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 death certificate
2175
registered sworn translators
130
languages and variants
This page brings together the useful information for requesting a certified translation of a death certificate in Belgium. Identities, dates, places and family links must stay perfectly consistent for succession and civil-status matters.
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, Spanish → 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
A foreign death certificate is often used in succession, file closure, pension and civil-status update matters. The deceased person's identity, date and place of death must remain perfectly consistent.
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 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.
Death certificate for a succession in Belgium
What a death certificate has to make readable for a succession in Belgium: the deceased's identity, date, place, surrounding records and a useful sworn translation for the notary.
Death certificate for a succession with a Belgian notary
How to prepare a death certificate for a succession with a Belgian notary: the useful date, coherence with the other records, any needed legalisation and a sworn translation of the mentions that matter.
Belgian inheritance after a death abroad
How to use a foreign death certificate for an inheritance in Belgium, including notary work, family records, powers of attorney, apostille and sworn translation.
Inheritance with real estate in two countries
How to handle an inheritance involving real estate in Belgium and abroad, with the notary, title records, wills and sworn translations.
Sale of undivided inheritance property in Belgium
What to do when inherited property remains undivided: heirs' agreement, power of attorney, judicial partition and useful translations.
Foreign heir and power of attorney in a Belgian inheritance
What to do when an heir lives abroad: power of attorney, signatures, notary, useful records and translations for an inheritance in Belgium.
Frequently asked questions
+−Is a sworn translation of “death 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 “death 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 death 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 death certificate?
You can describe your need directly on the site to be routed to a sworn translator.