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The Daily Insight

What happens if you marry a Belgian citizen?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Published Feb 27, 2026

The marriage ceremony to a Belgian citizen can legally take place in Belgium, Canada, or any other country as long as both parties have the necessary visas to enter this country legally. This marriage can then be recognized when applying for a permanent residence or an eTA for your Belgian spouse.

What happens when you marry an EU citizen?

What happens when you marry an EU citizen? If you marry an EU citizen, you will be granted certain rights under EU law. In the UK, as from 30 June 2021 EU law will no longer apply, where you and your spouse will need to apply for permission prior to that date under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Is it easy to get Belgian citizenship?

You will need to speak Dutch, German or French to qualify for Belgian citizenship. Belgium used to have the shortest timeline toward naturalization in Europe and one of the shortest in the world. However, in 2012, the three-year naturalization timeline was changed to five years.

How long does it take to get Belgian citizenship after marriage?

Even if you have a Belgian spouse or partner, you’ll need to have been legally resident in Belgium for 5 years with a good knowledge of one of the 3 national languages to be eligible for Belgian citizenship.

Can I bring my girlfriend to Belgium?

Your partner can only join you in Belgium via family reunification if your partnership is officially registered. The law distinguishes two types of registered partnerships: a partnership considered to be “equivalent to marriage” and a “legally registered partnership”.

Can I stay in Ireland if I marry an EU citizen?

If you marry a Swiss or EU/EEA citizen (except Irish) living in Ireland. If your joint plan is to live in Ireland long -term, you must apply to stay in Ireland using your new spouse’s EU Treaty Rights.

Is polygamy legal in Belgium?

The practice of having more than one spouse continues to occur in Belgium, despite the fact it has been prohibited since 2004. However, in 2013 all of those in Antwerp registered in a polygamous marriage were ordered to deregister. …

Can a Belgian citizen get married in another country?

the birthplace of one of the future spouses. If none of these places are possible, then a Belgian who is not domiciled or habitually resident in Belgium can marry in the municipality of Brussels. If you want to get married abroad, you must contact the foreign authority that will solemnise the marriage. Which legal system is applicable?

How long do you have to live in Belgium before you can become a citizen?

Being an EU long-term resident allows you to start a residency procedure in another EU member state without obtaining a visa first. After five years of uninterrupted living in Belgium, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals acquire this type of permanent residency automatically.

How many Americans live and work in Belgium?

It has been estimated that there are several thousand Americans living in Belgium. Living in Belgium is an incredible experience for a number of reasons, including the friendly locals, the delicious food, the work-life balance, not to mention having the rest of Europe on your doorstep.

Where can I get a marriage certificate in Belgium?

Your foreign marriage certificate can be transcribed into the civil status registers of a Belgian municipality. This makes it easy to obtain extracts or literal copies in Belgium. You can find more information on this topic in the Registration Certificates section. Can my foreign partner set up residence in Belgium?