Sworn Translation in Leuven: KU Leuven Degrees, Student Visa and Court

Louvain is one of the most international university cities in Europe. Every year, thousands of foreign students join KU Leuven for a master's, a doctorate or an exchange programme - and each must provide official documents translated and certified. TranslateBE supports these students, as well as the families and businesses of the region, with sworn translations delivered in 24 to 48 hours and recognised by all Belgian authorities.

KU Leuven and international students: sworn translation at the heart of the procedures

KU Leuven regularly ranks among the 50 best universities in the world. It has around 60,000 students, more than 20,000 of whom come from abroad. This international population generates a massive demand for official translations: diplomas, transcripts, birth certificates, medical certificates - all documents that must be translated by a sworn translator to be accepted by the admissions office, the municipality of Leuven or the Immigration Office.

A sworn translation differs from an ordinary translation by the signature and official stamp of the sworn translator, who attests under oath to the fidelity of the translation. It is the only form of translation that the Belgian administrative and judicial authorities recognise for documents with legal value.

The recognition and equivalence of foreign diplomas

Recognition is the procedure by which a foreign diploma is recognised as equivalent to a Belgian diploma. It is managed in Flanders by the NARIC-Vlaanderen agency and in Wallonia-Brussels by the Academic and Professional Recognition Unit. To submit a file, the candidate must provide their diplomas and transcripts in a sworn translation into Dutch or French depending on the community.

This procedure concerns thousands of students and professionals every year: doctors trained outside the EU who want to practise in Belgium, engineers wishing to work in a Flemish company, teachers whose foreign qualification must be recognised to teach in the public network. TranslateBE translates these files with a terminological precision adapted to the requirements of NARIC.

Student visa and family reunification

Students from outside the EEA (European Economic Area) who wish to join KU Leuven must obtain a type D visa and register with the municipality of Leuven. This procedure requires several translated documents: birth certificate, criminal record, certificate of good conduct, sometimes a marriage certificate if the student comes accompanied by their spouse.

Family reunification is another important source of requests: a student or researcher already established in Louvain who wishes to bring over their parents, spouse or children must compile a complete file with the Immigration Office. Each foreign document must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Dutch or French.

Most frequently translated documents in Louvain

The profile of the requests we receive from Louvain and Flemish Brabant reflects the reality of a very international university city. The most frequent document categories are the following:

• University diplomas and graduation certificates: for admission files at KU Leuven, the NARIC procedure or an application in the public service.
• Transcripts and academic records: required by the faculties to assess the prior background of the candidate.
• Birth certificates: required for registration with the municipality of Leuven, obtaining a national register number and visa applications.
• Criminal record extracts: requested for the student visa, certain professional programmes (medicine, law) and adoption procedures.
• Marriage and divorce certificates: for family reunification and civil proceedings before the Rechtbank Leuven.
• Medical certificates and vaccinations: required in certain programmes and for visas from countries with epidemiological risk.
• Employment contracts and pay slips: for the work permits of foreign researchers and teachers at KU Leuven.
• Notarial deeds and company statutes: for the spin-offs and start-ups arising from university research with foreign founders.

Ordering your sworn translation from Louvain

The process is entirely online: you send your documents by email or via our secure form, you receive a free quote within an hour, and we deliver your sworn translation in 24 to 48 working hours. No need to travel, no queue.

TranslateBE covers more than 40 languages, notably the most requested languages by the international students of KU Leuven: English, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Russian, Turkish, Farsi, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Polish and Korean. For rare languages, we have specialised translators within the agreed deadlines.

The translation is delivered in PDF format with the qualified electronic signature of the sworn translator - a format accepted by the admissions office of KU Leuven and by the Immigration Office. On request, we also send the original paper version by registered mail to your Louvain address.