Schaerbeek is the second most populous municipality in Belgium with around 130,000 inhabitants. A multilingual hub (Turkish, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian), it concentrates a very high demand for sworn translation for the town hall on Place Colignon. TranslateBE translates your documents for Schaerbeek and neighbouring municipalities (Saint-Josse, Brussels-City, Evere). Quote within 1h.
Schaerbeek: 2nd Belgian municipality, world-city
With 129,800 inhabitants on 1 January 2025 (Statbel), Schaerbeek is ahead of Liège, while Antwerp clearly leads at provincial level. Schaerbeek is, by various indicators, one of the most diverse municipalities in Europe: more than 170 nationalities are represented. The largest communities are Turkish (historically rooted around the chaussée de Haecht and rue de Brabant), Moroccan, Romanian, Portuguese, Guinean, Spanish and Syrian.
This mosaic generates a very high volume of civil status, family reunification, transcription and naturalisation procedures, all requiring sworn translations by an RNEJ translator.
Typical documents translated for Schaerbeek
- Turkish certificates: Doğum Belgesi (birth certificate), Evlenme Cüzdanı (marriage booklet), Adli Sicil Kaydı (criminal record), apostilled by the Turkish Valilik.
- Moroccan certificates: شهادة الميلاد (birth), Adoul marriage certificate, criminal record, apostilled by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Romanian certificates: Certificat de naştere, Certificat de căsătorie, Cazier judiciar. For EU certificates, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 has abolished legalisation since February 2019.
- Portuguese certificates: Certidão de Nascimento, Certidão de Casamento. EU documents also covered by Regulation 2016/1191.
- Guinean, Congolese, Syrian certificates: for these non-EU countries, mandatory chain consular legalisation often required before translation.
- Diplomas from all origins for NARIC or CFWB equivalence.
TranslateBE
Multilingual sworn translator for Schaerbeek
Turkish, Arabic, Romanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Georgian: all our sworn RNEJ translators. Accepted by Schaerbeek municipality.
Schaerbeek town hall: relevant services
The town hall of Schaerbeek is located on Place Colignon. The desks involved in sworn translations:
- Civil status: transcription of foreign marriages, birth declarations, international paternity recognition.
- Foreigners: Annex 19ter (introduction of family reunification), Annex 15 (declaration of arrival), registration in the foreigners' register.
- Nationality: declaration under Article 12bis BNC, transmission to the Brussels Public Prosecutor.
Schaerbeek operates by mandatory appointment for most of these procedures: preparing a complete and well-translated file from the first appointment avoids several weeks of waiting between two summonses.
Neighbouring municipalities: Saint-Josse, Brussels-City, Evere
Schaerbeek shares its administrative challenges with its neighbours. Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (the smallest Belgian municipality but also one of the most densely populated, with a strong Turkish community), Brussels-City (which includes Laeken), and Evere (significant Guinean and North African communities) apply the same rules of sworn translation. An RNEJ translation produced for Schaerbeek can be used as is in these neighbouring municipalities, avoiding duplicate costs for families whose file circulates between several desks.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Schaerbeek accept translations made in Turkey or Morocco?
No. Belgian municipalities, including Schaerbeek, only accept translations carried out by a sworn translator registered with the Belgian National Register of Judicial Experts (RNEJ). A translation by a Turkish noter or yeminli tercüman, or by an authorised Moroccan translator, must be redone by a Belgian sworn translator. This is a legal requirement (Act of 10 April 2014).
How much does a translation cost for Schaerbeek municipality?
For a standard certificate (birth, marriage, criminal record), expect €50-90 per document. For a complete family reunification file (3-5 documents), €200-400. Express 24h adds 30-50%. Detailed quote within 1h on our website.
Should I make an appointment before translating?
Yes, ideally. Ask the Schaerbeek municipality for the exact list of documents required for the appointment (by phone or via the municipal portal). This avoids translating an unnecessary document or forgetting one. Our free 1h quote service then allows you to verify the list and cost before committing to the translations.
Is the translation also valid in Saint-Josse or Brussels-City?
Yes. A sworn RNEJ translation is valid throughout Belgium, with no geographical limitation. A translation made for Schaerbeek municipality can be used as is in Saint-Josse, Brussels-City, Evere, or elsewhere. It retains its validity for as long as the source document: a translated birth certificate remains usable for years, a criminal record only 6 months because the source document expires.
Schaerbeek appointment in a few days?
24-hour express on all your documents. Sworn RNEJ translators. Accepted by Schaerbeek, Saint-Josse, Brussels-City and all Belgian municipalities.