Belgium is home to nearly 100,000 English-speaking expatriates - British, American, Irish, Australian, Canadian and Indian nationals - concentrated in Brussels, capital of the EU, and in Antwerp, the economic capital. For any administrative procedure, a sworn French-English translation by a translator registered with the SPF Justice is required by municipalities, courts and federal administrations.
English in Belgium: a fast-growing translation market
English occupies a strategic place in Belgium. The European institutions - Commission, Parliament, Council of the EU - based in Brussels generate a considerable volume of English-language documents that must be translated into French or Dutch for Belgian administrations. Brexit also created unprecedented demand: tens of thousands of British nationals living in Belgium had to regularise their resident status by producing documents translated into French or Dutch.
Multinationals with Belgian headquarters - often English-speaking - as well as universities welcoming foreign students (KU Leuven, ULB, UCLouvain) further fuel this growing demand for certified translations between English and French.
Documents frequently translated between French and English in Belgium
- University diplomas: British, American and Australian diplomas to be recognised via NARIC Belgium for access to regulated professions or higher education
- English-language criminal records: DBS check (UK), FBI Background Check (USA), National Police Check (Australia) for immigration or employment files
- Civil status documents: birth, marriage and death certificates in English for Belgian municipalities and the Office of Foreigners (DVZ/OE)
- Post-Brexit regularisation files: proof of residence, employment contracts and identity documents for British nationals
- Employment contracts: contracts in English for European institutions or multinationals, to be validated with Belgian administrations
- Visa and family reunification files: supporting documents in English submitted to the Office of Foreigners
TranslateBE
French-English translation in Belgium
Sworn translators registered with the SPF Justice, accepted by all Belgian administrations and European institutions. Free quote in 1 hour.
Accreditation and legal validity
In Belgium, only a translator registered with the national SPF Justice registercan produce a sworn translation with official standing. This register is freely available online; the translation bears the translator's handwritten signature, official stamp and registration number. This document is directly admissible by all Belgian municipalities, the Office of Foreigners, courts, universities and European institutions. No apostille is required for procedures internal to Belgium.
Rates and turnaround times in Belgium
A sworn English-French translation is billed from €65 for a simple document (civil status certificate, criminal record extract). Diplomas with transcripts and complex contracts are quoted individually within one hour. Standard turnaround: 3 to 5 working days; the 24-hour express option is available for urgent files. Delivery is by secure digital means, with postal dispatch of the certified original anywhere in Belgium on request.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I have an American diploma recognised in Belgium?
To have an American diploma recognised in Belgium, you must first obtain a sworn translation into French (or Dutch depending on the region) by a translator registered with the Belgian SPF Justice. The file is then submitted to NARIC Belgium, the national authority responsible for recognising foreign qualifications. Depending on the diploma and the profession targeted, an apostille affixed in the United States may also be required before translation. TranslateBE guides you through all these steps.
After Brexit, do British nationals need a sworn translation to stay in Belgium?
Yes. Since 1 January 2021, British nationals no longer benefit from free movement and must regularise their resident status with the Office of Foreigners (DVZ/OE). Civil status documents, proof of residence and employment written in English must be accompanied by a sworn translation into French produced by a translator registered with the Belgian SPF Justice to be accepted by municipalities and the Office of Foreigners.
Is English used in Belgian administrations?
English is not an official language of Belgian administrations. In the Walloon Region and Brussels, the administrative language is French; in Flanders, it is Dutch. While bilingual agents may informally understand English, any official document submitted to a municipality, court or federal administration must be drafted in the regional language or accompanied by a sworn translation. European institutions are the main exception, as they work internally in English.
What is the rate for a sworn EN-FR translation in Belgium?
At TranslateBE, a sworn English-French translation starts from €65 for a one-page document (civil status certificate, criminal record extract). Larger documents - diplomas with transcripts, employment contracts, legal files - are quoted individually within one hour. Pricing is fixed and transparent, with no hidden fees. The 24-hour express option is available for an additional charge.
Certified French-English translation in Belgium
Translators registered with the SPF Justice. Post-Brexit files, foreign diplomas, English-language criminal records handled on an express basis.