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Certificate of prenatal acknowledgment

Prenatal acknowledgment of a child takes place before birth. It creates a bond of paternity or co-maternity between a person and a child.

The prenatal acknowledgment certificate is a certificate issued by a Civil Status officer which proves this link of paternity or co-maternity.

Since 2019, all certificates are issued in electronic format, signed with a QR code and recorded in the Civil Status Records Database (BAEC). Older documents are also gradually being integrated into the BAEC and issued in the same format.

Two types of certificate are available:

  • Extract: summary of essential, up-to-date information.
  • Copy: full reproduction with history of any modifications.

Which document?

You can request a:

  • Belgian certificate
  • Certificate transcribed in Belgium: Belgians with a foreign act must officially register it in a Belgian commune. This transcription allows the certificate to be recognised in Belgium and facilitates your administrative procedures.
    Please note: if your document was transcribed before 2004, it must have been submitted to the FPS Foreign Affairs.

For whom?

You can request a certificate for:

  • Yourself
  • Your minor child (-18 years)
  • A member of your family (spouse, cohabitant, child over 18 years, parent, heir) or a third party, provided you can prove a 'legitimate interest' in your request

1. For yourself or your minor child

Online via MyBXL 

MyBXL
Request online

Log in and select the appropriate profile ('Yourself' or 'Family' for your minor child). Once logged in, you can change your profile by clicking on 'logged in as' in the top right-hand corner.

By e-mail 

Send your request to etatcivil@brucity.be with the following information:

  • Subject: 'Certificate of prenatal acknowledgment request'
  • Your name, first name, and date of birth + a copy of both sides of your identity document
  • Type of certificate: extract or copy
  • Destination: specify the country
  • Purpose of the request: specify who the document is intended for
  • If applicable: the name and first name of the minor child for whom you are requesting the certificate

Without appointment

At the counter of the Brucity Administrative Centre or the liaison offices of Laeken and Neder-Over-Heembeek.

2. For a family member (spouse, cohabitant, child over 18 years, parent, heir) or a third party (proxy, representative, administrator)

By e-mail:

Send your request to etatcivil@brucity.be with the following information:

  • Subject: 'Certificate of prenatal acknowledgment request'
  • Your name, first name, and date of birth + a copy of both sides of your proof of identity
  • Type of certificate: extract or copy
  • Destination: specify the country
  • Your relationship with the family member + a document proving this relationship
  • Purpose of the request: specify who the document is intended for
  • Proof of legitimate interest: attach documents demonstrating the necessity of the request (for example, a letter from a foreign authority, a notification of presumed heir, …)

Important: will you be using your certificate abroad?

If your certificate is to be used abroad, it may require:

  • Legalisation or apostille by the FPS Foreign Affairs.
  • An international multilingual format, accepted without legalisation for countries that signed the Vienna Convention (1976).

To find out exactly what you need, use the FPS Foreign Affairs External sitesimulator. This online tool guides you according to your situation and the destination country.

You can then request the document and the legalisation/apostille/multilingual format directly through the FPS's online platform: External siteeLegalisation.

Proof of identity

Depending on the case:

  • Proxy + copy of both sides of the identity document of the person for whom you are requesting the certificate
  • Proof of the relationship with the family member
  • Proof of legitimate interest

Issuing the document: free of charge

Legalisation/apostille: 20 euros to be paid to the FPS Foreign Affairs

Certificates recorded in the BAEC:

  • Online or at the counter: immediately
  • By e-mail: 5 working days

Certificates transcribed before 2004 and submitted to the FPS Foreign Affairs: 10 working days

Certificates not recorded in the BAEC or drawn up by another municipality: variable deadlines

Foreign certificates: add 1 to 5 working days for legalisation by the FPS Foreign Affairs

PRACTICAL INFO