Criminal Record Translation in Belgium: Visa, Naturalisation, Employment

Translating a criminal record in Belgium is a frequent requirement for people of foreign origin who wish to obtain a long-stay visa, begin a naturalisation procedure or meet certain professional requirements. Whether you need to translate a Belgian extract into a foreign language or a foreign criminal record into French or Dutch, this guide explains the rules, formats and steps to follow.

See also: sworn translation · Belgian naturalisation · translation for visa

Why translate your criminal record in Belgium

A criminal record is an official document issued by the judicial authorities of a state, attesting to a person's criminal history (or lack thereof). In Belgium, several administrative and legal situations require the submission of such a translated and certified document.

Two distinct realities coexist in practice:

• A Belgian criminal record translated into a foreign language: when a foreign national or a Belgian expatriate must provide proof of their criminal record to a foreign authority (embassy, consulate, administration of a third country).
• A foreign criminal record translated into French or Dutch: when a person of foreign origin must present their criminal history to the Belgian authorities as part of a visa application, a naturalisation procedure or access to certain regulated professions.

In both cases, the translation must be performed by a sworn certified translator, whose certified attestation accompanies the translated document. A standard translation, however accurate, is rejected by Belgian and foreign authorities who require this formal certification.

Situations requiring this translation

The main contexts in which translation of the criminal record is required in Belgium or by authorities dealing with Belgium are:

• Long-stay visa and family reunification: the Office des Etrangers (DVZ) requires the applicant to prove the absence of serious criminal history in countries where they have resided for more than 6 consecutive months. A translated and sworn foreign criminal record forms an integral part of the file.
• Naturalisation and acquisition of Belgian nationality: the naturalisation procedure includes verification of criminal history. If the applicant resided abroad before arriving in Belgium, a translated criminal record from the country of origin is mandatory.
• Regularisation of residence: files submitted on the basis of Article 9bis or 9ter may require the production of a translated criminal record extract for certain profiles.
• Access to certain regulated professions: practising certain activities in Belgium (working with minors, financial sector, private security) requires the production of a certificate of good conduct or a criminal record extract. For foreign candidates, this document must be translated.
• Visa applications to third countries from Belgium: some countries (Canada, Australia, United States, United Arab Emirates) require a Belgian criminal record translated into English or their national language.

How to obtain your foreign criminal record

Before having your criminal record translated, you must obtain it from the competent authorities in your country of origin. Procedures vary by country, and it is important to make contact well in advance as some countries have lengthy issuance times.

Below are the main procedures for the most common countries in Belgium:

• France: Bulletin no. 3 of the criminal record is available online via the e-CJN service of the Ministry of Justice or by post to the national criminal record office in Nantes. Processing time: a few days online, 2 to 4 weeks by post. Document in French; translation into Dutch or German is possible.
• Morocco: the criminal record is issued by the prosecutor's office of the court of first instance at the place of birth or residence. It can also be obtained through the Moroccan consulate in Belgium. Document in Arabic; translation is mandatory.
• Algeria: issued by the court clerk's office at the place of birth. Can be obtained through the Algerian consulate in Belgium upon presentation of the consular card. Document in Arabic; translation is mandatory.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): issued by the prosecutor's office of the High Court. The procedure can be lengthy and may require the involvement of an authorised representative on site. Document in French, but prior legalisation is often required before translation into Dutch.
• Turkey: available online via the e-Devlet application or from Turkish court clerk's offices. Document in Turkish; translation is mandatory.

For nationals of countries where obtaining the criminal record is difficult or slow, it is recommended to begin the process several weeks before the file submission deadline. The translation itself is fast; it is obtaining the original document that may take time.

Having your criminal record translated in Belgium

Once you have the foreign criminal record in your possession, the sworn translation can be ordered quickly. TranslateBE handles sworn translations of criminal records from more than 70 countries and in all officially recognised languages in Belgium.

The process is straightforward: you send us a scan of the document, you receive a quote within 1 hour, and the translation is delivered within 2 to 5 business days (or within 24h with the express option). The translation is accompanied by the sworn attestation of the certified translator, essential for its legal value.

Specific points to note for criminal records:

• The Office des Etrangers may require criminal records from all countries where the applicant has resided for more than 6 consecutive months, not only from the country of origin. Prepare all necessary documents.
• Some criminal records have a limited validity period: generally 3 to 6 months from the date of issue. Check the requirements of the recipient organisation before ordering your translations to avoid having to restart the process.
• If the criminal record is lengthy or contains complex entries (convictions, suspended sentences, probation measures), allow a slightly longer period for translation, as the sworn translator must render the text with legal precision.