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CertiDocsThe practical guide

Criminal record for Belgian nationality

The criminal record is often the document that trips up a nationality file: wrong country, stale document, missing authentication or a translation ordered too early. It is not glamorous, but it is exactly the kind of thing that burns months.

Understand the process
Editorial lead : CertiDocs Team3 sources

Why does this document block so many files?

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Because everyone thinks they know what a criminal record is, while the procedure looks at very concrete details: which authority issues it, for which period, for what purpose and in what form. The municipality checks whether the file is complete, then other authorities read the substance. If the extract does not match the application, it is just expensive paper.

Who should issue the extract?

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For Belgium, FPS Justice states that the extract is requested from the municipality if you are registered there, or from the Central Criminal Record service if you are no longer registered. For foreign countries, start with the authority officially competent in that country. What matters is not speed, but whether the document is usable before the authority.

Which order avoids the bad reflexes?

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First verify the nationality route and the useful list of extracts, then obtain recent versions from the correct authorities, handle apostille or legalisation of foreign records where needed, and only then order sworn translations. If you start with the translation, you may lock the error in from step one.

Documents to prepare

  • Belgian criminal record extract or proof that the request was made to the correct service
  • Relevant foreign extracts for the countries and periods your file must cover
  • Identity record, proof of residence and elements linking the extract to the correct person
  • Apostille or legalisation of foreign extracts where the issuing country requires it
  • Sworn translation of the extracts and attached notes the Belgian authority really needs to read

Steps to follow

  1. Frame the file

    Check whether you are preparing a declaration of nationality, naturalisation or a neighbouring file and identify the extracts that are actually useful.

  2. Request the right extracts

    Request recent extracts from the competent authorities in Belgium and, where needed, abroad.

  3. Authenticate and then translate

    Handle any apostille or legalisation of foreign extracts before ordering the sworn translation.

  4. Submit a complete file

    Submit a file where each extract is readable, recent and linked without ambiguity to the correct person and period.

Good to know

Budget

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Frequently asked questions

+Is a Belgian extract always enough?
No. A Belgian extract does not automatically replace a relevant foreign extract for your route. The file has to cover the authorities and periods that actually matter.
+Can I use an older extract that is still 'clean'?
Bad idea. Even with no convictions, an extract that is too old weakens the file. This document is usually expected to stay very recent.
+Does a Belgian extract need translation?
Not if the Belgian authority can use it directly in the procedural language. A foreign extract, however, will often need authentication and translation.
+Does the apostille replace the criminal-content check?
No. It authenticates the origin of the document; it says nothing about the substance and never replaces the sworn translation.
+Who actually reads this document in a nationality procedure?
The municipality checks completeness and admissibility, then the public prosecutor and other consulted authorities look at what is legally relevant.

Official source

Official sources used

The references below are the public sources used to document this page. The competent authority always retains the final decision.

Official sourceFPS Justice - Declaration of nationalityOfficial sourceFPS Justice - Criminal record extract and models 595/596Official sourceFPS Justice - Légalisation des traductions jurées

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