Romanian-French Translation in Brussels: Guide for the Romanian Community

Need a Romanian-French or Romanian-Dutch translation in Brussels? Belgium is home to more than 150,000 Romanian nationals, the largest Romanian community in the country. Brussels alone concentrates tens of thousands, many employed in EU institutions, construction, healthcare and services. This guide explains which documents require a sworn translation in Brussels and how to get one quickly.

The Romanian community in Brussels: scale and administrative needs

Romanians are EU citizens, but their civil documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal records, diplomas, are issued in Romanian and must be translated into French or Dutch for Belgian administrative purposes. Key Brussels institutions that require certified translations include:

• Brussels municipalities (Ixelles, Saint-Josse, Molenbeek, Etterbeek…) for civil registration
• CPAS Brussels for social integration support
• EU institutions (Commission, Council, Parliament) for staff credential verification
• Brussels civil court (tribunal de la famille) for divorce or custody recognition
• Foreigners' Office (OE/DVZ) for nationality applications

Most commonly translated Romanian documents in Brussels

• Birth certificates (civil registration, naturalisation)
• Marriage and divorce certificates (family status update)
• Romanian criminal record extract (cazier judiciar) for employment or naturalisation
• Diplomas and transcripts (professional recognition, NARIC)
• Romanian identity cards and passports
• Notarial powers of attorney
• Property deeds and inheritance documents

Romanian translation: sworn or standard?

For any official submission in Brussels, whether to a municipality, a court, an EU institution or the Foreigners' Office, a sworn (certified) translation is required. A sworn translator is registered with a Belgian Court of Appeal and their translation bears a legally binding stamp and signature. Standard translations from non-sworn providers are routinely rejected by Belgian administrations.

Romanian being a Latin-script language does not exempt documents from the sworn translation requirement: administrators cannot assess the accuracy of Romanian text, and only a registered expert guarantees fidelity to the original.

Frequently asked questions

Do EU citizens (Romanians) need a sworn translation for Belgian administrative procedures?

Yes. EU citizenship gives Romanians the right to reside and work in Belgium without a visa, but it does not exempt their civil documents from translation requirements. Any Romanian document submitted to a Belgian municipality, court or federal body must be accompanied by a certified French or Dutch translation.

Which language should I choose, French or Dutch, in Brussels?

Brussels is officially bilingual (French and Dutch). The required language depends on the institution: French-speaking municipalities (Ixelles, Uccle, Woluwe…) require French, while Flemish institutions or federal bodies may accept either. If in doubt, request both languages, TranslateBE offers combined FR+NL packages.

How much does a Romanian-French translation cost in Brussels?

A standard one-page civil document (birth or marriage certificate) typically costs between €50 and €90. Larger documents such as diplomas with transcripts or multi-page criminal records are priced per page. Request a free quote to get an exact figure within one hour.