The number of foreigners that have been granted Belgian citizenship, usually after they have followed an integration course, has reached its highest level since the early 2000s. Those granted Belgian citizenship mainly come from or have their roots in Morocco, Syria, Romania, Afghanistan and Turkey.
The number of foreigners granted Belgian citizenship at its highest level in more than 2 decades
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Friday’s edition of the business daily ‘De Tijd’ also reports that the number of Palestinians granted Belgian citizenship has risen significantly in recent times. ‘De Tijd’s’ article is based analysis of provisional figures released by the Belgian statistics bureau Statbel.
During the first nine months of this year, 45,538 people were granted Belgian citizenship. This is an increase of 9% on the same period last year. Only during the first 9 months 2001, when a law that speeded up and simplified, the procedure that those wishing to become Belgian had to follow to obtain citizenship, did more people become Belgian than has been the case during the first 9 months of this year. This 2001 law was shelved in 2012.
Migration experts say that the increase this year is linked to the asylum and migration crisis in 2015 and 2016. Many of those that arrived here then have since followed integration courses, learned our language(s) and have put down roots here. Consequently, decided to apply to become Belgian and their applications for citizenship are now being approved.