Legalisation of documents

Legalisation allows your Belgian document to be used abroad, and your foreign document to be used in Belgium. The authority that legalises your document will check if any signatures, stamps or seals on it match their own records. If they do match, they’ll legalise the document. An apostille is a type of legalisation. 

You should get documents legalised by the country that issued them. 

Certain documents issued by some countries are exempt from legalisation. To check whether your document needs legalising before it can be accepted, you can use the search tool on the website of FPS Foreign Affairs.

Legalisation of British documents 

British birth, marriage and death certificates do not require legalisation to be recognised by a Belgian authority. This is because of a bilateral agreement signed on 21/12/1928 between HM Government in Great Britain and the Belgian Government to dispense with the legalisation of certain official documents. 

For other British documents, you will need an apostille. You can apply for this directly on the website of the British government.

Once your document has an apostille issued by the British government, it can be recognised by a Belgian authority. It does not require further legalisation by the Embassy of Belgium in London. 

Legalisation of Belgian documents 

If you have a valid and activated Belgian eID, you can request the legalisation of a digital copy of an attestation or a civil status document online through the website of eLegalisation. Belgian municipalities can also request the legalisation on your behalf, as can other Belgian authorities that issue documents with electronic signatures (such as notaries and translators). 

Please note that your civil status certificate must be present in the Belgian Database of Civil Status Deeds (DABS/BAEC) to make use of this service, which is the case for the vast majority of Belgian birth and marriage certificates. 

For more information on how to get any Belgian document legalised, you should check the website of the Legalisation department of FPS Foreign Affairs.

Legalisation of your signature on a document 

If you would like us to legalise your signature on a document, please send an email to the Population department with a copy of the document attached: londonpassports@diplobel.fed.be

We can legalise a Belgian parent’s signature on a letter authorising their children to travel abroad alone, with only one parent or with an adult other than the parent. The embassy has a template letter we can provide if required, or you can write your own letter.  

We can usually also legalise your signature on a procuration letter intended for a Belgian authority, although we cannot guarantee this.  

Once we receive your email, we will review your request and give you an appointment if needed. The person who will sign the document must come to the Embassy in person. This service costs £18 per signature to be legalised. 

Certified copy of your passport 

If you would like us to certify a copy of your passport, you can contact the Population department by email: londonpassports@diplobel.fed.be 

We’ll review your request and give you an appointment at the embassy. You will need to bring your valid Belgian passport with you to the appointment. This service costs £18 and the certified copy will be ready at the end of your appointment. 

Legalisation of a student sponsorship letter (annex 32) 

This can ONLY be done by lodging an application file by post. For more information, please check the Visa section of our website.