A foreign death certificate must be translated - and often legalised - before it can be recognised by the Belgian authorities. Whether you are settling an international estate, applying for a survivor's pension or updating civil status records at the municipality, sworn translation is an unavoidable step. Here is everything you need to know to complete these procedures correctly and without delay.
See also: translation of marriage certificates in Belgium · translation of birth certificates in Belgium
Why have a foreign death certificate translated in Belgium?
Death certificates issued abroad cannot be used directly before Belgian authorities. To be used in official proceedings, they must be presented in a certified translation carried out by a sworn translator. The most common situations are:
- International succession: a Belgian heir must prove the death of a foreign relative to open the succession in Belgium, unblock a bank account or liquidate a life insurance policy.
- Survivor's pension (INAMI / ONSS): the surviving spouse must provide the translated death certificate to receive the survivor's pension or adjusted unemployment benefits.
- Civil status update at the municipality: to register the death of a foreign national in Belgian registers, the civil registrar requires a sworn translation.
- CPAS / social assistance file: a surviving spouse in a precarious situation may apply for support, but the CPAS requires proof of death in a translated version.
- Contract termination: lease agreements, insurance contracts, subscriptions - some companies require a translated death certificate to process amendments.
Most frequent issuing countries
The foreign death certificates most often submitted for translation in Belgium come from countries with a large diaspora residing in Belgium:
- Morocco (Arabic and/or Tamazight): certificates issued by Moroccan courts of first instance; legalisation by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required in most cases.
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (French): certificates issued in French but on non-standardised local forms; apostille not applicable (the DRC has not ratified the 1961 Hague Convention).
- Italy (multilingual certificates): Italy is a signatory to the Vienna Convention (1976) and often produces standardised multilingual certificates that do not as such require translation, but may sometimes need to be accompanied by a certified translation for Belgian municipalities.
- Spain (Spanish): same regime as Italy for multilingual certificates.
- Portugal (Portuguese): same regime.
- Turkey, Albania, Romania, Poland, Ukraine: legalisation or apostille depending on the country, then mandatory sworn translation.
Legalisation, apostille and translation: the correct order
Before submitting a foreign death certificate in Belgium, a precise sequence must be followed:
- Step 1. Legalisation or apostille in the country of origin: if the country is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention (Morocco, Turkey, Albania, Romania, Poland…), an apostille suffices. For non-signatory countries (DRC, Algeria, Tunisia), full legalisation (Foreign Ministry of the country + Belgian embassy) is required.
- Step 2. Sworn translation in Belgium: the legalised or apostilled document is then translated by a sworn translator registered with a Belgian Court of Appeal. The translation bears the translator's signature and seal, giving it its legal value.
- Step 3. Submission to the competent authority: municipality, notary, INAMI, ONSS or court depending on the objective.
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International successions and EU Regulation 650/2012
Since 17 August 2015, EU Succession Regulation 650/2012 (the "Succession Regulation") has applied to all successions with an international dimension within the EU. It designates the law of the country of the deceased's habitual residence at the time of death as the law applicable to the succession.
In practice, if a Moroccan national dies in Belgium, Belgian law applies to the succession, even if the assets are located in Morocco. But for procedures in Morocco, the heirs will need to produce Belgian documents translated into Arabic, and vice versa. The Belgian death certificate (or its translation) will need to be apostilled and translated for procedures in Morocco.
The Regulation also creates the European Certificate of Succession (ECS), a document that simplifies the recognition of succession rights in member states. The Belgian notary can issue this certificate on the basis of documents with certified translations.
Turnaround times and rates
| Document / Service | Standard turnaround | Express turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate 1-2 pages (Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese…) | 2-3 working days | 24h |
| Death certificate with marginal notes or legalisation | 3-4 working days | 48h |
| Succession pack (death certificate + heirs' birth certificates) | 3-5 working days | Express quote on request |
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Send your death certificate by email. Our sworn translators registered with Belgian Courts of Appeal produce the certified translation, valid before all Belgian authorities.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
My death certificate is in Arabic without an apostille - can I still have it translated?
The translation can technically be carried out, but the Belgian authority (municipality, notary, INAMI) may refuse to accept a document that has not been legalised. If your certificate comes from a country that has not signed the Hague Convention (e.g. Algeria, Tunisia), you must first have the document legalised by the Foreign Ministry of the issuing country and then by the Belgian embassy on the ground. Contact us to check the requirements for your country.
Must the sworn translation be on paper, or is a PDF sufficient?
In the vast majority of cases, a PDF certified by the sworn translator is sufficient - in particular for Belgian municipalities, INAMI and notaries. Some institutions (embassies, certain courts) may require a paper original with the translator's handwritten signature. Please specify the final use when ordering and we will adapt the deliverable.
Which language must be used for the translation?
In Belgium, sworn translations are produced in the language of the receiving authority: French for Walloon and French-speaking Brussels municipalities and institutions, Dutch for Flanders and Dutch-speaking Brussels, or German for the Eastern Cantons. For a succession in France, the translation will be in French. For procedures in Morocco, it will be in Arabic. Please specify your requirements and we will choose the right translator.
Will a Belgian notary accept any sworn translation?
A Belgian notary requires a translation produced by a sworn translator recognised in Belgium - that is, registered on the national register of sworn translators-interpreters or sworn in before a Belgian Court of Appeal. A translation by a foreign translator or an uncertified agency will not be accepted. All our translators meet this requirement.
How much does translating a death certificate cost?
The rate depends on the source language, the number of pages and the turnaround time. For a standard one- to two-page death certificate, expect between €60 and €120 (excl. VAT). The express 24h turnaround attracts a surcharge. Request an online quote in a few minutes - the response is immediate.
Urgent succession? Death certificate to translate quickly?
We handle urgent requests 7 days a week. Send your document now and receive your quote in a few minutes.