Related documents
Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Diploma, Court judgment, Transcript, Criminal record extract, Death certificate, Power of attorney
Apostille and legalisation of foreign documents in Belgium
Apostille or legalisation? Understand the right authentication procedure for your foreign documents in Belgium, and in which order to carry out the apostille and certified translation.
€20–50 + translation1–3 weeksSimple
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026Editorial review: Equipe CertiDocsOfficial sources: 3
Overview
What this guide helps you sort out
Apostille or legalisation? Understand the right authentication procedure for your foreign documents in Belgium, and in which order to carry out the apostille and certified translation.
Steps
4
Documents
5
Official sources
3
What frames this file straight away
Before you even follow the procedure step by step, these are usually the axes that matter.
Common translations
Arabic-French, Turkish-French, Portuguese-French, Romanian-French, Spanish-French, Russian-French
Related cities
Brussels, Liège, Antwerp
What the authority will really test here
In this kind of file, the blockage usually comes from proof, sequencing and consistency, not polished wording.
Records that need to line up
This procedure is usually read through Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Diploma. Names, dates and references need to stay aligned from one record to the next.
Which official reading matters
Brussels, Liège will compare the source record with Arabic-French, Turkish-French and wants the issuing authority, date and registry references to be easy to spot.
Order of formalities
The 3 official sources mainly help keep the sequence sharp: recent record first, any apostille or legalisation next, then the right filing step.
What is the difference between apostille and legalisation?
Apostille and legalisation are two authentication procedures for official documents intended for use abroad. The apostille (Hague Convention of 5 October 1961) is a simplified form: a single stamp is sufficient for the document to be recognised in all signatory countries (125 countries including Belgium). Legalisation is the traditional procedure for non-signatory countries: it involves a chain of stamps (municipality, FPS Foreign Affairs, embassy of the destination country). In Belgium, the apostille on Belgian documents is issued by the FPS Foreign Affairs.
The correct order: apostille first, translation second
A common mistake is having a document translated before it is apostilled. The correct sequence is: obtain the original document in the country of origin, have it apostilled (or legalised) in that same country, then have it translated by a sworn translator in Belgium. The sworn translator will then translate the complete document, including the apostille. If the order is reversed, the apostille will not cover the translation, and the Belgian administration may refuse the document.
Documents to prepare
- Original document to apostille or legalise
- Country check: Hague Convention signatory or not
- Apostille obtained BEFORE translation
- Certified translation of document + apostille
- Copy of identity document
Steps to follow
1
Check if the country is a Hague Convention signatory
Check the official list of 125 signatory countries on the HCCH website. If your country is listed, an apostille is sufficient. Otherwise, you will need to go through full consular legalisation.
2
Obtain apostille or legalisation in the country of origin
The apostille is issued by the competent authority of the country that issued the document (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, court, etc.). Consular legalisation involves going through the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the Belgian embassy or consulate.
3
Have translated by a Belgian sworn translator
Once the apostille or legalisation is affixed, entrust the complete document (including the apostille) to a sworn translator registered with the FPS Justice. The translation will cover the entire document and its authentication stamps.
4
Use the document in the administrative procedure
Your apostilled (or legalised) and translated document is now admissible with Belgian administrations: municipality, court, Immigration Office, notary or any other institution.
Good to know
ALWAYS apostille BEFORE translation
The apostille must always be affixed BEFORE the certified translation. The sworn translator then translates the document AND the apostille together.
EU documents exempt
Since EU regulation 2016/1191, many EU public documents (birth, marriage, death, etc.) are exempt from apostille between member states.
Apostille has no expiry
The apostille itself has no expiry date. However, the underlying document may have a limited validity period (e.g., criminal record < 6 months).
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Get matchedFrequently asked questions
+−What is the difference between apostille and legalisation?
An apostille is a single stamp recognised by the 125 signatory countries of the Hague Convention (1961). Legalisation is a chain of authentications required for documents intended for non-signatory countries. The apostille is faster and less expensive.
+−Who issues the apostille in Belgium?
For Belgian documents intended for use abroad, the apostille is issued by the FPS Foreign Affairs. For a foreign document intended for Belgium, the apostille must be obtained from the competent authority of the issuing country.
+−Should I apostille before or after translation?
Always before. The correct sequence is: original document → apostille in the country of origin → translation by a sworn translator in Belgium. The translator translates the complete document including the apostille.
+−My country is not a Hague Convention signatory, what should I do?
For non-signatory countries (e.g. DR Congo, certain Middle Eastern countries), you must go through consular legalisation: the document is first authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin, then legalised by the Belgian embassy or consulate on site.
+−How long is an apostille valid?
The apostille itself has no expiry date. However, the underlying document may have a limited validity period. For example, a criminal record must generally be less than 3 to 6 months old depending on the Belgian administration requesting it.
+−Do European Union documents need an apostille?
Since EU Regulation 2016/1191, certain public documents (birth, marriage, death, civil status) issued in an EU country are exempt from apostille and legalisation when presented in another EU country. A certified translation is still required, however.
Official sources
The links below provide the official baseline. They help verify the procedure but do not replace file-specific analysis or the decision of the competent authority.
Practical guides
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