Translating a Foreign Driving Licence in Antwerp

Need to translate a foreign driving licence in Antwerp? Antwerp's diverse international community — including port workers, expats and non-EU residents — regularly needs certified Dutch translations of foreign driving licences. The Antwerp Dienst Burgerzaken and the DIV process these requests for licence exchange. Here is a complete guide to getting your translation right.

Who needs a driving licence translation in Antwerp?

Several categories of people in Antwerp need a certified translation of their foreign driving licence:

• Non-EU residents who have lived in Belgium for more than a year and wish to exchange their licence
• Port professionals (international maritime workers, logistics staff) whose licences are in non-Latin scripts
• International students at UAntwerp or other Antwerp institutions
• Expats from the US, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, the Middle East and other non-EU regions

EU driving licences are mutually recognised without translation. Non-EU licences in non-Latin scripts (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Georgian…) always require a certified translation before being processed by the Dienst Burgerzaken.

Antwerp Dienst Burgerzaken and DIV: requirements

Antwerp's Dienst Burgerzaken requires that a driving licence translation:

• Be produced by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler) registered with a Belgian Court of Appeal
• Be in Dutch (Flemish municipalities operate in Dutch)
• Bear the translator's signature, official stamp and court registration number
• Accurately translate all categories, restrictions and dates

Most common languages for driving licence translation in Antwerp

Given Antwerp's role as a major international port, the most requested driving licence translation languages include:

• Arabic (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Egyptian, Gulf…)
• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
• Russian and Ukrainian
• Korean and Japanese
• Turkish and Georgian
• Hindi and other South Asian scripts

Frequently asked questions

Does the Antwerp Dienst Burgerzaken require a Dutch or French translation?

Antwerp is a Flemish city: the Dienst Burgerzaken operates exclusively in Dutch. A Dutch translation of your driving licence is required. French translations are not accepted for Flemish municipal procedures.

Can I drive in Antwerp with a foreign licence while waiting for the translation?

EU licence holders can drive throughout Belgium without translation. Non-EU licence holders may drive in Belgium for up to one year from the date of establishing Belgian residency. After one year, you must either exchange your licence or obtain a Belgian licence, which may require the certified translation.

How quickly can I get a driving licence translation for Antwerp?

A standard driving licence translation takes 1–2 business days. Express delivery within 24 hours is available for most languages. Contact TranslateBE directly for same-day urgent requests.