Cluster info · Provisional reception

G1 reception certificate: what is it, what is it for?

photo auteur

By Edouard Hennin, Provisional reception expert Published on 27 May 2026 Updated on 27 May 2026 5 min read

1. What is the G1 certificate?

The G1 certificate is the official document by which the public client records the provisional reception of the works carried out by the contractor of a Belgian public contract. Its regulatory basis: the Royal Decree of 14 January 2013 establishing the general rules for the execution of public contracts.

It formally distinguishes itself from the reception minutes used in private contracts (Breyne Law).

2. Content and legal effects

The G1 certificate mandatorily mentions: date of provisional reception, identity of the parties, description of the contract, list of any reservations, time granted for their lifting.

Effects: (1) transfer of risk to the client; (2) start of the warranty period (one year minimum); (3) release of half of the security deposit; (4) start of the countdown to final reception (G2).

3. Why get assistance?

The G1 certificate is an act of public administration: deadlines, forms and recourses are strictly framed. A poorly formulated reservation can be rejected for procedural defects.

Our assistance service intervenes pre-G1 to frame reservations in compliance with the special specifications and the case law of the Council of State.

Common questions on the G1 certificate

What is the difference between the G1 certificate and the reception minutes?

The minutes are used in private contracts (Breyne Law). The G1 certificate is the formalised equivalent in public procurement, provided for by the Royal Decree of 14 January 2013.

Does the G1 certificate count as final reception?

No. G1 = provisional, G2 = final (one year later). Both certificates must be issued to fully close the contract.