Related documents
Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Criminal record extract, Residence permit, Employer certificate
Proving kinship or partnership
The starting point remains the official record. If that record is missing or cannot be obtained, the administration may examine other evidence, but only within a coherent and readable file. A sworn translation comes in when the documents cannot be used directly by the authority.
Official fees + translation if neededVaries by authorityModerate
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026Editorial review: Equipe CertiDocsOfficial sources: 3
Overview
What this guide helps you sort out
The starting point remains the official record. If that record is missing or cannot be obtained, the administration may examine other evidence, but only within a coherent and readable file. A sworn translation comes in when the documents cannot be used directly by the authority.
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
Arabic-French, Turkish-French, Romanian-French, Dutch-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 Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Criminal record extract. 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 Arabic-French, Turkish-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.
Which document is expected first?
For a parent, child, spouse or partner, the administration first looks for the corresponding civil-status record. Only where there is a justified absence, impossibility or serious difficulty does it move to other forms of evidence.
What weight do other proofs carry?
Other proofs are not an automatic shortcut. They mainly serve when the official record cannot be obtained. The administration then assesses the coherence of the file as a whole and may request additional material.
Where does the sworn translation fit in?
A sworn translation does not strengthen the evidential value of a document, but it makes the record usable. If the document or its relevant entries are not understandable to the authority, translation becomes unavoidable.
Documents to prepare
- Birth, marriage or partnership record depending on the relationship invoked
- Complete, readable and preferably recent copies
- Apostille or legalisation if the record comes from abroad
- Sworn translation of records the authority cannot read directly
- Additional evidence if the official record is missing
Steps to follow
1
Identify the exact relationship
Determine which main record is expected depending on whether the case concerns parentage, marriage or partnership.
2
Obtain the best copy
Prefer a complete, recent and clearly readable copy of the record.
3
Authenticate and translate where needed
Handle any apostille or legalisation first, then the sworn translation needed for the procedure.
4
Add useful supporting material
If the official record is missing, add a clear explanation and the other available elements.
Good to know
Prefer complete and recent copies
An old, short-form or inconsistent copy often triggers a request for additional documents.
Explain differences in names and dates
When several documents do not use exactly the same spelling, it is better to address that upfront with a clear explanation.
Describe your need
We frame your request
Targeted matching
Translation and delivery
Certified
Fast
Confidential
Accepted everywhere
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
+−Is a simple photocopy enough?
In practice, it is better to start from an official, complete and readable copy. A simple photocopy often triggers a request for more documents.
+−What if names are not spelled the same way?
You should flag the discrepancy and attach any document that helps connect the different spellings.
+−Does a sworn translation replace the official record?
No. The translation makes the record readable, but it does not replace the underlying official record when the administration expects it.
+−Can I add other evidence alongside the official record?
Yes, especially if it helps make the file coherent. It is useful, but it does not change the starting hierarchy of evidence.
+−Can the administration request extra checks?
Yes. If the file remains incomplete or ambiguous, it may ask for additional material and other verifications.
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 protectionFamily 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?Foreign diploma for a healthcare profession in BelgiumTranscription 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