West Flanders is one of the Belgian provinces with the largest number of Polish workers, notably in the agricultural, horticultural, construction and port logistics sectors. These residents regularly need official Polish-French and Polish-Dutch translations for their administrative procedures in Belgium.
Polish workers in West Flanders and in Bruges
Since Poland joined the European Union in 2004, Polish workers have massively entered the Flemish labour market. West Flanders, with its large market-garden farms, its coastal construction sites and the port of Zeebrugge, is one of the provinces that hosts the largest number of them. This community, initially composed of seasonal workers, today includes many permanent residents who have founded families and established their home in Belgium.
Bruges, as the provincial capital and seat of the main administrations of West Flanders, is the city where the administrative procedures of these workers are concentrated: registration in the population register, family reunification applications, access to social services and tax procedures. All of these procedures potentially require the translation of Polish documents into Dutch or French.
An important reality to underline: even though Polish nationals are European citizens and can move freely, the official Polish documents (civil status records, diplomas, criminal records) written in Polish must be translated by a sworn translator to be accepted by the Belgian administrations. The translation is a legal requirement, not an option.
Agricultural and horticultural sector
West Flanders is one of the main market-garden regions of Belgium. The large crops of chicory root, chicory, strawberries and field vegetables employ each season hundreds of Polish workers, often recruited via temporary work agencies specialised in agricultural labour. These workers need to have their employment contracts, their Polish payslips and their social security documents translated for procedures with the ONSS or the VDAB.
For the seasonal workers who stay several months and wish to bring their family over, the Polish civil status documents then come into play: marriage records, birth records of the children, residence certificates. These documents must be translated into Dutch for the registration in the municipality and for the education services if children enrol in a Flemish school.
Construction, logistics and the port of Zeebrugge
The construction sector in West Flanders, very active with the construction sites of the coast and of the city of Bruges, employs many Polish subcontractors and posted workers. The Polish construction companies operating in Belgium under the posting regime must provide translated administrative documents: A1 social security certificates, professional qualification attestations (Vakbekwaamheid) and subcontracting contracts.
The port of Zeebrugge, the main ro-ro terminal of Northern Europe, employs logistics workers of Polish origin in the vehicle terminals and the refrigerated warehouses. The handler certifications, the port security diplomas (ISPS) and the employment contracts concluded with Polish agencies sometimes require a translation for HR procedures or inspections by the Belgian social inspectorate.
TranslateBE
Polish documents to translate for a procedure in Bruges or in West Flanders?
Sworn translators Polish-French and Polish-Dutch. Quote within 1h, express delivery available.
The most translated Polish documents in Bruges
- Akty urodzenia (birth records): for the registration in the population register in Bruges, the school enrolment of the children and the family reunification procedures.
- Akty malzenstwa (marriage records): for family reunification, the recognition of the marital bond by the Flemish civil status office or the notarial procedures.
- Dyplomy i swiadectwa (diplomas and certificates): for the professional recognition by NARIC Vlaanderen, applications for qualified positions or access to regulated training.
- Zaswiadczenie o niekaralnosci (criminal record): required in naturalisation dossiers and for certain jobs in regulated sectors (security, transport).
- Umowy o prace (Polish employment contracts): for procedures with the ONSS, the social inspectorate or the Belgian social security services.
- Swiadectwa kwalifikacji (qualification attestations): for the recognition of professional qualifications in construction, vehicle driving or port handling.
- Polish social security documents: A1 certificates, posting attestations and U1 forms for the cross-border and seasonal workers.
Ordering your Polish-French or Polish-Dutch translation
Our translation service is entirely online and accessible from any device. You can submit your Polish documents via our quote form, and we reply with a precise rate and timeline in less than one hour. No travel is necessary.
Payment is made by bank transfer (IBAN communicated with the quote). Delivery is carried out by email in the form of a secure PDF with the signature and the seal of the sworn translator. We also send paper originals by registered mail if your administration requires it.
Our sworn translators Polish-Dutch and Polish-French are sworn before the Belgian courts of appeal. Their translations are recognised by all the municipalities of West Flanders, by the Immigration Office, by the Belgian courts and by the social administrations. The standard timelines are 48 hours for a simple document, with the express 24h option available.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does a Polish European citizen really have to get their civil status records translated for a procedure in Bruges?
Yes. The status of European citizen grants the right to free movement, but official documents written in a language other than Dutch are not accepted as such by the Flemish administrations. The municipality of Bruges requires a sworn translation into Dutch for Polish civil status records, whether for the registration in the population register or for a civil marriage. Only the European multilingual form A allows the translation to be avoided for certain simple records.
What is the multilingual form A and can it replace a translation?
Form A is a standardised European form available for certain types of civil status records (birth, marriage, death, civil union). It is issued by the Polish civil status officers and is directly readable by the administrations of the other member states, without translation. However, not all Belgian municipalities accept it and it is only available for simple records. We advise you to check with your municipality before ordering this form.
How much does the translation of a Polish diploma for NARIC Vlaanderen cost?
The rate depends on the number of words of the document. A standard diploma and its transcript generally represent 400 to 800 words, for a sworn translation cost between 80 and 160 euros incl. We communicate the exact rate to you with the quote, before any order. VAT not applicable - art. 44 paragraph 3 Belgian VAT Code.
Must the certifications of Polish posted workers be translated for the Belgian social inspectorate?
The Belgian social inspectorate may request translations of documents during inspections on construction sites or in warehouses. The A1 social security certificates and the posting contracts must be accessible in Dutch or French on request. TranslateBE offers express 24h translations for these urgent situations, with direct delivery by email.