Opening a subsidiary in Belgium, completing a merger and acquisition, or responding to an international tender: in each of these situations, translating company articles of association is an unavoidable step. Poorly anticipated, it can block your entire procedure. This guide explains when it is mandatory, what type of translation to choose, and what to watch out for.
When do articles of association need to be translated in Belgium?
Articles of association are the constitutive documents of a company: they define its legal form, corporate purpose, management bodies and shareholder rights. Their translation becomes necessary in several common B2B situations.
Setting up a subsidiary or branch in Belgium
Any foreign company wishing to establish a legal presence in Belgium - whether a subsidiary (a separate entity) or a branch (an establishment without its own legal personality) - must file its translated articles of association with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE). This translation must obligatorily be produced by a sworn translator recognised by the Belgian authorities.
Merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions
As part of legal due diligence, the acquirer or their advisors must analyse the target company's articles of association in their working language. If the target company is Belgian and the acquirer is foreign (or vice versa), a professional translation of the articles, general meeting minutes and shareholder agreements is essential. See also our article on legal translation of B2B contracts to cover the entire M&A documentary corpus.
International tenders and public procurement
Public or private international tenders often require the submission of translated articles of association to prove the legal and financial capacity of the bidder. European bodies, development banks and multinational contracting authorities frequently impose this requirement.
Opening a professional bank account abroad
Foreign banks systematically require the company's articles of association in the local language or in English before opening an account. In Belgium, some banks also require translated foreign articles of association for non-resident companies.
Good to know
For filing with the CBE or the company court registry, sworn translation is mandatory. For purely internal use (analysis, pre-contractual negotiation), a professional non-sworn translation is generally sufficient and less expensive.
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Sworn translation or professional translation: which to choose?
The distinction is fundamental to avoid your file being rejected. A sworn translation (also called a certified or judicial translation) is produced by a translator accredited by a Belgian Court of Appeal and committed by oath. It has official evidential value. A standard professional translation, produced by an expert but non-sworn translator, does not have this legal value.
| Use | Translation type | Deadline | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBE filing / court registry | Sworn - mandatory | 3 to 5 days | 200 - 500 euros |
| Opening foreign bank account | Sworn - recommended | 2 to 4 days | 180 - 400 euros |
| M&A due diligence (internal) | Professional - sufficient | 2 to 5 days | 150 - 350 euros |
| International tender | Depends on client requirements | 3 to 7 days | 200 - 600 euros |
Key considerations: Belgian, French and international legal terminology
Translating articles of association is not a stylistic exercise. It requires precise knowledge of the legal systems involved. Here are the most frequent pitfalls.
Legal forms have no direct equivalents
The Belgian SRL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée, since the 2019 Companies and Associations Code) is not identical to the French SARL, even though they resemble each other. The Belgian SA differs from a German AG or a British Ltd. A specialist translator must either transpose the term into the target system or retain the original term with an explanatory note - depending on the intended use.
The CBE number in the articles
The CBE company number (Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, format 0XXX.XXX.XXX) is specific to the Belgian system. In a translation intended for abroad, this number must be kept as is and, if necessary, accompanied by an explanatory footnote (equivalent to a SIREN/SIRET number in France, or a Company Number in the United Kingdom).
Governance body terminology
Under Belgian company law, following the 2019 CSA reform, reference is now made to an administration bodyrather than a "board of directors" (though the latter remains possible). The sole director, CEO, supervisory board - these concepts have precise translations that vary depending on the target country. A terminology error can create ambiguity about the distribution of powers in the event of a dispute.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a sworn translation strictly required to file foreign articles of association with the CBE?
Yes, in the vast majority of cases. The CBE and the company court registry generally require that foreign documents be accompanied by a sworn translation in French, Dutch or German (depending on the region of establishment). A non-sworn translation will generally be refused.
Do the articles of a British company (Ltd) need to be apostilled before translation?
Not necessarily for filing in Belgium. The procedure depends on the specific use. For a CBE filing, a sworn translation of an official British document is generally sufficient. If the Belgian administration requires an apostille, see our guide on apostille and legalisation in Belgium. Since Brexit, British documents no longer benefit from EU simplifications.
What is the difference between a sworn translation and a certified translation?
These two terms are often confused. In Belgium, a sworn (or judicial) translation is produced by a translator accredited by a Court of Appeal and committed by oath to the State. A certified translation is often a professional translation accompanied by an agency attestation. Only a sworn translation has official evidential value recognised by courts and administrations.
How much does a sworn translation of company articles of association cost in Belgium?
The price varies according to length (word count or pages), language combination and urgency. On average, expect between 200 and 600 euros for standard articles (5 to 15 pages). Rare language pairs (e.g. Japanese-French) are more expensive. At TranslateBE, we provide a free and detailed quote in under 1 hour on business days.
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