Related documents
Diploma, Transcript
Diploma equivalence: FWB, NARIC Vlaanderen or German-speaking Community?
The first real choice is not the translation but the competent authority. In Belgium, diploma equivalence is not handled by a single body: the competent Community depends on the context, the language of the procedure and sometimes on the objective pursued.
Depends on the file + translation if neededDepends on the authority and the completeness of the fileModerate
Last reviewed: 12 April 2026Editorial review: Equipe CertiDocsOfficial sources: 4
Overview
What this guide helps you sort out
The first real choice is not the translation but the competent authority. In Belgium, diploma equivalence is not handled by a single body: the competent Community depends on the context, the language of the procedure and sometimes on the objective pursued.
Steps
4
Documents
5
Official sources
4
What frames this file straight away
Before you even follow the procedure step by step, these are usually the axes that matter.
Common translations
English-French, Spanish-French, Romanian-French, Polish-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 Diploma, Transcript. 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 English-French, Spanish-French and wants the issuing authority, date and registry references to be easy to spot.
Order of formalities
The 4 official sources mainly help keep the sequence sharp: recent record first, any apostille or legalisation next, then the right filing step.
How to build this file more intelligently
Before you order anything or file the case, these are the three small choices that usually make the difference.
What needs to be stable first
Lock down Diploma, Transcript first, then recheck names, dates and references across the surrounding records.
The order that avoids duplicate work
Correct source version first, then any apostille or legalisation, only then the sworn translation and the filing step.
What almost everyone forgets
English-French, Spanish-French and the annexes around Diploma, Transcript are often exactly what Brussels, Liège needs to reread the file without doubt.
Who handles what in Belgium?
The Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, NARIC Vlaanderen and the German-speaking Community do not handle exactly the same work for the same audiences. The correct entry point depends on the competent Community and on the type of recognition you need. The Belgium.be page is precisely there to help orient you before you go to the right service.
When do you go through the FWB?
The Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles handles the academic and professional recognition of foreign diplomas within its competence. If your file is aimed at French-speaking education or the use of the diploma in that framework, it is often the right authority. The EquiSup site also clarifies which requests do not fall under that service.
When do you go through NARIC Vlaanderen or the German-speaking Community?
NARIC Vlaanderen handles requests linked to education or the use of the diploma in the Flemish framework and offers a guidance tool to check whether the request actually belongs there. The German-speaking Community also has its own route for recognising foreign diplomas and study certificates.
Documents to prepare
- Identify the competent authority before filing anything
- Diploma and complete academic annexes
- Valid identity copy
- Apostille or legalisation if required for the original document
- Sworn translation of records not accepted in the procedure language
Steps to follow
1
Choose the competent Community
Check the competent authority first before gathering or translating documents.
2
Gather the academic file
Prepare the diploma, transcripts, supplements and supporting documents required by the chosen service.
3
Make the documents usable
Obtain any required apostille or legalisation, then the sworn translations needed for the procedure.
4
File with the correct authority
Submit the complete file to the correct Community or specialised authority.
Good to know
Start with the right authority
If you send the file to the wrong Community, you lose time before you even reach the translation stage.
Studying and access to a profession are not always the same thing
The right service can differ depending on whether you want to continue studying, rely on a diploma or access a regulated profession.
Describe your need
We frame your request
Targeted matching
Translation and delivery
Certified
Fast
Confidential
Accepted everywhere
Internal routes
Jump straight to the next useful page
Not every internal link deserves oxygen. These are the document, language, city and cluster pages that genuinely extend this file.
Full cluster
Diplomas and equivalence
Studies, work, regulated professions and equivalence routes.
Related documents
Common translations
Need a certified translation?
Our sworn translators can translate and certify all documents required for your procedures.
Get matchedFrequently asked questions
+−Can I send the same file everywhere?
No. You first need to identify the competent authority. Sending it everywhere wastes time and does not speed anything up.
+−Does NARIC Vlaanderen handle all Flemish requests?
Not automatically. NARIC Vlaanderen provides a guidance tool precisely to check whether the request belongs there or with another body.
+−Is the FWB competent for all foreign diplomas?
No. Its own website states that some requests do not fall under that service, which is why you should check the exact purpose of your application.
+−When should documents be translated?
After you have identified the right authority and the language actually accepted by the procedure, so you avoid unnecessary translations.
+−Does this page replace a profession-specific guide?
No. For some regulated professions, you must also follow the specific route of the competent sector authority.
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.
Guides
Stay inside the same case family
This guide belongs to a stronger cluster. If this page touches your file, these usually do too. Diplomas and equivalence.
Diploma equivalence in Belgium
Complete guide to getting a foreign diploma recognised in Belgium: NARIC procedure, required documents, certified translation and deadlines.
Read the guideRomanian to French diploma translation in Belgium
How to translate a Romanian diploma into French for Belgium: exact title, institution, level, useful annexes and readability for equivalence or study.
Read the guideEnglish to French transcript translation in Belgium
How to translate an English transcript into French for Belgium: tables, credits, grading scales, course names and real academic readability.
Read the guideWork as a doctor in Belgium with a foreign diploma
What a doctor with a foreign diploma must lock down in Belgium: the FPS Public Health route, visa, training records and genuinely useful translations.
Read the guideGuides
Next files that usually travel together
Same records, same languages or the same administrative friction. These are the logical next clicks, not random filler.
Work as a nurse in Belgium with a foreign diploma
What a nurse with a foreign diploma must check in Belgium: visa, approval, academic records, practice certificates and useful translations.
Read the guideForeign diploma for a healthcare profession in Belgium
What to check to have a foreign diploma recognised for a healthcare profession in Belgium, including useful translations.
Read the guideSpanish to French diploma translation in Belgium
Translate a Spanish diploma into French for Belgium: title, level, annexes, academic readability and a useful sworn translation for equivalence or admission.
Read the guideSponsor for a Belgium student visa (Annex 32)
How to prepare a sponsor file for a Belgium student visa: Annex 32, income records, useful evidence and translations.
Read the guideApostille and legalisation of foreign documents in Belgium
Practical guide to apostille and legalisation of foreign documents in Belgium: differences, procedure, Hague Convention countries and certified translation.
Read the guideDiploma and translation for a university in Belgium
University admission in Belgium with a foreign diploma: what needs translation, what falls under equivalence and what the institution actually reads.
Read the guide