Translating a Foreign Birth Certificate in Ghent

Need to translate a foreign birth certificate in Ghent? Ghent's Flemish municipalities and Dienst Burgerzaken require certified Dutch translations of all foreign birth certificates for civil registration, marriage, naturalisation and university admission. This guide explains the requirements, the process and how to obtain a certified translation quickly.

When is a birth certificate translation required in Ghent?

In Ghent, a certified Dutch translation of a foreign birth certificate is mandatory for:

• Civil registration at Ghent Dienst Burgerzaken
• Civil marriage at Ghent city hall
• Belgian naturalisation (nationality application)
• Family reunification (proving parentage)
• University admission at UGent for students from non-EU countries
• Inheritance and succession procedures with Ghent notaries

All procedures at Ghent municipality and Flemish institutions are conducted in Dutch. Ghent hosts a large international community — students, researchers, port workers — representing dozens of nationalities and document languages.

Ghent Dienst Burgerzaken: what to prepare

The Ghent Dienst Burgerzaken requires that a foreign birth certificate be submitted with:

• A certified Dutch translation by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler)
• The translator's signature, official stamp and Belgian court registration number
• An apostille on the original document (if required by country of origin)

Languages most requested in Ghent for birth certificate translation include Arabic, Turkish, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian and Chinese. TranslateBE covers all these with express delivery.

Online translation process for Ghent birth certificates

1. Scan or photograph your foreign birth certificate (both sides).
2. Upload it on TranslateBE, specifying Dutch as the target language.
3. Receive a fixed quote within one hour.
4. Your certified translation is delivered by email within 24–48 hours, with a physical stamped copy available by post on request.

Frequently asked questions

Does UGent accept a birth certificate translation ordered online?

Yes. Ghent University requires certified translations of birth certificates and identity documents for student enrolment, but does not restrict how those translations were ordered. A sworn translation from any Belgian Court of Appeal–registered translator is accepted.

Is an apostille required on my birth certificate before translation in Ghent?

This depends on your country of origin. Countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention can apostille their documents. Some Ghent municipal procedures require it, especially for extra-EU documents. Check with Dienst Burgerzaken in advance — TranslateBE can advise you based on your nationality.

My birth certificate is in a non-Latin script (Arabic, Chinese…). Does that affect the process?

No. TranslateBE works with sworn translators specialising in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and many other non-Latin-script languages. The process is identical regardless of the source language.