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Missing legalisation on a marriage certificate in Belgium

A marriage certificate can be genuine and still remain unusable. If the legalisation step is missing in the useful chain, the sworn translation arrives too early and solves nothing.

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Editorial lead : CertiDocs Team6 sources

An EU marriage record may be exempt

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For a public marriage record circulating between two member states’ authorities, Regulation 2016/1191 removes apostille or legalisation requirements within its scope. It does not determine recognition of the marriage’s legal effects. If a formality is requested, ask whether it concerns the record, a foreign translation or another document before repeating the whole process.

Official sourcee-Justice portal - Public documents in the EUYour Europe - Translation and authenticity of records

Two documents, potentially two formalities

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Distinguish authentication of the original from authentication of the translation. A Belgian sworn translation intended for use abroad may require its own legalisation unless exempt. If the original’s apostille or legalisation entries need translation, supply them to the translator. There is no single sequence to apply without identifying the recipient.

Official sourceFPS Foreign Affairs - Legalisation and apostille of documentsFPS Justice - Legalisation of sworn translations

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Official sources used

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

Official sourceHCCH - Apostille ConventionOfficial sourceFPS Justice - Legalisation of sworn translationsOfficial sourcee-Justice portal - Public documents in the EUOfficial sourceFPS Justice - National register of sworn translators and interpretersOfficial sourceFPS Foreign Affairs - Legalisation and apostille of documentsOfficial sourceYour Europe - Translation and authenticity of records

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