the birthDual citizenshipAllowedKeeps yours tooHealth care86/100

Baby's passport fee€35

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The visa your passport needs for Belgium
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Who qualifies:A parent was themself born in Belgium AND lived in Belgium for at least 5 of the 10 years before the child's birth.

For your baby

Citizen from birthA Belgium passport of their own
135 countries visa-freeof 218 countries
Keeps your citizenship tooBelgium allows dual citizenship
Free to live, study and workIn Belgium, for life

Being granted Belgian nationality before the age of 18 - FPS Foreign Affairs Code de la nationalité belge, art. 10 (statelessness) and art. 11 §1 · checked Nov 3, 2026

For you Premium

Whether having your baby in Belgium gives you residence or a faster route to citizenship.

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How to start

Baby's papers ready: up to 14 days after the birth

1
Get to Belgium legallySign in to see the visa your passport needs.Prepare your Schengen tourist & business visa application Most parents stay about 3 months: airlines limit late-pregnancy flights.
2
Register the birthCivil registry of the municipality where the child was born (e.g. City of Brussels), within 15 calendar days.Official source Up to 7 daysCity of Brussels: the birth act is drawn up at the latest 15 days after the birth. Once it is in the national civil-status database, an extract or copy is immediate online (Justonweb, free) or at the counter, or 5 working days by e-mail.Official source
3
Get the baby's passportFee €35 · Under 18, 34-page, ordinary procedure; municipal fee is added (City of Brussels charges EUR 60 total); 5-year validityOfficial source Up to 7 daysApplied at the commune: normal procedure delivered by the 5th working day (€35 for a minor); urgent next working day if applied before 3 pm (€210); very urgent within 4.5 hours at the Brussels counter (€270-320). Both parents sign for a minor.Official source
4
Pass on your own citizenship
- Belgium allows dual citizenship: the baby can hold both.