Belgium
Apostille in Belgium
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Belgium, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Legalisation Service of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken), belgian documents signed by a public officer whose signature is on file with the service; some documents need a first certification by a local, regional or federal authority2 |
| Fee | €20 (per document, apostille or legalisation)2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | At the office, documents of fewer than 4 pages are processed immediately and longer documents are ready the next working day; an e-apostille application made by the issuing authority is normally processed within 48 hours3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Electronic apostille | Available2 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Available (check an apostille)2 |
| Documents covered | 4 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Belgium
Check that your document was signed by a public officer whose signature is on file with the service, such as a mayor, an alderman, a notary or a civil servant of a public institution.2
Either ask the issuing authority, such as the municipality or the notary, to submit an e-apostille application for you on the eLegalisation website.2
In that case payment is made online and a link to the document with the apostille is sent to you by email, with no visit to the office.2
Or take the original document, not a scan, to the service at Karmelietenstraat / Rue des Petits Carmes 27 in Brussels between 9 a.m. and noon.2
At the office pay by Bancontact or Maestro, Visa or Mastercard, or with proof of payment through B-Post, because cash is not accepted.2
Look up or download the apostille on the LegalWeb website with its number and the date it was affixed.2
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents signed by a mayor, an alderman or a delegated municipal officer whose signature is on file2
- Documents signed by a notary2
- Documents signed by a civil servant of a public institution whose signature is on file with the service2
- Diplomas, after the education authority of the relevant community has certified them first2
More about these documents: university degree certificate.
Contacts
Who to contact in Belgium
- Apostille officeLegalisation Service of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken)2Belgian documents signed by a public officer whose signature is on file with the service; some documents need a first certification by a local, regional or federal authorityelegalisation@diplobel.fed.be
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Belgium
A document issued in Belgium
The apostille comes from Belgium, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Belgium.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Belgium
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Belgium. Belgium accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
Since 1 May 2018 apostilles can only be affixed electronically.2
Note: Rule
Documents signed by a notary cannot be handed in at the office; the notary must submit the application on the eLegalisation website.2
Note: Rule
The service does not legalise copies of passports or identity cards; the issuing authority can instead draw up a certificate repeating the main details, which can then be legalised.2
Note: Rule
A document in another language must come with a sworn translation, because the service does not translate documents.2
Note: Rule
Anyone can hand in your document and no identity document is needed.2
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Belgium
Does Belgium accept apostilles?
Yes. Belgium has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 9 February 1976, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Belgium?
Legalisation Service of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken) (belgian documents signed by a public officer whose signature is on file with the service; some documents need a first certification by a local, regional or federal authority).
How much does an apostille cost in Belgium?
€20 (per document, apostille or legalisation). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Belgium?
The office says: At the office, documents of fewer than 4 pages are processed immediately and longer documents are ready the next working day; an e-apostille application made by the issuing authority is normally processed within 48 hours.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- How can Belgian documents be legalised for use abroad?
- Legalisation: more detailed information
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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