Exact civil-status office
The certificate needs to stay tied to its issuing office, date and number or register when available.
Document
Sworn Translation of a birth certificate
2175
registered sworn translators
130
languages and variants
This page brings together the useful information for requesting a certified translation of a birth certificate in Belgium. Names, dates and places must stay perfectly aligned with the original certificate.
What makes this translation valid under Belgian law
- Since 1 December 2022, the electronic signature has replaced the sworn translator’s physical stamp. The translation must also meet the wording and signature requirements of Article 555/11, § 4 of the Judicial Code; specific procedures cover exceptions.
- A translation prepared by a registered translator must carry their VTI identification number.
- For use in Belgium, a registered translator electronically legalises their translation for authorised language combinations, with all required details. If electronic signing is unavailable, or a court appoints someone outside the register under Article 555/15, legalisation goes through FPS Justice.
- The FPS Justice public register lets you check a registered translator’s name, VTI and authorised languages. Court appointment outside the register under Article 555/15 is a regulated exception.
Document
What to check before translation
Before requesting a translation, compare names and dates with your other documents. Specify the recipient, the required language and any attachments, stamps or handwritten notes.
Who may request this translation?
municipalities, civil registrars, lawyers and the Immigration Office
Typical turnaround
In practice, expect 24 hours to 5 business days for the translation, plus the authority's own processing time.
Indicative pricing
From €77 first page excluding VAT; volume and any surcharges confirmed before payment.
Most requested language pairs
English → French, Dutch → French, Arabic → French
What to send from the start
When these items are clear from the start, you usually save days.
- Send the full certificate with all visible mentions.
- Specify whether there is already an apostille, legalisation or existing translation.
- State the intended procedure: municipality, notary, residence, nationality or succession.
Who may request this translation?
Depending on the procedure, a sworn translation of this document may be requested by municipalities, civil registrars, lawyers and the Immigration Office. Confirm the requirement with the recipient before ordering.
Legal framework
Birth certificates are central to nationality, marriage, family reunification, transcription and schooling files. Names, dates and places must stay strictly aligned.
What the authority will actually check
These are the points on which a file usually stands or falls officially.
Marginal notes and family links
It is often the annotations, family links and places that trigger extra questions.
Official chain
When an apostille or legalisation is involved, the order of formalities matters as much as the translation.
Step-by-step procedure
- 1
Send the full certificate
Do not crop seals, marginal notes or the back side: administrations often need those details.
- 2
Check identities and dates
Flag any spelling already used in other Belgian files to avoid inconsistencies.
- 3
Translate without losing any mentions
The translation must include annotations, registration references and useful signatures.
- 4
Attach legalisation when needed
Depending on the country of origin, the authority may also require an apostille or consular legalisation.
Typical turnaround
In practice, expect 24 hours to 5 business days for the translation, plus the authority's own processing time.
Indicative pricing
From €77 first page excluding VAT; volume and any surcharges confirmed before payment.
Describe your need
We frame your request
Targeted matching
Translation and delivery
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 sourceFPS Foreign Affairs - Legalisation and apostille of documentsOpen the official sourceOfficial sourcee-Justice portal - Public documents in the EUOpen the official sourceOfficial sourceHCCH - Apostille ConventionOpen the official sourceOfficial sourceFPS Justice - National register of sworn translators and interpretersOpen the official sourceOfficial sourceFPS Justice - Legalisation of sworn translationsOpen the official source
CertiDocs analysis: CertiDocs explains the process and helps connect users with a professional. CertiDocs is not a public service and is not affiliated with any authority.
Guides
Guides for this document
Check the documents, language and formalities before your request.
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Frequently asked questions
+−Is a sworn translation of “birth certificate” always required?
No. It depends on the language, procedure, issuing country and receiving authority. An exemption or multilingual form may sometimes be enough. Confirm the requirement before paying.
+−Does a sworn translation guarantee acceptance of “birth certificate”?
No. It certifies the translation’s conformity but does not fix the wrong record, an insufficiently recent date or missing authentication, apostille or legalisation. The receiving authority decides.
+−What information should I provide for a birth certificate?
The most useful details are the source language, target language and the context in which the document will be used.
+−How do I start a request for a birth certificate?
You can describe your need directly on the site to be routed to a sworn translator.