Is a Belgian administration asking you for the translation of your passport? This is common when the document is drafted in a non-Latin alphabet. Here is when a sworn translation is necessary, why, and how your surname and first name will be spelled.
📖 See also: translate a birth certificate · the expat checklist · sworn translation in 24h
When does a passport have to be translated in Belgium?
Most of the time, a passport in the Latin alphabet does not need to be translated. The translation becomes necessary when the passport is drafted in a non-Latin alphabet (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, etc.) or when an administration requires an official version to verify your identity. In that case, it must be carried out by a sworn translator recognised by a Belgian Court of Appeal.
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In which procedures is the translated passport required?
- Registration with the municipality and the register of foreigners.
- Marriage: verification of the identity of a foreign spouse.
- Residence or nationality application with the Immigration Office or the Public Prosecutor's Office.
- Account opening, contract, notarial deed when identity must be officially proven.
The question of names: transliteration
The sensitive point of a passport translation is the spelling of the surname and first name. The sworn translator applies a consistent transliteration with that of your other official documents (birth certificate, residence permit). An inconsistency between two spellings can block a file: always indicate the spelling already used on your Belgian documents.
Good practice: provide the translator with a copy of an existing Belgian document (residence permit, certificate) to align the spelling of your name everywhere.
How to proceed
- Check the requirement: ask the administration whether the translation is required and into which language.
- Send a clear scan of the identity page of the passport (and of the visa if requested).
- Indicate the spelling of your surname and first name as it appears on your other documents.
- Receive the sworn translation, signed and stamped, ready for the administration.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
My passport is in the Latin alphabet, do I have to translate it?
Generally no: a passport in the Latin alphabet is readable as is. Translation is mainly required for passports in a non-Latin alphabet or if the administration explicitly requires it.
How do I avoid a spelling mistake in my name?
Communicate to the translator the spelling appearing on your Belgian documents (residence permit, birth certificate). The sworn translator ensures a consistent transliteration to avoid any administrative hold-up.
How long does it take to translate a passport?
It is a short document: allow a few working days, and 24h in express for common languages.
Need your passport translated quickly?
Express 24h available for most languages. Sworn translation ready for your procedure.