Arabic-French Translation in Mons: Guide for the Arabic-Speaking Community in Hainaut

Mons, capital of Hainaut, is home to a significant Arabic-speaking community composed mainly of residents of Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian origin. For their administrative procedures with the City of Mons, the public welfare centre (CPAS) or the Immigration Office, a sworn Arabic-French translation in Mons is often essential. Here is the complete guide to quickly obtaining an official translation recognised in Wallonia.

The Arabic-speaking community of Mons and Hainaut

Mons and its region welcomed, as early as the 1960s, immigrant workers from North Africa, in particular from Morocco and Algeria, to supply the mining and metallurgical industries of the Couchant of Mons and the Borinage. These industrial basins, today in reconversion, have left behind a well-rooted Arabic-speaking community in the Mons neighbourhoods.

The Moroccan community is the largest, concentrated in the neighbourhoods of Bois d'Haine, Saint-Nicolas and in several municipalities of Hainaut such as Colfontaine, Quaregnon and La Louviere. The Algerian community is also significant, with families settled for several generations. A Tunisian community, more recent, is also present in the Mons conurbation.

These constant family and administrative ties with the countries of origin generate regular needs for the official translation of Arabic documents. The administrations of Mons, the City of Mons, the CPAS of Mons, the family court of Hainaut, require that any document in Arabic be accompanied by a sworn translation into French by a sworn translator recognised by a Belgian court of appeal.

Moroccan and Algerian civil status certificates in Mons

The birth certificate (شهادة الميلاد) and the marriage certificate (عقد الزواج) are the civil status items most requested by the administrations of Mons. Moroccan certificates are issued by the civil status districts (دوائر الحالة المدنية) and drafted in Arabic. Algerian certificates from the town halls of the wilayas (Oran, Tlemcen, Constantine, Setif, Annaba) sometimes combine Arabic and French but a complete sworn translation is nevertheless required.

Important point: Algerian certificates must be legalised by the embassy of Algeria in Brussels before translation. Moroccan certificates require in principle an apostille issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These steps must be carried out before ordering the sworn translation.

Family reunification and municipal procedures

Family reunification is one of the most frequent procedures in the Arabic-speaking community of Mons. To bring over a spouse or children from Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia, the file submitted to the Immigration Office must comprise all of the civil status certificates translated into French: birth certificate of the sponsor, marriage certificate, birth certificates of the children, criminal record of all the parties concerned.

The CPAS of Mons, particularly active in the social support of the population of Mons, regularly requires translations of Arabic documents in the context of files of social assistance, applications for the social integration income and regularisation procedures. The municipality of Mons and the neighbouring municipalities of Hainaut (Colfontaine, Quaregnon, Boussu) also handle files involving Arabic documents.

Most translated Arabic documents in Mons

Here are the Arabic documents most frequently handled for residents of the district of Mons:

• Moroccan or Algerian birth certificate: for registration in the civil status of Mons, family reunification and naturalisation.
• Marriage certificate (عقد الزواج): for the recognition of a marriage contracted in Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia, or for a civil marriage in Mons.
• Criminal record (صحيفة السوابق القضائية): Moroccan bulletin no. 3 or Algerian extract, mandatory for naturalisation and family reunification files.
• Certificate of celibacy: for civil marriage procedures in Mons with a national of an Arab country.
• University diploma and transcript: for recognition by NARIC Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles or by UMONS.
• Moroccan land title (رسم عقاري): for the international successions handled by the notaries of Hainaut.
• Divorce judgment (طلاق): for the civil status procedures in Mons and for the proceedings before the family court of Mons.
• CPAS and social assistance documents: proof of means, medical documents and various supporting documents in Arabic.

Ordering your Arabic-French translation from Mons

Our sworn Arabic-French translation service operates entirely online. From Mons, La Louviere, Colfontaine, Quaregnon or any municipality of Hainaut, the procedure is simple:

1. Scan your Arabic document: scan or sharp photo, front and back if necessary. Moroccan and Algerian civil status certificates are generally accepted in digital version.
2. Submit your request online: indicate the type of document, the variant of Arabic (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, standard Arabic) and the destination administration of Mons.
3. Receive a quote within 1h: firm all-inclusive price, VAT not applicable in accordance with article 44 §3 of the Belgian VAT Code.
4. Delivery by email or mail: certified PDF within 24-48h with the signature and stamp of the sworn translator, or registered mail if the administration of Mons requires the paper original.