More than 34,000 Romanians have acquired Belgian nationality since 2000, with the vast majority obtaining it only after Romania joined the European Union in 2007.
The pace has kept up in recent years. In 2025 alone, 4,366 Romanians became Belgian citizens, the second highest total of any nationality that year, behind only Moroccans. The busiest year on record before the pandemic was 2019.
Part of the explanation is practical. A Romanian passport remains comparatively weak, still requiring a visa for travel to the United States, while a Belgian passport opens far more doors. Swapping documents also simplifies everyday administration, from traveling with children to navigating legal paperwork.
Family considerations play a role too. Many Romanian residents in Belgium describe wanting a single, shared nationality across their household, along with the ability to vote and take a fuller part in the country's civic and political life.
For some, the decision carries a heavier weight. A number of Romanians point to disappointment with how little has changed at home since the fall of communism in 1989 as part of what pushed them toward Belgian citizenship.
There is also a longer history behind the numbers. Belgium did not grant Romanians full rights as EU citizens until 2014, seven years after Romania joined the bloc, a delay that left a five year waiting period before many could even apply for naturalization, and one that some in the community say has left a lasting sense of distrust.
Carmen Solomie, president of the Romanian association RomBel, describes the shift in nationality as a natural outcome of years spent living, working and raising a family in the country. Belgian nationality, she says, is simply the recognition of a life already built there.