What are the Belgian Citizenship Language Requirements?
Congratulations! The fact you are reading this tells me that you are considering becoming a Belgian citizen. I might be biassed, but it’s a great status to have. ;)
Besides passing the obligatory social tests of being able to eat fries for any meal and rolling your eyes when a French person mocks your accent, you will also need to pass a few more official citizenship requirements.
The basic requirements include:
Being registered as living in Belgium
Having lived here for at least five years
Proving that you have achieved economic integration
Understanding Belgian laws
Having basic knowledge of one of the three national languages
I’m a teacher, so I can’t advise you on the first four items on that list (unless you want to risk being deported). But I am somewhat of an expert on the last one.
So, let’s look at everything you need to know about the language requirements for Belgian citizenship.
Do I need to learn French or Dutch?
It’s up to you which language you choose. You may see some forums that say you need to learn the official language of the commune you plan to apply in. But this is only true if you take the social integration course (more info below!).
If you use another method to prove your language proficiency, you can freely apply for Belgian citizenship in any region regardless of which language you’ve learned.
What level of French is required for Belgian citizenship?
You may be happy to know that compared to many other European countries, the Belgian citizenship language requirements are quite kind. To pass the language proficiency test, you only need to prove you have an A2 level in French, Dutch or German.
For non-language nerds, that’s an upper-elementary level according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). You can usually reach it within 160 hours of study.
(And if that sounds like a lot, think of me! I live in Italy, where the requirement is at least B1…)
Do you need to take a language exam?
You may not have to take an exam to prove your language level. It depends on which path you take and the requirements of the institution where you study. You will need to choose one of these three paths:
Getting an official language certificate from an educational organisation that’s recognised in Belgium (note that this doesn’t necessarily include the DELF* (Diplôme d'Etude ou Approfondi en Langue Française) diploma)
Showing a certificate of competition of 400 hours of language training with an approved organisation
Completing a social integration course, including the language lessons (more on that later)
*This is the official European language exam. Although it’s recognised in France, one of my former students had issues with using it to prove they had met the language requirements for Belgian citizenship. So if you want to take this exam, I recommend checking with your local authorities if they will accept it first.
Learning French for Belgian citizenship
If you have never studied the French language before, then it will take some time to reach A2. So, I recommend leaving at least 15 months to prepare for the test.
Exactly how long it takes you to reach the required level depends on which route you take. Here are a few different options.
1. Social integration programmes
First, you can follow a free social integration programme with an official organisation.
These courses are specially designed for foreign residents to adapt to Belgian society. They include information on things such as housing, healthcare and everything else necessary for surviving as an expat in Belgium.
You will also have the chance to take free language lessons with the integration course. If you want to study French, you will need to take a course with BAPA. And if you want to study Dutch, you will need to register with BON.
Note that if you take this route, you will need to apply in the linguistic region where the language you learnt is spoken. So, if you complete the social integration course in Brussels, but then decide to apply for Belgian citizenship in Flanders, you will need to prove you have an A2 level in Dutch as well.
Some foreign nationals are obliged to take the integration course based on their visa. But for most people, this is not a necessity. I recommend that you check the official integration programme website for more information.
Remember, I’m a French teacher, not an immigration expert. ;)
Pros and cons of social integration programmes
Pros:
The course is free
You also learn about Belgian life
Courses are offered in lots of languages
You get to meet other expats
Cons:
Lessons are at specified times
Courses only start every two months
Has to be taken as one course of 400 hours total
You study at the group’s pace
You limit where you can apply for citizenship
2. Taking an official course
Another option is to take a language course with an approved institution. According to Objectif ASBL, you can do this at places like le Forem, le VDAB, Bruxelles Formation or Arbeitsamt B.
These are formal classes that usually take place weekly over a set period. You will learn in a group and be required to attend a minimum of 400 hours.
This can be a little difficult to fit around your busy working schedule. But there are usually several class times to choose from to suit your needs.
At the end of the course, you will get a certificate to prove you have fulfilled the course requirements. You can use this to prove your language proficiency for your citizenship application.
Pros and cons of taking an official course
Pros:
You get immersed in the language
You get to meet other expats
Cons:
Lessons are at specified times
Have to complete 400 hours of lessons
Timetables may be inflexible
May be expensive!
3. Taking private French lessons
It’s probably no surprise that I’m going to recommend this option. ;)
And it’s not just because I have helped several students reach A2 French before. Or because I offer online classes that don’t require you to attend in person…
It’s also because this option gives you the most flexibility.
By choosing to take this route, you can actually achieve the level much sooner. Because you don’t NEED to study for 400 hours to get there!
Private courses allow you to learn on your schedule, at your own pace and with topics you enjoy. So, if you are super busy or short on time, this may be the right path for you.
Then, once you are ready to take an exam, you can simply sign up with one of the approved organisations. Again, that’s places like le Forem, le VDAB, Bruxelles Formation or Arbeitsamt B.
Pros and cons of taking private French classes
Pros:
Get support from a teacher
Learn about Belgian culture
Reach your goals faster
Study on your schedule
Focus on topics you enjoy
Cons:
It’s not free!
You need to take an exam
What happens when I have the A2 certificate?
The language test is only one part of the Belgian citizenship process. You will also need to fulfil the other requirements before you can submit your application and get residence status.
When you have gathered all the necessary documents, you can apply at your local municipal office. After that, you just wait for your residence card to arrive!
Work towards becoming a Belgian citizen
Is the integration course oversubscribed? Or perhaps you choose to improve your French language skills with an independent teacher? My private and group courses are flexible and fun — and there is a space waiting for you to start. Read about them here.
