Legal translators/interpreters

Белгия

Here you will find information on finding an interpreter, to act in court proceedings, or a translator, if necessary via an official website.

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Белгия

How to find a translator in Belgium?

To date, Belgium has two official central databases, one for court experts and the other for translators, interpreters and translators.

What is the national register of court experts, translators, interpreters and sworn interpreters?

A law of 10 April 2014, amended by a law of 19 April 2017, established two new Belgian national registers: a register for sworn translators, interpreters and interpreters and a register for court experts.

These two new national registers have a twofold objective:

  1. Create a directory of experts and translators and interpreters who can be used in certain judicial or administrative proceedings.
  2. Ensure that quality criteria are met with regard to the professional skills, knowledge and training of the persons registered in the register.

Particular attention will be paid to legal knowledge.

Who is registered in this register?

Since the end of November 2016, legal experts, translators, interpreters and sworn interpreters can register in these national databases. They can do so themselves via the e-Deposit platform.

However, in order to be registered, they must demonstrate that they have already worked for the judiciary or a competent authority before 1 December 2016. (see general provisions)

Who can consult the register?

From 18 March 2022, anyone interested can consult the national register of court experts and sworn translators, interpreters and interpreters via these links:

More information can be found on the Public Access to Information – Public Register page.

How will quality of services be ensured?

In order to guarantee the quality of the services of court experts, translators/sworn interpreters, implementing decrees are published. They shall determine the quality requirements and criteria that persons entered in the register must meet in terms of professional skills, knowledge and training. Particular attention will be paid to legal knowledge.

A Royal Decree (AR) on legal knowledge, dated 30 March 2018, was published in the Moniteur belge of 27 April 2018. Since this publication, universities, colleges and professional associations have adapted their training programmes.

In order to maintain and develop over time the knowledge needed to maintain the quality of services, a Royal Decree setting out the minimum requirements for permanent training is being finalised, in consultation with several professional associations and universities.

In order to assess these quality requirements, an Accreditation Board shall be set up.

The Royal Decree regulating its functioning and composition was published in the Moniteur belge of 28 September 2018 and the call for applications for its composition is ongoing.

In addition to these technical quality requirements, an evaluation will also be provided by the magistrates.

Where prosecutors’ offices, courts or police services have poor experience with legal experts, translators, interpreters and sworn interpreters, they may forward it to the national register service. He or she will draw up a file which may lead to the suspension or cancellation of the person concerned, after having been heard by the approval committee.

Already, courts, prosecution offices or police forces can inform the Department of wrongdoing that violates the ethics of judicial experts (Royal Decree of 25 April 2017) or of sworn translators, interpreters or interpreters (Royal Decree of 18 April 2017). Both RAs were published in the MB on 31 May 2017.

Last update: 15/02/2023

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