Translation in Brussels

Are you looking for a (sworn) translation partner in Brussels?

Do you need translations of documents to present to municipal services in Brussels? Do you have a business established in Brussels and are you looking for a reliable translation partner?

Then you’ve come to the right place with VBVG Translations.

VBVG Translations guarantees fast, professional, and accurate translation services. We place great importance on personalised service and taking your specific requirements and preferences into account.

You can rely on us for:

• Sworn and legal translations; apostilles or legalisations of translations for official bodies (FPS Justice, FPS Foreign Affairs);

• Legalisation of translations through consulates or embassies. For more information, visit the FPS Foreign Affairs website.

• NEW - Interpreting at a civil wedding: couples who wish to get married but do not speak the official language of the municipality are required to use a sworn interpreter. We would be happy to assist you with this. 

• General translations (commercial, technical, website content, etc.);

At VBVG Translations, we provide high-quality translation services tailored to your needs—whether you are a private individual needing translations for municipal authorities in Brussels or a company requiring specialised legal translations.

We also offer apostille and legalisation services for translated documents, ensuring they are recognised by official authorities such as the FPS Justice, the FPS Foreign Affairs, as well as consulates and embassies.

At VBVG Translations, we are committed to providing a personalised service tailored to your specific needs and preferences. Whether you would like a quote, advice on the legalisation process, or more information about our services, we are always here to help.

VBVG Translations operates in Brussels and the surrounding areas, and we are thoroughly familiar with the requirements of local and international authorities. We know which documents are commonly requested by municipal services, notaries, lawyers, or consulates—such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of nationality, diplomas, or contracts that need to be legally translated.

Contact us today for a free quote or personalised advice.

Do you need a translation? Does the document need to be legalised? Would you like to receive a quote? Get in touch and ask for a free quote!

Curious to find out who will be helping you with your translations in Brussels? 

SWORN TRANSLATIONS

We have been working as sworn translators for 30 years. In December 2019, our accreditation was renewed in accordance with the new legislation. Since February 2023, our sworn status has been reconfirmed in the official National Register of Sworn Translators and Interpreters. We are personally sworn for the following language combinations: Dutch – French – English – Spanish – Russian. For languages that are outside our areas of expertise — such as German, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, and others — we collaborate with highly reliable partners. Is your language not listed? Just ask us!

Sworn translations are translations of documents that need to be submitted to an official authority. These may include birth, marriage or death certificates, powers of attorney, certificates of good conduct, proof of residence, single status certificates, or divorce decrees.

Businesses also frequently require official documents to be translated — such as articles of association, annual accounts, extracts from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, or publications in the Belgian Official Gazette.

Depending on where the translation will be used, different procedures apply.

New regulations on sworn translations

As of 1 December 2022, the procedure for issuing sworn translations has changed. A sworn translation is an official translation (usually of a document for official use) carried out by a sworn translator who is registered in the National Register of Sworn Translators and Interpreters.

Each sworn translator is identifiable by a unique registration number (VTI number) and holds an official stamp issued by the government. This stamp grants the translator the legal authority to certify the sworn translations they produce.

At VBVG translations, you can rest assured that we fully comply with these requirements.

How does it work?

Sworn translation for use in Belgium

You send us a scanned copy of the document you wish to have translated, or you bring the original to our office.
We carefully calculate the cost of your translation and always ask for your approval before starting.
We then carry out the translation and certify it with our digital signature, confirming that the translation is a true and faithful rendering of the original.

Since the new regulation came into effect on 1 December 2022, any certified translation bearing an official digital signature considered a legalised translation.
The translation is then ready for official use (e.g. for marriage, divorce registration, or applying for Belgian nationality).

Sworn translation for use abroad
If the translation is to be submitted to authorities abroad, the following steps are required:

• You provide us with a scanned copy or the original document.

• We calculate the translation cost and always ask for your prior approval.

• We carry out the translation and certify it with our digital signature, confirming its accuracy.

• Our signature must then be legalised by the FPS Justice, and subsequently either apostilled or legalised by the FPS Foreign Affairs, depending on the destination country.

What is the difference between an apostille and a legalisation?

If the translation is to be used in a country that is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, it will receive a digital apostille issued by the FPS Foreign Affairs.

If the destination country has not signed the Apostille Convention, the translation will be legalised with a physical sticker. It must then also be legalised by the consulate of the destination country.

Would you like to find out whether your translation requires an apostille for use abroad? [Click here for more information.]