Thousands of Britons living in Brussels and its suburbs will potentially be plunged into an uncertain future by Brexit.
For many of them, who have raked in special tax benefits for diplomats and EU civil servants, sometimes for decades, the race is now on to obtain Belgian citizenship.
There’s good news and bad news for those racing to their local administrations to get a new passport.
The bad news: Belgium, controversially, chooses not to count time spent in Belgium under special tax regimes.
Britons who haven’t been paying the standard Belgian tax rates (over 50 percent for high-paying jobs) and social insurance contributions, risk rejection when they apply for citizenship.
The good news: Communal administrations like expat-friendly Ixelles, which is home to many EU buildings, want UK passport-holders to stay.
#Brexit made EU citizens worry about their future in EU27 and UK.EU will be firm on their rights @The3Million
#citizensfirst pic.twitter.com/ypD7NKokR1— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 28, 2017
While applications are adjudicated by federal agencies, local communes and police forces are critical to smoothing out the application process.
“Almost one-third of Britons in Ixelles are thinking about (naturalization), or have been naturalized,” said Delphine Bourgeois, the Ixelles councillor responsible for European affairs.
“That it is only beginning,” she said. “It is a true symbol that shows that this English-style divorce could turn into a love affair with Belgium.”
The numbers of completed requests for Belgian citizenship are much lower than Bourgeois’ enthusiasm suggests.
According to Ixelles, there are now 26 pending requests for citizenship (those who have gone through the bureaucratic process of demanding official application forms) and 41 actual requests. The vast bulk of Britons in contact with the administration, around 300 others, have only requested information at this stage.
“There has been a marked increase in the last few days,” Bourgeois said, speculating that “Belgian nationality is a true safe haven” for British citizens distraught at the idea of losing their European citizenship.