Related documents
Diploma, Transcript, Medical certificate
Foreign diploma for a healthcare profession in Belgium
For healthcare professions, a general diploma equivalence is not always enough. You often need to combine recognition of the diploma with supporting evidence and, for some professions, a specific visa or authorisation from the FPS Public Health.
Depends on the file + translation if neededDepends on the authority and the completeness of the fileComplex
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026Editorial review: Equipe CertiDocsOfficial sources: 3
Overview
What this guide helps you sort out
For healthcare professions, a general diploma equivalence is not always enough. You often need to combine recognition of the diploma with supporting evidence and, for some professions, a specific visa or authorisation from the FPS Public Health.
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
English-French, Spanish-French, Romanian-French, Portuguese-French
Related cities
Brussels, Liège, Ghent
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, Medical certificate. 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 3 official sources mainly help keep the sequence sharp: recent record first, any apostille or legalisation next, then the right filing step.
Why is this procedure heavier?
Because the issue is not only recognition of a study level, but also access to a regulated profession. The FPS Public Health therefore often requires more than just a translated diploma.
Which documents are frequently required?
Beyond the diploma, the authority may ask for certificates about training, internship, professional practice or professional standing. You should therefore check the exact list for your profession before ordering translations.
Where does the sworn translation fit in?
As in other procedures, any required authentication of the foreign document comes before translation. A clean and complete sworn translation helps avoid unnecessary back-and-forth on core documents such as the diploma or professional certificates.
Documents to prepare
- Identify the healthcare profession concerned and the competent authority
- Diploma, annexes and any internship or practice certificates if requested
- Identity documents and certificates required by the FPS Public Health
- Apostille or legalisation if required for the original document
- Sworn translation of documents the authority cannot use directly
Steps to follow
1
Identify the profession
Start by identifying the regulated profession concerned and the exact route provided by the competent authority.
2
Gather the supporting documents
Prepare the diploma, annexes, professional certificates and relevant identity documents.
3
Authenticate and translate
Handle any required authentication and then the sworn translations needed for the file.
4
File with the correct service
Submit the file to the sector authority that is actually competent for the profession concerned.
Good to know
The healthcare sector has its own logic
A correct file for an ordinary diploma can still be incomplete for a regulated healthcare profession.
Check the supporting documents country by country
The FPS Public Health may require certificates on professional standing or practice from each country concerned.
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Common translations
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Get matchedFrequently asked questions
+−Is a general diploma equivalence enough?
Not always. For a regulated healthcare profession, a specific sector route may also apply.
+−Does the FPS Public Health ask only for the diploma?
No. Depending on the profession, other certificates and supporting evidence may be required.
+−When should the documents be translated?
After you have confirmed the list of documents actually required by the competent authority.
+−Do all foreign documents need an apostille?
No. That depends on the country of origin and on the authentication route applicable to the document.
+−Does this page replace the instructions for the profession concerned?
No. It helps frame the file, but the final list of documents depends on the profession and the competent service.
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
Diploma equivalence in BelgiumExchange a foreign driving licence in BelgiumDocuments for family reunification in BelgiumFamily reunification with a BelgianFamily reunification with an EU/EEA citizenFamily reunification after international protectionProving kinship or partnershipFamily reunification Visa DBelgium student visa: documents and translationsBelgium single permit: documents and translationsFamily reunification with a foreign national in limited stayVisa D for marriage or legal cohabitation in BelgiumCriminal record for Belgian nationalityBelgian inheritance after a death abroadMinor child joining a student or worker parent in BelgiumBelgian nationality as the spouse of a BelgianForeign will and mandate in a Belgian inheritanceMinor child joining a Belgian parentBelgian nationality as the parent of a Belgian childInheritance with real estate in two countriesSponsor for a Belgium student visa (Annex 32)Recognition of a foreign adoption in BelgiumSale of undivided inheritance property in BelgiumRecognition of a child in Belgium with foreign recordsForeign heir and power of attorney in a Belgian inheritanceForeign marriage and then family reunification in BelgiumStudy in Belgium with a foreign diplomaWork in Belgium with a foreign diplomaResidence in Belgium after marriage or legal cohabitationSpouse or child of a foreign student or worker in BelgiumFamily reunification refusal in BelgiumRegulated profession in Belgium with a foreign diplomaWork as a nurse in Belgium with a foreign diplomaDiploma equivalence: FWB, NARIC Vlaanderen or German-speaking Community?Transcription of a foreign birth certificate in BelgiumEU public documents: when an apostille is no longer requiredHow to verify a sworn translator in BelgiumWhen does a sworn translation need legalisation in Belgium?Transcribe a foreign marriage certificate in BelgiumDivorce granted in the EU: recognition in BelgiumDivorce granted outside the EU: recognition in BelgiumForeign death certificate: steps in BelgiumRemarry in Belgium after a foreign divorceForeign divorce with a child: custody, residence and parental responsibility in BelgiumUpdate Belgian civil status after a foreign divorceMaintenance after a foreign divorce in BelgiumBelgian naturalisation: documents and translationsApostille and legalisation of foreign documents in BelgiumRecognition of a foreign marriage in BelgiumExequatur of a foreign judgment in Belgium