Legalizing and Verifying Foreign Documents
What is it?
The municipality may sometimes ask you to show them the original documents. For example:
- If you would like to register
- want to acknowledge a child or
- report your marriage or divorce
When it comes to foreign documents, the municipality wants to be certain that your documents are genuine and reliable. Therefore, please ensure that your document is legalized or verified.
- Legalization means having your document officially certified as authentic. You must do this in the country where the document was issued.
- Verification means having the content of your document checked to ensure it is accurate. You can arrange this through your local municipality.
How does it work?
You can only have original documents legalized or verified. These typically include the following documents:
- will
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- divorce decree
- death certificate
- court ruling
What should I do?
How you legalize your document depends on the country where it was issued. If the Netherlands has signed a legalization treaty with that country, the legalization process is simpler.
The Netherlands does have a treaty with the country of origin of your document:
- Go to the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where your document was issued. They will legalize your document.
- Is the country a signatory to the Apostille Convention? If so, all you need is an apostille stamp on your document. You can request the apostille stamp from an official authority in the country where your document was issued. This is usually the Ministry of Security and Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Netherlands does not have a treaty with the country of origin of your document:
- First, have your document legalized in the country where it was issued. This can usually be done at that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then go to the Dutch embassy or consulate in that country. They will legalize your document a second time.
Verify document
Ask the municipality to verify your document. The municipality will then send your document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry will then verify whether the content of your document is accurate.
What do I need?
- the original foreign document
How long does it take?
The legalization or verification of documents can take several months. This depends on the local authority responsible for legalizing or verifying the documents.