Sworn Translator SPF Justice in Belgium: Registry, Accreditation and Obligations

Not every translator who claims to produce "certified" or "official" translations is actually registered as a sworn translator in Belgium. Understanding how sworn translators are officially registered under Belgian law - and how to verify registration - is essential for ensuring that your translated documents are legally valid.

The Belgian sworn translator registration system

In Belgium, sworn translators and interpreters are registered under the Act of 10 April 2014 establishing a national register of experts, translators, and interpreters (Register of sworn translators and interpreters). This register, maintained by the SPF Justice (Federal Public Service Justice), replaced the previous informal system of court-based oaths.

To be registered on the national SPF Justice list, a translator must:

• Demonstrate professional competence in translation (through a recognised degree in translation or equivalent demonstrated experience)
• Provide a clean criminal record extract (extract of criminal record)
• Swear an oath before the competent Belgian authority - typically a Court of First Instance - confirming their commitment to perform their duties faithfully and impartially
• Register in the national e-deposit system for their translation assignments (since 2016)

Registration is mandatory for any translation intended for official Belgian judicial and administrative purposes, and must be renewed periodically. Translators who do not maintain their registration status lose the right to produce legally valid sworn translations.

How to verify a translator's registration

The SPF Justice provides a publicly searchable online database of registered sworn translators and interpreters. The database can be searched by:

• Translator name or first name
• Source and target language
• Judicial district

Always verify a translator's registration before placing an order for a sworn translation intended for official use. An unregistered translator - regardless of their professional competence - cannot produce a legally valid sworn translation in Belgium. TranslateBE works exclusively with translators listed on the official SPF Justice register.

The e-deposit obligation for sworn translators

Since the 2016 reform, sworn translators assigned to judicial proceedings must upload their translations to the e-deposit platform managed by the SPF Justice. This digital archive creates an official record of all sworn translations submitted in the context of judicial procedures, providing transparency and traceability.

For administrative (non-judicial) sworn translations - such as those submitted to communes, DVZ/OE, or notaries - the e-deposit requirement does not apply in the same way, but the translator's stamp, signature, and registration number must appear on the translation document to confirm its authenticity.

Quality verification beyond registration

Registration confirms legal authorisation but not necessarily domain expertise. For specialised translations - medical, legal, technical, financial - also verify the translator's background in the relevant field. TranslateBE pre-qualifies translators not only on registration status but also on domain expertise, track record, and quality review performance, ensuring that the assigned translator is genuinely qualified for your document type, not merely registered.