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.