Court Interpreter in Ghent: Hof van Beroep & Judicial Procedures

Need a sworn court interpreter in Ghent for a hearing at the Rechtbank van eerste aanleg, a DVZ appeals procedure or a criminal matter? Our sworn interpreters are accredited by the Belgian Courts of Appeal and cover all major languages for Ghent's judicial proceedings.

Court interpretation in Ghent: how does it work?

In Belgium, court interpreters - known as beëdigde tolken in Dutch - are professionals who have taken an oath before a competent Court of Appeal. They are registered with SPF Justice (just.fgov.be) and are the only interpreters whose services are legally recognised for use in judicial proceedings. Unlike conference interpreters or community interpreters, sworn court interpreters are authorised to interpret during hearings, police interviews, DVZ appeals and formal administrative procedures.

The Ghent Court of First Instance (Rechtbank van eerste aanleg Oost-Vlaanderen) sits in Ghent and handles criminal, civil, family and commercial matters for the East Flanders judicial district. Alongside the court itself, the DVZ (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken) holds appeals hearings in Ghent through the Council of State and the Council for Alien Law Proceedings (RvV), both of which require accredited interpretation for non-Dutch-speaking parties.

For translation needs around your Ghent procedure, see our guide on court interpretation in Brussels and our overview of conference interpretation in Belgium.

Types of proceedings requiring a sworn interpreter in Ghent

Criminal hearings

In criminal proceedings, the right to understand one's judge is fundamental. Any defendant, witness or victim who does not speak Dutch is entitled to interpretation under Belgian law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Ghent Court of Assizes (for the most serious crimes), the correctional court and the police court all require accredited sworn interpreters when parties do not speak Dutch. Languages most frequently requested in Ghent's criminal courts include Arabic, Turkish, Romanian, Mandarin, Polish and Albanian.

Civil and family hearings

International family matters - divorce proceedings involving foreign nationals, international child custody disputes, guardianship hearings - regularly require sworn interpreters at the Ghent Family Court (familierechtbank). Civil commercial disputes involving foreign parties may also require interpretation, particularly those arising from Ghent's significant transport and chemical industries.

DVZ and RvV (Council for Alien Law Proceedings) hearings

The RvV (Raad voor Vreemdelingenbetwistingen) hears appeals against DVZ decisions on asylum, expulsion and residence permits. Many appellants do not speak Dutch and require a sworn interpreter to participate effectively in their hearing. This is one of the most frequent requests we receive in Ghent. Languages commonly needed at RvV hearings include Arabic, Pashto, Dari, Tigrinya, Amharic, Somali, Wolof and Turkish.

CGRA asylum hearings

The CGRA (Commissariat général aux réfugiés et aux apatrides) conducts asylum interviews and hearings in Ghent and across Belgium. Sworn interpreters are required for applicants who do not speak Dutch or French. The CGRA requires interpreters to be registered and accredited - informal community interpreters are not accepted.

How to book a sworn court interpreter in Ghent

1. Contact us with your hearing details : provide the date, time, court or body, type of proceeding and the language(s) required.
2. Receive a quote : we confirm interpreter availability and provide a fixed price. Payment by bank transfer (IBAN provided with the quote); VAT not applicable (franchise TVA, art. 44 §3).
3. Interpreter assigned : we assign a sworn interpreter registered with SPF Justice and accredited by a Belgian Court of Appeal.
4. Interpretation at your hearing : the interpreter attends in person in Ghent or, for remote hearings, joins via the platform used by the court. Remote interpretation is available on request.

The most requested languages at Ghent courts

East Flanders - of which Ghent is the capital - has a diverse immigrant population. The languages most frequently requested for court interpretation in Ghent include:

• Arabic : Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Syrian, Iraqi and Egyptian communities generate high demand for court interpretation in criminal and family matters
• Turkish : a substantial Turkish community in Ghent, with requests spanning criminal, civil and DVZ proceedings
• Romanian : one of the largest EU migrant communities in Belgium, with frequent court interpretation needs in civil and criminal matters
• Albanian : a well-established Albanian community generates interpretation requests particularly in criminal and family law hearings
• Polish : EU migration since 2004 has created a large Polish community in East Flanders with regular court interpretation needs
• Russian and Ukrainian : increased demand since 2022, particularly for DVZ and protection procedure hearings
• Pashto, Dari, Tigrinya, Amharic, Somali : critical languages for CGRA asylum hearings and RvV appeals in Ghent

Frequently asked questions

Can the court appoint a sworn interpreter for my hearing, or must I arrange it myself?

Belgian courts can appoint sworn interpreters from the official SPF Justice register for hearings. However, in practice - particularly for DVZ and RvV hearings - parties are often expected to bring their own interpreter or arrange one in advance. Booking through an agency ensures you have a confirmed, accredited interpreter in place before the hearing date.

Is remote interpretation available for Ghent court hearings?

Yes. Remote interpretation (via video or phone) has been increasingly accepted by Belgian courts and administrative bodies since 2020. The availability of remote interpretation depends on the specific court and type of proceeding - please confirm with the court clerk in advance. We can provide both in-person and remote sworn interpreters.

How much does a sworn court interpreter cost for a Ghent hearing?

Court interpretation is typically priced by the half-day or full day, or by the hour for shorter hearings. Rates vary by language and available interpreter. Contact us for a quote based on your specific hearing length and language. See also our overview of interpretation rates in Belgium.

What languages are available for the Ghent RvV (alien law appeals)?

We cover all languages regularly heard at the RvV in Ghent, including Arabic, Turkish, Albanian, Pashto, Dari, Tigrinya, Amharic, Somali, Wolof, Bambara, Mandarin, Mongolian and many more. For very rare languages, please contact us as early as possible to confirm availability.

See also: Court interpreter in Brussels · Conference interpretation in Belgium