Ghent hosts many Ukrainians through its very active OCMW, which was among the first Belgian municipal services to mobilise a large-scale response to Ukrainian displacement in 2022. UGent has integrated Ukrainian students and researchers, and Ghent's schools have welcomed Ukrainian children. Ukrainian is a distinct language from Russian - a distinction that matters deeply to Ukrainian refugees. TranslateBE provides certified Ukrainian interpreters in Ghent available within 24 hours for social, medical and academic procedures.
The Ukrainian community in Ghent
Ghent's OCMW responded rapidly and comprehensively to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees from March 2022 onwards, registering families for temporary protection, assigning social case managers and coordinating access to housing, schools and healthcare. Ghent became one of Flanders' principal host cities for Ukrainian refugees, with a community that has grown to several thousand people spanning a wide age range - from elderly residents to young families with school-age children.
UGent has taken a leading role in supporting Ukrainian academics and students displaced by the war, creating pathways for Ukrainian researchers to continue their work and for students to pursue their studies. Ukrainian academics at UGent may require Ukrainian interpretation for administrative procedures and formal institutional meetings. UZ Ghent, one of Flanders' leading university hospitals, provides healthcare to Ukrainian residents, including specialist care, trauma support and obstetrics. Across all these settings, native Ukrainian interpretation is essential - and it must be Ukrainian, not Russian.
When do you need a Ukrainian interpreter in Ghent?
- OCMW social assistance : temporary protection registration, living wage assessments, housing support and social integration pathways for Ukrainian refugees
- VDAB professional integration : job counselling, vocational training enrolments and professional qualification recognition for Ukrainian adults seeking employment in Ghent
- UZ Ghent medical consultations : specialist appointments, emergency care, trauma support, obstetrics and psychiatric follow-up for Ukrainian patients
- UGent academic support : administrative procedures, institutional meetings and formal presentations for Ukrainian researchers and students at UGent
- Ghent courts : legal proceedings, civil matters and police interviews involving Ukrainian-speaking parties
- Schools and CLBs : enrolment procedures, parent-teacher meetings and guidance centre interviews for Ukrainian-speaking families in Ghent
- Immigration Office procedures : temporary protection renewals, family reunification files and regularisation applications for Ukrainian nationals
- Legal aid offices : consultation sessions and case preparation for Ukrainian applicants accessing pro bono legal assistance
TranslateBE
Ukrainian interpreter in Ghent - quote within 1h
Certified Ukrainian interpreters for OCMW Ghent, UZ Ghent, UGent, VDAB and Ghent courts. Native Ukrainian speakers, distinct from Russian, as preferred by Ukrainian refugees.
Available interpretation modes
- Liaison (on-site) : The interpreter attends the appointment in person and works consecutively. The standard mode for OCMW interviews, UZ Ghent consultations and court hearings where physical presence supports communication and trust.
- Remote (Zoom/Teams) : Video interpreting for online VDAB sessions, remote OCMW case manager meetings or legal consultations with Ukrainian-speaking parties.
- Telephone : Immediate support for urgent situations - emergency admissions at UZ Ghent, first contacts with police or social services - when on-site attendance cannot be arranged immediately.
- Consecutive : The speaker pauses after each passage while the interpreter renders the message. Suited to formal legal proceedings, administrative appeals and UGent institutional meetings.
Ukrainian interpreter rates in Ghent
| Service | Duration | Indicative rate |
|---|---|---|
| Liaison half day | <= 4h | €250–400 |
| Liaison full day | <= 8h | €450–700 |
| Remote (per hour) | 1h | €80–120/h |
| Telephone | 15–30 min | €40–70 |
| Travel | - | +€0.40/km |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can your Ukrainian interpreters work at UZ Ghent for Ukrainian patients?
Yes. Our medical interpreters are experienced in hospital settings and familiar with the terminology used across UZ Ghent departments, including emergency care, internal medicine, obstetrics, trauma care and psychiatry. They are particularly attentive to the emotional sensitivity required when interpreting for Ukrainian patients who may have experienced war-related trauma.
Can your interpreters assist Ukrainian researchers and students at UGent?
Yes. Administrative interpreting for Ukrainian academics at UGent - for institutional meetings, formal procedures and academic presentations - is within our service offering. Our interpreters are comfortable with academic register and institutional vocabulary in both Ukrainian and Dutch or French.
Are your interpreters familiar with OCMW Ghent's procedures for Ukrainian refugees?
Yes. Several of our interpreters have worked with OCMW Ghent and are familiar with the procedures used in temporary protection registration, living wage assessments and social integration interviews. This familiarity ensures smooth communication without unnecessary pauses for administrative terminology.
Can I book a Ukrainian interpreter for a VDAB session in Ghent at short notice?
Yes. Submit your request with the appointment date, time, location and type of VDAB session, and we will confirm an available interpreter within 1 hour during business hours. Express bookings within 24 hours are our standard service across the Ghent region.
Ukrainian interpreter available in Ghent - express 24h
Urgent bookings for OCMW Ghent, UZ Ghent, UGent and Ghent courts. Native Ukrainian interpreters confirmed within 1 hour.