Hello,
I wish you all a fantastic 2025 where all your dreams will come true.
2025 will be a special year for me as I will complete 5 years of my stay in Belgium (specifically 21 July 2025), I have many inquiries here and there where you can help me to answer:
I lived in many western countries USA >France > Canada > Belgium and my experience were great and I am very grateful to this, but I like Belgium above all of them due to many personal reasons, but general reasons is the quality of life is the highest among them in my own experience, some people might not agree but those are personal choices.
Nevertheless, my questions are:
1- Language:
I lived in France 10 years ago and went to an intensive French course, I received (level-C1), and nowadays in Belgium, I do speak French fluently. I even won an award for French short stories competition back then lol.
do I still have to re-do a language proficiency exam for the purpose of citizenship?
2- integration course:
I heard about this all the time, but never understand what is it? is it a long course? how long it will take and should everyone take it, could you kindly send me a link on how to register and prepare before 21 July
3- Birth certificate:
my actual birth certificate is in Arabic. I translated it when I was in France 10 years ago from the Embassy over there, is this enough? or should I re-do this part here in Belgium? if yes, do you have any recommendation about a place where they do this? thanks a lot
4- Time to start the application:
As I will complete 5 years on 21 July, and I understand process is taking long sometimes, is it wise to start the application for unlimited residency earlier than this date? I know I will not be able to apply for unlimited work permit due to some interruption on my stay, but I hold card-A since first day in Belgium until this moment.
note:
- I came to Belgium on a Belgian grant 2020 to 2022 for medical research > I worked 2022 to December 2023> I paused from work for personal reasons from December 2023 to October 2024 but was residing in Belgium
- my commune is Woluwe Saint-Lambert, Brussels
5- having a baby:
I am expecting a baby this year, but most likely before I granted the citizenship. Is it easy for the baby to receive the citizenship few months after birth or how is the process exactly? will the baby receive my initial nationality? it is not clear to me. thank you
6- Lawyer:
Do I need a lawyer to expedite all this?
Does completing 5 years in 21 July 2025 mean that there is a high chance that I will receive the citizenship before the end of 2025? will I celebrate 01/01/2026 with my Belgian citizenship? will lawyer accelerate this process or it does not matter?
I thank you very much, I feel I forget some questions but will add new post if I remember further question
Kind regards,