Belgian nationality: the A2 language requirement and the Flemish Dutch test

Belgian nationality asks A2 in Dutch, French or German — and a diploma, a course, five years of work or a test can prove it. The routes, the Flemish A2 Dutch test (€180, two half-days), the €1,030 fee, and the announced move to B1.

Updated November 3, 2026 · 5 min read

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The Palais de la Nation in Brussels, seat of the Belgian federal parliament — Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0, resized.

In Belgium nationality is acquired mostly by declaration at your municipality. Every route except two needs proof that you know one of the three national languages — and in Flanders, that means Dutch. The Belgian Nationality Code sets the level at A2 — oral A2 for people classed as illiterate (Nationality Code).

In short: A2 in Dutch, French or German. Proof: a diploma, 400 hours of recognised training, an integration course, five years of uninterrupted work — or a language test, such as the Flemish A2 Dutch test (€180). The nationality fee is €1,030, paid before you apply (FPS Finance).

The routes by declaration

Route	Residence	Language	Also needed
Born in Belgium	legally resident since birth	—	—
The five-year route	5 years	A2 in a national language	social integration + economic participation (e.g. 468 days' work in 5 years)
Married to a Belgian, or parent of a Belgian child	5 years (3 years living together in Belgium, for spouses)	A2	social integration
Unable to work, or pension age	5 years	—	proof of disability, invalidity or pension age
The ten-year route	10 years	A2	participation in the life of your community

Source: FPS Justice. You apply to the registrar of your municipality; the royal prosecutor then has 4 months to object.

How you prove A2

FPS Justice puts it simply: "If you prove your social integration, you automatically prove your linguistic knowledge." So the same documents often do both jobs:

a diploma at least at upper-secondary level from a school organised, recognised or funded by a Community;
at least 400 hours of professional training recognised by a competent authority;
a completed integration course (in Flanders the inburgeringstraject — see Flemish inburgering);
5 years of uninterrupted work as an employee, civil servant or self-employed person;
or a language certificate — in Flanders, the agency's A2 Dutch test below.

The Flemish A2 Dutch test for nationality

	Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering
Level	at least A2
Parts	reading, listening, speaking, writing — over two half-days
Order	reading and listening first; only if you pass them, speaking and writing
Cost	€180: €90 for the oral parts (listening + speaking), €90 for the written parts (reading + writing), paid when you book
Result	within 3 weeks of the last part
Where	Bruges, Kortrijk, Hasselt, Atlas Antwerp, Amal Ghent, Huis van het Nederlands Brussels
Booking	through one of the agency's contact points; bring your ID

Source: integratie-inburgering.be. The agency has instruction videos and practice tests for reading and listening at A1–A2 and B1–B2 — do them before you book.

What A2 Dutch sounds like

Ik woon al zes jaar in Gent. Ik werk in een bakkerij en mijn kinderen gaan hier naar school.

Literally: I've been living in Ghent for six years. I work in a bakery and my children go to school here.

Meaning: Present tense + al … jaar for something still going on. wonen, werken, gaan.

Ik wil Belg worden, omdat mijn leven hier is.

Literally: I want to become Belgian, because my life is here.

Meaning: omdat sends the verb to the end: …hier is**. willen, worden, zijn.

Flemish Dutch and Netherlands Dutch are one language with the same spelling; pronunciation and some everyday words differ. The A2 test checks standard Dutch, so what you learn for the Dutch reading, listening, writing and speaking exams carries over.

Announced, not law. The federal coalition has announced a B1 language requirement and a citizenship test. As of 3 November 2026 the Nationality Code still says A2. If you are ready to apply now, today's rules apply.

Brussels and Wallonia

In Brussels the welcome pathway runs in French or Dutch (City of Brussels); in Wallonia the parcours d'intégration is in French (Wallonia). For nationality you prove A2 in one national language — Dutch if you live and work in Dutch, French if that is your daily language.

How to prepare

Check your level with our free level test — A1 to B2, no sign-up.
Do the agency's practice tests for reading and listening.
Learn the words of your daily life — family, work, home, the municipality. Our inburgering path has them in 40 sets.
Know the verbs you need to talk about yourself: hebben, kunnen, moeten, leren, spreken, begrijpen.
Practise speaking with a person — a language café, a Huis van het Nederlands course, or a teacher on Edluxio (trial lesson with full refund).

A2 Dutch, 16 words at a time

16Word drills the Dutch of daily life with audio and a game of Blocks between answers — from French, English, Arabic, Turkish and 32 other languages. Free to start.

Keep learning

All our Dutch exam guides

Frequently asked questions

What language level do I need for Belgian citizenship?

A2 in Dutch, French or German, under the Belgian Nationality Code; oral A2 for people classed as illiterate. A B1 requirement has been announced but is not law as of 3 November 2026.

How much does the Dutch test for Belgian nationality cost in Flanders?

€180: €90 for the oral parts (listening and speaking) and €90 for the written parts (reading and writing), paid when you book with the Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering.

How does the Flemish A2 test work?

Over two half-days: reading and listening first; only if you pass them do you take speaking and writing. The result comes within three weeks of the last part.

Do I need a language test if I have a Belgian diploma?

Not necessarily. An upper-secondary diploma from a Community school, 400 hours of recognised training, a completed integration course or five years of uninterrupted work prove social integration — and with it, language knowledge.

How much does a Belgian nationality application cost?

€1,030 in registration duty, paid to FPS Finance (via MyMinfin) before you apply. Granting nationality to minor children is free.

How long does the procedure take?

Once your declaration is complete and paid, the royal prosecutor has four months to object.