Related documents
Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Court judgment, Diploma, Transcript, Criminal record extract, Company statutes, Power of attorney
How to verify a sworn translator in Belgium
In Belgium, the right reflex is not to trust a stamp or business card blindly. The FPS Justice provides a public register allowing you to check whether a translator is registered and for which languages they are authorised.
Free checkImmediate if the register is accessibleSimple
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026Editorial review: Equipe CertiDocsOfficial sources: 1
Overview
What this guide helps you sort out
In Belgium, the right reflex is not to trust a stamp or business card blindly. The FPS Justice provides a public register allowing you to check whether a translator is registered and for which languages they are authorised.
Steps
4
Documents
3
Official sources
1
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, Dutch-French, German-French, French-Dutch
Related cities
Brussels, Antwerp, Liège
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, Court judgment. Names, dates and references need to stay aligned from one record to the next.
Which official reading matters
Brussels, Antwerp will compare the source record with English-French, Dutch-French and wants the issuing authority, date and registry references to be easy to spot.
Order of formalities
The 1 official source mainly help keep the sequence sharp: recent record first, any apostille or legalisation next, then the right filing step.
What does the public register allow?
The public register allows you to check whether a translator or interpreter is entered in the national register kept by the FPS Justice. It is the baseline for checking the provider's official status before entrusting a sensitive document.
What should you check beyond the name?
You mainly need to verify the languages and the exact function. The right provider for a sworn translation is not just someone who is registered, but someone registered for the languages you need.
Is this check enough for use abroad?
Not always. For a document destined abroad, legalisation or another formality may still be required. Verifying the translator is therefore the first step, not always the last one.
Documents to prepare
- Search the translator in the public register
- Check the registered languages
- Check whether an extra formality is required for the destination country
Steps to follow
1
Open the register
Start with the public FPS Justice source, not with a simple screenshot sent by an intermediary.
2
Search for the translator
Search for the person and check that they actually appear in the national register.
3
Check the languages
Check that the language combination needed for your file matches the registration.
4
Check the document destination
If the document is going abroad, check whether legalisation will also be required.
Good to know
Check the exact language
A translator may be registered, but not necessarily for the language combination you need.
A document destined abroad may require more
Being a sworn translator does not automatically mean the translation is ready for every country without further formalities.
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Common translations
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Get matchedFrequently asked questions
+−Is a stamp enough proof?
No. The right reflex is to verify the person in the FPS Justice public register.
+−Can a registered translator translate every language?
No. You need to verify the languages for which the person is registered.
+−Does this check replace legalisation?
No. For use abroad, an additional formality may still be required.
+−Is the register also useful for the authority receiving the translation?
Yes. It is precisely a public verification tool.
+−Can this be checked before paying?
Yes, and it is the healthiest reflex.
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.
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