Buying Property in Belgium as a Foreigner: Documents to Translate

Are you a foreigner buying a flat or a house in Belgium? Between the notary and the bank, several documents in a foreign language will need to be translated, and sometimes apostilled. Here is which ones, and how to prepare a file that goes through smoothly.

Who can buy property in Belgium?

Belgium imposes no nationality restriction on property purchases: a foreign national, resident or not, may acquire a property. The difficulty is therefore not legal but documentary. The Belgian notary, compulsory for any property sale, and the bank financing the loan must be able to read and verify your documents. Any document drafted in a language other than French or Dutch will generally have to be presented as a sworn translation.

The documents requested by the notary

The notary verifies your identity and your family situation, because the matrimonial regime affects the ownership of the property. You will commonly be asked for:

• Identity card or passport: to formally identify the buyer.
• Birth certificate: sometimes required to confirm civil status.
• Marriage certificate and marriage contract: essential to determine the matrimonial regime (community of property, separation of estates) and to know how ownership is registered.
• Power of attorney: if you cannot be present at the signing, a translated and often legalised power of attorney is required.

Foreign official deeds (marriage, birth) must in principle be apostilled or legalised before translation. See our guide apostille or legalisation in Belgium.

The documents requested by the bank

If you finance the purchase with a mortgage loan, the bank assesses your creditworthiness. With income earned abroad, expect to provide:

• Proof of income: payslips, tax assessments or balance sheets for the self-employed.
• Foreign bank statements: to demonstrate the regularity of flows and available savings.
• Proof of funds: evidence of your personal contribution, sometimes required to justify the origin of the funds (anti-money-laundering).

These documents in a foreign language must be translated into French or Dutch depending on the region. Some banks accept English for statements, but sworn certification remains the safest guarantee.

Sworn translation and legalisation: the right combination

For use before a Belgian notary, the sworn translation is carried out by a sworn translator registered in the national register, who signs and stamps it. Civil-status deeds issued abroad often require an additional layer: the apostille (countries that signed the Hague Convention) or the legalisation (other countries). The logical order is: obtain the apostille on the original, then have it translated. For the details of the steps, consult our guide to the legalisation of documents in Belgiumand the complete guide to the sworn translation.

Practical tips for an accepted file

• Plan ahead: the apostille in the country of origin can take several weeks.
• Ask for the target language from the notary: French in Wallonia and Brussels on the French-speaking side, Dutch in Flanders.
• Group your documents for a single translation quote and a controlled timeframe.
• Keep the originals: the notary or the bank may request the apostilled original, not only the translation.