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 processWhy does this document block so many files?
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?
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?
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
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.
Request the right extracts
Request recent extracts from the competent authorities in Belgium and, where needed, abroad.
Authenticate and then translate
Handle any apostille or legalisation of foreign extracts before ordering the sworn translation.
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
Guides
On the same topic
Other steps to prepare. Nationality and parentage.
Belgian nationality as the parent of a Belgian child
Conditions, records and filing order to obtain Belgian nationality as the parent or adoptive parent of a minor Belgian child.
Belgian nationality as the spouse of a Belgian
Conditions, records, translations and filing order to obtain Belgian nationality as the spouse of a Belgian through declaration.
Proving kinship or partnership
Which records to provide, how to handle missing documents and when a sworn translation is useful to prove kinship or partnership.
For your application
Budget
Prepare your translation request
Enter the number of pages, then add your document in the request form.
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Frequently asked questions
+−Is a Belgian extract always enough?
+−Can I use an older extract that is still 'clean'?
+−Does a Belgian extract need translation?
+−Does the apostille replace the criminal-content check?
+−Who actually reads this document in a nationality procedure?
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.
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