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List of documents
On 11 June 2025, the Apostille Convention (entitled “Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents”) entered into force between Belgium and Tunisia.
All Tunisian public documents can now be used in Belgium with an apostille. Legalisation is no longer required.
The Republic of Tunisia acceded to the Apostille Convention on 10 July 2017. As a result, the Convention entered into force on 30 March 2018. However, Belgium made an objection to Tunisia’s accession on 26 January 2018 under Article 12, which prevented the Convention from entering into force between Tunisia and Belgium.
This objection was withdrawn on 11 June 2025. As a result, the Convention entered into force between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Republic of Tunisia on 11 June 2025.
Apostilles issued before 11/06/2025 are now also valid in Belgium.
For Tunisian public documents already legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before 11/06/2025, it is still possible to finalise the legalisation through the usual procedure until 30/07/2025.
This applies only to Tunisian public documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, criminal record extract (bulletin 3), diploma, etc.).
- Support for studies in Belgium (Annex 32)
Support obligations must comply with Annex 32 to the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981.
A support obligation constitutes proof of sufficient means of subsistence on the part of a national of the third country concerned only if it is accepted, as the case may be, by a Belgian diplomatic or consular post abroad, by the Aliens Office, or by the municipal administration.
- Power of Attorney
The person whose signature is to be legalised must be present in person. Their identity will be checked at the counter. The signed document must be accompanied by a copy of their passport, identity card (front and back), or residence permit.
Excerpt from the Convention:
“Public documents, for the purposes of this Convention, are:
- Documents emanating from an authority or an official connected with the courts or tribunals of the State, including those emanating from a public prosecutor, a clerk of a court, or a process-server;
- Administrative documents;
- Notarial acts;
- Official certificates placed on documents signed by persons in their private capacity, such as certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date, and authentications of signatures.”
The procedure does not change for other documents, such as Annex 32 (student support) or power of attorney (signature legalisation).
Legalisation requests must be submitted through TLScontact. Once your documents are legalised, you will receive a message so you can collect them.
Other important elements:
- We cannot legalise Belgian documents.
- Identity documents cannot be legalised.
- Parental authorisation for permanent departure (document link). This template must be legalised by the embassy, as it is required in Belgium for the registration of the minor at the local commune. The authorisation must be properly completed and signed by the parent in front of the officer at the counter and must be accompanied by a copy of their passport and/or identity card.