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 for the document “birth certificate” in Belgium. Names, dates and places must stay perfectly aligned with the original certificate.
How much does a sworn translation of “Birth certificate” cost?
€133.10 incl. VAT for one complete document. One complete birth certificate, annotations and reverse included. All pages are included. Payment follows acceptance by the professional.
This price covers translation, not the issue of the original document, an apostille or legalisation fees.
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Your price
- Total to pay
- €133.10
Price details
- Excl. VAT
- €110
- VAT (21 %)
- €23.10
Fixed price for one complete document, all pages included. Pay after a professional accepts.
Additional costs and services
Apostille, consular legalisation, authority fees, paper delivery, accommodation, conference equipment and additional interpreters are excluded. Availability and cost must be confirmed in writing before ordering; no automatic surcharge after payment.
The deadline for your file is confirmed before payment. Expedited delivery is not currently offered.
Birth certificate: avoid an unnecessary translation #
For a birth certificate presented to an authority in another EU country, an attached multilingual standard form may remove the need for translation. A certified translation may exceptionally be requested if the content cannot be fully understood.
Official sourceYour Europe - Translation and authenticity of records
Preparation advice from CertiDocs #
Fictional example: you have a Spanish certificate for a Belgian municipality. Before requesting a quote, identify the issuing country and ask whether the certificate with its multilingual form is sufficient for your procedure.
- Name the procedure and receiving department; “for Belgium” does not identify the required language.
- If translation is requested, prepare all pages, reverse sides and legible marginal entries. Flag a name discrepancy without altering the certificate.
Prepare the next step
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
The translation deadline is confirmed for your file before payment, based on the document and the professional’s availability. The authority’s processing time is separate.
Fixed fee per document
€133.10 per document
Examples of available 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
The translation deadline is confirmed for your file before payment, based on the document and the professional’s availability. The authority’s processing time is separate.
Fixed fee per document
€133.10 per document
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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Transcription of a foreign birth certificate in Belgium
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Missing apostille on a birth certificate in Belgium
What to do when a birth certificate is missing an apostille for Belgium: check whether it is required, fix the order and avoid placing a sworn translation on an unstable base.
EU record with a multilingual form: translate it?
Check whether an official form can avoid translation.
Translation made in France or the EU: valid in Belgium?
Have a translation already made in the EU checked.
Belgian sworn translation for use abroad
Prepare formalities for a Belgian translation used abroad.
Frequently asked questions
+−Can an acknowledgement of parentage replace a birth certificate?
No. Supply the document the authority requests. An acknowledgement records different information and has its own category. Include the complete birth record and annotations, and check whether an accepted multilingual version is sufficient.
+−How should I prepare this document before sending it?
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.
+−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.