The N-VA advocates tightening the conditions for acquiring nationality

The number of people who have acquired Belgian nationality so far in 2023 is higher than in the peak year of 2022. This number is nearing the record set in 2021. The N-VA calls for tightening the conditions for acquiring Belgian nationality and has already submitted a series of bills to this end. “We advocated the introduction of a citizenship test and the absence of tax debts and criminal convictions when acquiring nationality,” says MP Tomas Roggeman.

To curb this high number, MPs Tomas Roggeman and Theo Francken submitted a series of bills requiring prospective newcomers to take a citizenship test, among other things. According to the party, this citizenship test must be organised in two parts. In the first part, the prospective Belgian must prove his or her language proficiency. This language proficiency can be proven by a certificate from a recognised institution. Anyone who has successfully completed education in this language will also be considered to know the language. For example, a person who has successfully completed pre-university secondary education in the Netherlands will be exempt from the language test to settle in the Flemish Region. The second part of the citizenship test concerns knowledge of our society.

Majority party CD&V also submitted a similar proposal through MP Franky Demon, but this has not yet been put to the vote by the submitter. “This is typical of the CD&V party: much ado about nothing,” Francken comments.

No tax debts or criminal convictions

On the other hand, the N-VA’s proposals also include an obligation for prospective newcomers to provide proof when applying to obtain our nationality that they have no tax debts and have not incurred any criminal convictions during their stay on our territory.  Such obligations already exist in our neighbouring countries. In the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom alike, there are provisions that make the absence of criminal convictions under various modalities in the law an essential requirement for obtaining the respective nationalities. Without this addition, our country risks ranking last once again.

“Acquiring nationality is not an unlimited right”

“The acquisition of our nationality must not be an unlimited right. This also includes the required duties,” says Roggeman. “If efforts are required of the prospective newcomer beforehand, integration will proceed even more smoothly. This is in his or her interest as well as that of the rest of society. In addition, sufficient attention must also be paid to public safety, and our proposals also ensure this.”