How to Get a Foreign Diploma Recognised in Belgium (Equivalence)

Having a foreign diploma recognised in Belgium (equivalence) is the key step to working, continuing your studies or practising a regulated profession. The sworn translation of your diplomas and transcripts is an essential link in this process. Here is how to proceed, depending on your goal and your Community (Wallonia-Brussels or Flanders).

📖 See also: foreign diploma translation · sworn translation within 24h · what is a sworn translation

Academic equivalence or professional recognition: which one?

The first thing to clarify, because the procedure and the contact entirely depend on it: what do you want to do with your diploma?

• Academic equivalence: to continue your studies in Belgium or prove a level of education. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, this is the Equivalence Service; in Flanders, NARIC-Vlaanderen.
• Professional recognition: to practise a regulated profession (healthcare, law, teaching, architecture...), through the competent authority specific to each occupation.
• "Level" recognition: to apply for a job or a competitive examination that requires a certain level of education, without targeting a specific regulated profession.

The ENIC-NARIC network is the entry point that assesses foreign diplomas; the exact service that will handle your application depends on your goal and your Community.

The step-by-step procedure

1. Identify the right service: academic equivalence (FWB or NARIC-Vlaanderen) or professional recognition. The form, the documents and the fees depend on your goal.
2. Gather your documents: diploma, transcript or diploma supplement, sometimes a course description, and identity document. Check whether an apostille from the institution or the educational authority is required.
3. Sworn translation: diploma AND transcript translated by a Belgian sworn translator, in the language of the Community (French or Dutch).
4. Submission of the file: send the complete file (originals or certified copies + translations) to the equivalence service with the form and the processing fees.
5. Follow-up and decision: processing times vary, often several months. A complete and well-translated file from the start avoids requests for additional documents and back-and-forth exchanges.

Which documents need to be translated?

• The diploma (or the official certificate of completion).
• The transcript / diploma supplement: almost always required in addition to the diploma.
• The programme description if the service requests it (teaching hours, course content).
• An identity document if it is not written in the Latin alphabet.

Good to know: a large proportion of files are delayed for two avoidable reasons: the transcriptwas not translated (whereas the service assesses the content of the training), or the translation is not in the language of the Community handling the application. Translate both documents, in the right language, from the very start.

Why a sworn translation and not a free translation?

The equivalence services must be able to rely on the document: they do not assess the original in a language they may not master, but a translation that engages the responsibility of a sworn translator. An uncertified translation, however accurate, does not offer this guarantee and will be set aside. It is the same logic as for civil status records or criminal records.

Indicative timeframes and rates

Net rates, without VAT (exemption scheme, art. 44 §3 of the Belgian VAT Code). The quoted price is the final price. For a tight enrolment deadline, an express service within 48h is available for most languages.