Translating a Foreign Driving Licence in Ghent

Need to translate a foreign driving licence in Ghent? Ghent's Dienst Burgerzaken and the DIV require certified Dutch translations for non-EU driving licences issued in non-Latin scripts. Ghent University's large international student and researcher community is among the most frequent users of this service. This guide covers when a translation is needed and how to get one fast.

Who needs a driving licence translation in Ghent?

In Ghent, a certified translation of a foreign driving licence is needed by:

• Non-EU residents exchanging their licence after one year of Belgian residency
• UGent international students and researchers from non-EU countries
• Expats employed at Ghent-based companies in chemicals, tech and logistics
• Ukrainian refugees whose Cyrillic-script licences require translation

EU licences are mutually recognised. Non-EU licences in Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Korean, Japanese and other non-Latin scripts must be translated before the Dienst Burgerzaken can process an exchange request.

Ghent Dienst Burgerzaken: translation requirements

Ghent's Dienst Burgerzaken requires driving licence translations to:

• Be produced by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler) registered with a Belgian Court of Appeal
• Be in Dutch
• Include the translator's signature, stamp and Belgian court registration number
• Accurately render all licence categories, validity dates and any restrictions

Common driving licence languages translated in Ghent

The most frequently requested driving licence translation languages in Ghent include: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Russian, Ukrainian, Korean, Japanese, Persian and Turkish. TranslateBE covers all these languages with express turnaround options.

The process is straightforward: photograph both sides of your licence, upload it on TranslateBE, receive a fixed quote within one hour, and get your certified Dutch translation delivered by email within 24–48 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Can UGent international students drive in Belgium without translating their licence?

Yes, for up to one year from the date of establishing Belgian residency. After one year, non-EU students must exchange their licence or obtain a Belgian one. The exchange process at Ghent Dienst Burgerzaken requires a certified Dutch translation of the original licence.

Does the Ghent Dienst Burgerzaken accept translations ordered online?

Yes. The legal validity of the translation depends on the sworn translator's registration status, not the ordering channel. TranslateBE's translations bear all required certification elements and are accepted by Ghent's Dienst Burgerzaken.

My driving licence is in Chinese — can it be translated for Ghent?

Yes. Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) is among the most frequently translated driving licence languages at TranslateBE. Our sworn translators specialise in Chinese-to-Dutch licence translations, with express delivery within 24 hours.