Registration of a new-born child

The documents that you must submit depend on the country where you and/or your child are born. 

• You are Belgian and were born in Belgium
• You are Belgian and you as well as your child were born outside of Belgium
   

A. Your child was born in Canada 

In this case there are two scenarios. 

You are married to the father/mother on the day of your child’s birth 

Your child has the Belgian nationality at birth. You must send the following documents to the Consulate General by e-mail. These documents should be in pdf format. They should not exceed 15Mb in total: 

• The registration form, either in Dutch (PDF, 193.71 KB) or in French (PDF, 113.47 KB) and a passport photo - PLEASE NOTE: Both parents need to sign the registration form! 
• Document mentioned on this list (PDF, 344.8 KB) (according to the province of birth of the child); 
  • This document should be established in French or in two languages French/English. 
  • A recent (not older than 6 months) true copy is required. 
• Proof of your legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, study permit, etc.); 
• Proof of your spouse’s legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, study permit, etc.); 
• Copies of both parents’ passports; 
• Should your child have another nationality: a copy of the child’s foreign passport. 

You are not married to the father/mother on the day of your child’s birth

Your child has the Belgian nationality at birth. You send to the Consulate General by e-mail. The documents should be in pdf format. They should not exceed 15Mb in total: 

• The registration form, either in Dutch (PDF, 193.71 KB) or in French (PDF, 113.47 KB) and a passport photo - PLEASE NOTE: Both parents need to sign the registration form!  
• Two documents mentioned on this list (PDF, 209.08 KB) (depending on the province where your child is born);  
  • This document should be established in French or in two languages French/English. 
  • A recent (not older than 6 months) true copy is required. 
• Proof of your legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, study permit, etc. 
• Should your child have another nationality: a copy of the child’s foreign passport  
• Documents to be submitted by both parents: 
  • Copies of the passports; 
  • Proof of the legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, study permit, etc.; 
• Documents to be submitted by the non-Belgian parent: 
  • Confirmation of his/her civil status on the date of the child’s birth. 
    • The non-Belgian parent has the Canadian citizenship:
      • If he/she is born in the province of British Columbia, Ontario or Quebec: an attestation that he/she has not been married (PDF, 196.35 KB) within the 300 days preceding the child’s birth.
      • If he/she is born in another province: he/she has to present a statutory declaration (PDF, 184.63 KB) signed before a notary public. 
    • The non-Belgian parent has another nationality: the parent must contact their embassy/consulate in Canada, in order to obtain the confirmation of civil status on the date of the child’s birth. 

The Belgian nationality is not automatically granted. We will review the documents you have presented and we will inform you subsequently. Other documents can be requested, if need be. 

B. Your child was not born in Canada

The same documents as mentioned above (see A point 1 or 2) and the birth certificate will possibly have to be legalized and/or translated by a sworn translator. 

Legalisation

 
Please consult the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs

Translation

 
Translations in Dutch, French, German or English are accepted.

You can use the services of 

• A Canada-based translator registered with the CTTIC or OTTIAQ
  • Please ask this translator to issue a cover note with his/her name, signature and contact details. This Consulate-General will then legalize the translator’s signature; 
• A sworn translator in the country of birth of your child. The translator’s signature has to legalized; 
  • For more information please contact the appropriate Belgian Embassy/Consulate general.
• A sworn translator in Belgium.
  • Please ask the translator to have his/her signature legalized by the local court in Belgium. 
     

Your child did not obtain the Belgian nationality at birth. If you so wish, you can give your child the Belgian nationality before his/her fifth (5th) birthday by means of a declaration of attribution of nationality. For more information, please consult the page Being granted Belgian nationality. 

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