Belgium has tightened its naturalisation framework over the past year, introducing significant changes that affect access to nationality. One of the most impactful reforms concerns the cost of applying for naturalisation. Under legislation that entered into force in July 2025, the fee increased sharply from 150 euros to 1,030 euros (as of January 2026), with no exemptions for stateless people or beneficiaries of international protection. The law further provides that this fee will be indexed annually, meaning it will increase each year in line with inflation.
Alongside the financial barrier, the reforms also introduce stricter language and civic integration requirements. Applicants are now required to pass a citizenship test, and the minimum language proficiency level has been raised from A2 to B1, with no exemptions introduced for stateless people. These changes risk limiting naturalisation possibilities for stateless people, as the only alternative naturalisation route – a discretionary parliamentary procedure with more favourable conditions (see on the Index) – is rarely used in practice.
Belgium has also introduced significant reforms to family reunification rules in 2025, with the government adopting a generally stricter approach across the migration system.
Nonetheless, some changes were introduced in the 2025 legislation which impact stateless people’s ability to obtain residence permits for their family members. Importantly, people granted residence permits on the ground of statelessness who are accompanied by family members seeking to remain in Belgium no longer need to demonstrate sufficient resources, adequate housing, or health insurance for those accompanying relatives to obtain residence permits. In addition, parents are now able to obtain family reunification residence permits if their child has been granted a residence permit on the ground of statelessness in Belgium – an option that previously existed only for children recognised as refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
At the same time, new restrictions also affect family members of persons granted residence permits on the ground of statelessness who are still abroad. To benefit from the favourable conditions that waive income, housing, and insurance requirements, applications from family members arriving later must now be submitted within six months of the sponsor receiving residence based on the ground of statelessness (or as a beneficiary of international protection) – a deadline reduced from one year. In addition, there are new requirements that a proof of identity and family relationship is provided at the time of submission of the application, and that all required documentation must be submitted within ten months, creating additional administrative pressure.
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