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CertiDocsThe practical guide

Name mismatch between a birth certificate and a passport in Belgium

The name does not merely need to be 'close enough'. It needs to remain attachable. Otherwise, every record becomes a small administrative bomb.

Understand the process
Editorial lead : CertiDocs Team5 sources

Birth name, used name or transliteration?

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Record the names exactly as shown on the birth certificate and passport. Identify whether the difference relates to marriage, a name change, name order or transliteration from another alphabet. Ask which record links the two spellings; sounding similar is not a documentary explanation.

Preserve the records and ask the issuer to correct them

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Our advice: retain every version unchanged, with its date and issuer. Tell the recipient and translator about the discrepancy and ask what evidence or correction is acceptable. Translation should make differences understandable, not silently rewrite a name or date to make records match.

Guides

On the same topic

Other steps to prepare. Nationality and parentage.

Criminal record for Belgian nationality

Which criminal record extract to prepare for a declaration of nationality or similar file, including issuing country, freshness of the document, legalisation and sworn translation.

Arabic to French birth certificate translation in Belgium

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Separate nationality duty, payment evidence and translation.

Guides

Guides related to your documents and circumstances.

Birth certificate for the Immigration Office in Belgium

What the Immigration Office actually wants to read on a birth certificate: usable parentage, coherent identity, any needed legalisation and a sworn translation without the usual mistakes.

Marriage certificate for family reunification in Belgium

Prepare the marriage certificate establishing the marital relationship in the file.

Foreign marriage and then family reunification in Belgium

Connect the steps concerning a foreign marriage with family reunification.

For your application

Nationality and parentage

Belgian nationality, criminal records, proof of the link and recognition of a child born abroad.

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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 sourceIBZ - Proof of family relationship or partnershipOfficial sourceFPS Justice - Declaration of nationalityOfficial sourceFPS Foreign Affairs - Civil statusOfficial sourceFPS Justice - National register of sworn translators and interpretersOfficial sourceFPS Justice - Legalisation of sworn translations

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