REGULATION ON LEGALIZATIONS OF SWORN TRANSLATIONS
(updated information as of 2023)
On March 1, 2021, we all learned that any sworn translation (with the official stamp affixed) intended for use in Belgium should and could no longer be legalized at a Courthouse of First Instance or at the FPS Justice when executed by a sworn translator validly registered in the national register, in possession of a valid VTI identification number and in possession of the official stamp nominally issued by the FPS Justice.
However, as for December 1, 2022, the legislation concerning the legalization of sworn translations has changed once again. The official stamps of the sworn translators have been considered "obsolete" by the new Ministry of Justice and replaced by an electronic signature validated by the FPS Justice. However, from now on, any sworn translation (with the eID signature validated by the FPS Justice) is valid in the whole national territory and ready for use.
Moreover, since December 1, 2022, any sworn translation is now possible and valid under the law in digital format as well. In the case of issuance in digital format, a physical signature is no longer required; the digital signature by eID as well as an image of the physical signature is sufficient. The translation must be signed with eID in a PDF document. The translated document is then ready to be used electronically at national level.
IN PRACTICE, HOW SHALL I PROCEED?
(1) If your translated document is intended for use in Belgium: you really don't have to do anything! The certified translation with the eID signature validated by the FPS Justice and carried out by a sworn translator (sworn in) validly registered in the national register has an automatic legal value throughout Belgium. The translation is therefore ready for use as soon as it is delivered.
(2) If your translated document is destined for a foreign country: a legalization with the FPS Justice and then with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is mandatory for any translation destined for a foreign country. However, in order to be legalized, these translations must first be certified by a sworn translator validly registered in the national register, bearing the respective mandatory mentions, as well as the valid eID signature mentioned above.
The exact legalization procedure will depend on the destination country. Please CHECK HERE if your destination country (or a Consulate, Embassy) requires legalization (Hague Apostille) to be valid abroad.
CHP Translations can legalize any translation for use abroad, very quickly and easily for you! Thanks to the platform dedicated exclusively to validly registered sworn translators, in possession of an eID signature validated by the FPS Justice and a personal identifier assigned by the FPS Justice, the translators' signature is considered as validated by the FPS Justice and the document can be immediately legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in one single step.
You do not need to trouble yourself going to the FPS Justice and then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in two steps to obtain the legalization (Apostille) of your sworn translation.
