I got married or divorced abroad. Is this valid in Belgium, and do I have to report it to the municipality?
In short
Usually yes, and no separate court case is needed. However, you must take the document, with an apostille and a sworn translation, to the municipality and have it entered in the Belgian records.
Video transcript
You got married abroad. In the Belgian records, you still show as single. It depends: Usually valid, with no separate court case. But the document needs an apostille and a sworn translation, and must be registered at the municipality. The right way: Get an apostille in the country that issued it, have a sworn translation made and take it to the municipality's population service. If you don't register: Penalty: None; But: Old civil status shows; Affects tax, inheritance: and family reunification.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- An official marriage or divorce abroad is recognised in Belgium if it is valid under the law designated by Belgian private international law (often the law of the spouses' nationality) and is not contrary to Belgian public policy. Usually you do not need to go to court for this (Wetboek IPR art. 22 and 27).
- Have an apostille added to the foreign document in the country that issued it; if that country is not party to the Apostille Convention, the document must be legalised instead. If the document is in another language, you usually also need a translation by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler / traducteur juré); ask your municipality.
- Take the document to the civil registry (burgerlijke stand / état civil) of the municipality where you are registered. The municipality checks the document and, if it is in order, enters it in the Belgian records.
- For a divorce, you need an official copy of the foreign court decision. The decision is not recognised if it is manifestly contrary to Belgian public policy or was obtained solely to evade Belgian law.
- Each authority, such as the municipality or the Immigration Office (DVZ / OE), assesses the document for itself. If an authority refuses, you can apply to the family court (familierechtbank / tribunal de la famille).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- No penalty. But if it is not registered, Belgian authorities may continue to treat you as having your old civil status.
Legal basis:Wetboek IPR 16.7.2004, art. 31 §1
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. A forged document or a sham marriage is a separate offence.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 451
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Family reunification, taxes, inheritance and social rights are assessed on the basis of your civil status as registered in Belgium
Legal basis:Wetboek IPR 16.7.2004, art. 27 §1
- Remarrying after a divorce that is not recognised in Belgium can cause problems
Legal basis:oud BW art. 147
- A divorce decision made in Belgium is not automatically recorded in the other country either; you may need to have it recognised separately by that country's authorities
Legal basis:5490 s. NHK, md. 27/A
Why does this rule exist?
The rule makes sure that marriages and divorces abroad are recognised in Belgium without having to go through them again. The checks prevent forged documents and forced or sham marriages.
Where can you go?
- Municipal population officeChange of address, identity card and residence card
- Neighbourhood police officerAddress check (wijkagent / agent de quartier)
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 15 / 15 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 13.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 15 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Yabancı resmî belge, uygulanacak hukuka göre geçerliyse tüm makamlarca usulsüz tanınır
Wetboek IPR art. 27 §1 - Found in an official source
Yabancı mahkeme kararı (boşanma) md. 23 usulüne gerek olmadan tanınır
Wetboek IPR art. 22 §1 - Found in an official source
Yabancı karar/belge legalize edilmeli; iki ülke de Apostil Sözleşmesi'ne tarafsa apostil legalizasyonun yerini alır
Wetboek IPR art. 30 §1 - Found in an official source
Belçika Apostil Sözleşmesi'ne taraf; taraf olmayan ülkelerin belgeleri legalize edilir
HCCH status table, Apostille Convention - Found in an official source
Yabancı dildeki belge için yeminli tercüme gerekir
FOD Buitenlandse Zaken – Legalisatie van documenten - Found in an official source
Yabancı evlilik belediyede kaydettirilir (son kayıtlı belediye)
Gemeente Wuustwezel – Buitenlandse huwelijksakte erkennen en overschrijven - Found in an official source
Mahkeme kararının resmî örneği sunulur
Wetboek IPR art. 24 §1 - Found in an official source
Kamu düzenine açık aykırılık ve kanundan kaçma tanıma ret sebebi
Wetboek IPR art. 25 §1, 1° ve 3° - Found in an official source
Ret hâlinde mahkemeye (aile mahkemesi, Ger.W. 572bis konuları) başvurulabilir
Wetboek IPR art. 23 §1 ve 27 §1 - Found in an official source
Yabancı akte/karar, doğrulamadan sonra ancak Belçika nüfus aktesine temel olabilir
Wetboek IPR 16.7.2004, art. 31 §1 - Found in an official source
Kayıt sorunu ceza değil; sahte belge (seviye 3) ve sahte evlilik (Vw art. 79bis) ayrı suçlardır
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 451 - Found in an official source
Tanınan yabancı akte tüm Belçika makamlarınca kabul edilir
Wetboek IPR 16.7.2004, art. 27 §1 - Found in an official source
Önceki evlilik çözülmeden yeni evlilik yapılamaz
oud BW art. 147 - Found in an official source
Belçika'da verilen boşanma kararı diğer ülkede başvuruyla ayrıca tescil/tanıma gerektirebilir
5490 s. NHK, md. 27/A - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Belçika yasasının şartlarına uyuyorsa tanınır; mahkeme gerekmez (md. 22, 27)
WIPR md. 27 §1 (Justel)
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?