Translating a Foreign Driving Licence in Brussels

Need to translate a foreign driving licence in Brussels? Belgium requires a certified translation for driving licences issued in non-Latin scripts or from non-EU countries not covered by a bilateral agreement. Brussels municipalities and the DIV (Vehicle Registration Directorate) are the main bodies that process these requests. This guide explains when a translation is required and how to obtain one efficiently.

When is a driving licence translation required in Brussels?

In Belgium, a certified translation of a foreign driving licence is required in the following situations:

• The licence is written in a non-Latin script (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cyrillic, Georgian…)
• You are a resident of Belgium for more than one year and must exchange your licence
• Your country of origin is not covered by a bilateral driving licence exchange agreement with Belgium
• The DIV (Direction pour l'immatriculation des véhicules) requests a translation for the exchange procedure

EU driving licences are automatically recognised without translation across the EU. However, licences from non-EU countries in non-Latin alphabets always require a certified translation.

Brussels municipalities and the DIV: how the process works

In Brussels, the driving licence exchange procedure typically involves:

1. Registering at your Brussels municipality (Dienst Burgerzaken / service communal)
2. Submitting the certified translation of your driving licence along with your foreign licence original
3. The municipality forwards your file to the DIV for processing

The certified translation must be produced by a sworn translator registered with a Belgian Court of Appeal. It must accurately render all information on the licence: categories, restrictions, issue and expiry dates.

Which languages are most commonly translated for Brussels driving licences?

The most frequently requested driving licence translations in Brussels include:

• Arabic (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE)
• Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified and Traditional)
• Russian and Ukrainian (Cyrillic)
• Japanese and Korean
• Persian (Farsi), Georgian, Armenian
• Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi (Devanagari script)

TranslateBE works with sworn translators covering all these languages, with express delivery within 24 hours for most standard licence formats.

Frequently asked questions

Does the DIV accept driving licence translations ordered online?

Yes. The DIV requires that the translation be produced by a certified sworn translator registered with a Belgian Court of Appeal. The ordering channel (online or in person) does not affect validity. The translation must bear the translator's signature, stamp and registration number.

Do I need to translate my driving licence if it is in Latin script but not in a Belgian language?

It depends on the country of issue. EU driving licences in Latin script are recognised without translation across the EU. For non-EU Latin-script licences (e.g., Brazilian, Turkish in Latin, US, Canadian), some municipalities may still request a translation for exchange purposes. Check with your Brussels municipality to confirm your specific case.

How long does a driving licence translation take in Brussels?

A standard driving licence translation takes 1–2 business days. Express delivery within 24 hours is available for most languages and formats. For urgent cases, contact TranslateBE directly to confirm availability.