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Get Birth Certificates in Belgium

A birth certificate (acte de naissance / geboorteakte) in Belgium is a fundamental civil document required for registering a child in the population register, obtaining a national identity card, enrolling in school, applying for a passport, and many other official purposes. This guide explains how to get birth certificates in Belgium, with specific information for Brussels and Antwerp.

How Birth Registration Works in Belgium

In Belgium, birth registration is handled by the commune or gemeente (municipality) where the birth took place. Belgium is a multilingual country with French, Dutch (Flemish), and German communities, and civil registration documents are issued in the language of the region where the birth occurred. Births must be declared within 15 days at the local commune or gemeente office.

When a baby is born in a hospital, the hospital typically assists parents with the initial birth declaration paperwork. The official registration takes place at the civil registry (état civil / burgerlijke stand) of the municipality. After registration, the child is recorded in the national population register and assigned a national registration number (numéro de registre national / rijksregisternummer).

Documents Required for Birth Certificate in Belgium

1. Hospital birth declaration (déclaration de naissance / aangifte van geboorte) from the hospital
2. Both parents’ Belgian identity cards or passports
3. Parents’ marriage certificate or registered partnership certificate (if applicable)
4. For unmarried parents: recognition of paternity (reconnaissance de paternité / erkenning van vaderschap) can be done at the time of registration

For foreign nationals, additional documentation may be required. Contact your local commune or gemeente in advance to confirm specific requirements.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Brussels

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and an officially bilingual (French/Dutch) region. The 19 municipalities of the Brussels Capital Region each have their own civil registry. Parents must register the birth at the civil registry of the municipality where the birth occurred. For example, a birth at the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert would be registered at that municipality’s civil registry.

Brussels civil registries handle registrations in both French and Dutch. Certified copies of birth certificates (extraits d’acte de naissance / uittreksels uit de geboorteakte) can be requested at the civil registry in person or in some municipalities online. Belgium’s My eBox and official e-government platforms also provide digital access to some civil documents.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Antwerp

Antwerp (Antwerpen) is Belgium’s second-largest city and the main city of Flanders. Civil registration in Antwerp is handled by the Stad Antwerpen’s burgerlijke stand (civil registry). Documents in Antwerp are issued in Dutch.

Parents in Antwerp who give birth at Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (UZA), ZNA hospitals, or other facilities receive the hospital birth declaration and register at the Stad Antwerpen burgerlijke stand. Antwerp’s city portal (antwerpen.be) offers appointment booking and information on civil registration services. Certified copies of the geboorteakte can be requested in person or through the online portal.

Birth Registration for Foreign Nationals in Belgium

Foreign nationals who give birth in Belgium must register the birth at the local commune or gemeente. The child is registered in the Belgian population register. Foreign parents should also contact their home country’s embassy or consulate in Brussels to register the birth. Most major countries have embassies in Brussels, given the city’s role as the de facto capital of the European Union.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Belgium?

The birth registration itself takes place within 15 days of birth. Certified copies of the birth certificate can usually be obtained on the same day as the registration or within a few working days at the commune or gemeente office.

Can I get a Belgian birth certificate online?

Belgium is expanding its digital government services. Some municipalities offer online requests for civil documents. Belgium’s My eBox digital mailbox and other e-government platforms are increasingly used for distributing civil records digitally.

Is the Belgian birth certificate issued in French or Dutch?

The language of the birth certificate depends on the region where the birth occurred. In Flanders (including Antwerp), documents are in Dutch. In Wallonia, they are in French. In Brussels, both languages are used. German-speaking communities in eastern Belgium use German.

Can a Belgian birth certificate be apostilled for international use?

Yes. Belgium is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Belgian birth certificates can be apostilled by the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken) for use in countries that recognize the apostille.

Conclusion

Getting a birth certificate in Belgium is a well-organized process managed by the local commune or gemeente. Whether in Brussels or Antwerp, registering within 15 days with the hospital birth declaration and parental documents ensures your child is promptly recorded in the national register. Belgium’s multilingual system means the birth certificate language reflects the region of birth. A Belgian birth certificate is your child’s most essential legal document and the starting point for all official records in Belgium.