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CertiDocsThe practical guide

Criminal record for a student visa in Belgium

Issuing country, record age and accepted languages: check visa D requirements for recognised higher education before ordering a translation.

Understand the process
Editorial lead : CertiDocs Team4 sources

Student visa: which record, issuing country and date?

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For a non-EU national’s first visa D application for full-time recognised higher education or its preparatory year, the Immigration Office requires applicants over 18 to provide a criminal record or equivalent issued less than six months ago by their country of origin or last residence. This time limit does not apply to every Belgian procedure.

Official sourceImmigration Office - Student visa, Articles 60 and 61/1/3

Does an English criminal record need translation for this visa?

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Under the Immigration Office’s published language rule for this procedure, documents in French, Dutch, German or English do not require translation. Documents in another language need a sworn translation into one of those four languages. Confirm which annexes to include with the competent post.

Official sourceImmigration Office - Student visa, Articles 60 and 61/1/3

Preparation advice from CertiDocs

Student criminal record: what should you send for a quote?

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Prepare the complete record, issue date, issuing country, document language, receiving post and planned submission date. Include the instructions you received about formalities. This lets the relevant pages be quoted and helps identify a record that needs replacing before you pay for its translation.

  • A recent translation does not change the record’s issue date. Check the two dates separately.
  • If an apostille or legalisation is requested, establish which item it concerns: original, copy or translation. Include any annexes to translate.
  • Message to adapt: ‘My record was issued on [date] by [authority/country], in [language], for submission on [date]. Could you confirm the version, formalities and pages requiring translation?’

Documents to prepare

  • Post’s document list for your study category
  • Issuing country and record date checked before translation
  • Record language and translation only if needed
  • Original and translation formalities clarified

Steps to follow

  1. Identify the procedure

    Post’s document list for your study category

  2. Check the record

    Issuing country and record date checked before translation

  3. Confirm the formalities

    Original and translation formalities clarified

  4. Translate the necessary documents

    Record language and translation only if needed

Good to know

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Frequently asked questions

+Which record is needed for a first student visa D?
For a non-EU national’s first visa D application for full-time recognised higher education or its preparatory year, the Immigration Office requires applicants over 18 to provide a criminal record or equivalent issued less than six months ago by their country of origin or last residence. This time limit does not apply to every Belgian procedure.
+Does an English record need translating?
Under the Immigration Office’s published language rule for this procedure, documents in French, Dutch, German or English do not require translation. Documents in another language need a sworn translation into one of those four languages. Confirm which annexes to include with the competent post.
+Does translation renew the record’s validity?
A recent translation does not change the record’s issue date. Check the two dates separately.
+Must an apostille always come before translation?
If an apostille or legalisation is requested, establish which item it concerns: original, copy or translation. Include any annexes to translate.
+What should I send for a quote?
Prepare the complete record, issue date, issuing country, document language, receiving post and planned submission date. Include the instructions you received about formalities. This lets the relevant pages be quoted and helps identify a record that needs replacing before you pay for its translation.

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 sourceImmigration Office - Student visa, Articles 60 and 61/1/3Official sourceImmigration Office - Subsistence for 2026-2027Official sourceFPS Justice - National register of sworn translators and interpretersOfficial sourceFPS Justice - Legalisation of sworn translations

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