The Italian community is one of the oldest and largest in Belgium. For your Italian documents, here is when a translation is necessary, when European law lets you avoid it, and how to handle diplomas and procedures.
📖 See also: Italian translation in Belgium · diploma recognition · documents for immigration
European law simplifies your formalities
As Italy and Belgium are in the EU, the European Regulation 2016/1191 abolishes the apostille for many civil status records and allows you to attach a multilingual standard form, requested from the Italian comune. This form often avoids a sworn translation. Request it before placing any order to avoid an unnecessary expense.
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An Italian document to use in Belgium?
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When a translation is still necessary
The multilingual form does not cover everything. An Italian-French or Italian-Dutch sworn translation generally remains required for:
- Diplomas and transcripts (diploma, certificato) for an equivalence.
- Court judgments and notarial deeds: divorce, inheritance, marriage contract.
- Documents requested in Dutch by a Flemish administration.
- Older records without an available multilingual form.
The target language depending on the region
Your Italian documents will have to be translated into French (Wallonia, Brussels) or Dutch (Flanders) depending on the recipient. Always confirm the expected language before ordering.
The reflex to have: request the multilingual form from the comune for civil status records, then confirm with the Belgian administration whether it is satisfied with it or requires a sworn translation.
Italian diplomas and recognition
To study or practise a profession in Belgium, an Italian diploma goes through an equivalence procedure. The diploma and transcript generally have to be translated. See our guide to diploma recognition and equivalence.
How to proceed
- Identify the procedure and the region (target language).
- Request the multilingual form from the comune for civil status.
- Confirm the need for translation with the Belgian recipient.
- Entrust the sworn translation to a sworn translator if it is required.
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No unnecessary translation, accepted file
We check what the multilingual form covers and translate only what is necessary.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does an Italian birth certificate have to be translated?
Often not if you provide the European multilingual form and the administration is French-speaking. For a Flemish service, a translation into Dutch may be required.
Does an Italian document need to be apostilled for Belgium?
No for civil status records between EU states (Regulation 2016/1191). For other documents, check case by case.
And an Italian diploma?
It is not covered by the regulation: plan for a translation as part of an equivalence. See the guide to diplomas.
Into which language should I translate?
French or Dutch depending on the region and the service. Ask for the target language before ordering.
Urgent Italian-Belgian procedure?
Express available for your Italian documents. Sworn translation ready for the Belgian administration.