Registration of a new-born child

The documents that have to be submitted, 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; 
  • The registration form has to be signed by both parents. 
• Document mentioned on this list (PDF, 344.8 KB) (according to the province of birth of the child); 
  • A recent (not older than 6 months old) true copy is required. 
  • This document should be established in French or in two languages French/English. 
• Proof of your legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, student permit, etc.); 
• Proof of your spouse’s legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, student permit, etc.); 
• A photocopy of the passport of the non-Belgian parent (this is not necessary if both parents are Belgian); 
• A photocopy of any other passport of the child, should it also have another nationality. 
   

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 are preferably in pdf. 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;
  • The registration form has to be signed by both parents. 
• Two documents mentioned on this list (PDF, 209.08 KB) (according to the province of birth of the child);
  • A recent (not older than 6 months old) true copy is required. 
  • This document should be established in French or in two languages French/English. 
• Proof of your legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, student permit, etc.; 
• A photocopy of any other passport of the child, should it also have another nationality; 
• Documents to be submitted by the non-Belgian parent (this is not necessary if both parents are Belgian):
  • A photocopy of his/her passport; 
  • Proof of his/her legal status in Canada: copy front/back of the permanent resident card, work permit, student permit, etc.; 
  • Confirmation of his/her civil status on the date of the child’s birth. 
  • The 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 parent has another nationality: He/she contacts 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 inform you after having reviewed the presented documents. 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 Belgian citizenship from birth. You can, if you so wish, give your child Belgian citizenship before his/her fifth (5th) birthday by means of a declaration of attribution of citizenship. For more information, please consult the page Being granted Belgian nationality. 

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