Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union - and one of the most Anglophone cities on the continent. With the European Commission, the European Parliament, NATO, more than 1,400 international organisations and countless embassies all based here, the demand for high-quality English translation is constant and unrelenting. TranslateBE offers certified English ↔ French and English ↔ Dutch translation in Brussels, with sworn translators available seven days a week.
Brussels: Europe's Anglophone capital
English occupies a unique position in Brussels. It is not one of Belgium's three official languages, yet it is the working language of the EU institutions, NATO, dozens of multinational headquarters and the entire bubble of lobbyists, law firms, consultancies and NGOs that surround them. Estimates suggest that more than 100,000 Anglophone expats live in the Brussels metropolitan area - making it one of the largest English-speaking communities in continental Europe.
Despite this, Belgian public administration operates exclusively in French (in the Walloon Region and the French Community), Dutch (in the Flemish Region) or both (in the Brussels-Capital Region). An Anglophone living in Brussels who needs to deal with their commune, the DVZ/OE or a Belgian court cannot simply submit documents in English. Certified translation by a sworn translator is a legal requirement.
Translation needs specific to Brussels
EU and international institutions
Staff at the European Commission, Council, Parliament and their agencies are typically recruited on the basis of English-language CVs and credentials, but their Belgian administrative life - registering at the commune, enrolling children at a Belgian school, applying for a driving licence - takes place in French or Dutch. English birth certificates, marriage certificates and criminal record extracts must all be accompanied by certified translations.
Corporate relocation and HR services
Brussels is the European hub for dozens of multinationals. Relocation managers and HR teams regularly need certified translations of employee documents - employment contracts, diplomas, proof of address, national identity documents - to be submitted to Belgian authorities during the onboarding of newly arrived Anglophone employees.
Legal teams, law firms and notaries
Brussels hosts one of the highest concentrations of international law firms in Europe. English-law contracts, arbitration awards, court decisions and due diligence packages regularly require certified French or Dutch translation for use in Belgian proceedings or before Belgian notaries.
TranslateBE
English translation in Brussels - quote in 30 minutes
Sworn translators recognised by the Brussels courts. English ↔ French, English ↔ Dutch. Certified PDF by email in 24 hours.
Documents commonly translated for Brussels institutions
- Birth, marriage and death certificates for Brussels communes and civil status offices
- Criminal record certificates (ACPO, FBI, state police) for DVZ/OE residence applications
- Foreign diplomas and transcripts for NARIC recognition or Belgian employer requirements
- English employment contracts for Belgian social security registration
- Notarial acts and powers of attorney in English for Belgian real estate transactions
- Legal documents for proceedings before Brussels courts and tribunals
For a broader overview of English translation needs across Belgium, see our guide on English translation in Belgium. For information about the Brussels translation market and our agency's services in the capital, visit our translation agency in Brussels page.
Why online delivery is ideal for Brussels expats
Our service is 100% online: you upload your document, receive your quote within 30 minutes and get your certified translation delivered by email - no travel, no queuing, no photocopying required. This is particularly convenient for EU and NATO staff whose working hours leave little time for administrative errands during business hours. Delivery is available seven days a week, and urgent 24-hour turnaround is available for most document types.
See also: English translation in Belgium, Translation agency Brussels, Visa translation Belgium
Need a certified English translation in Brussels?
Sworn translators accredited by the Court of Appeal of Brussels. Documents accepted by communes, DVZ, courts and notaries. Free quote today.