Translation and legalisation of documents
Legalisation of documents
Legalisation is making an official document suitable for use in another country. For example a birth certificate, marriage certificate or single status declaration. During legalisation, your document is checked to find out if it was issued by the right organisation. Documents are usually legalised with a stamp or sticker. After this, your document will be ready to use in the Netherlands. Legalisation can take a lot of time, so make sure to start the process early on.
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Where can you have a document legalised?
open minusThe IND does not legalise and translate documents. You can find information on where you can have documents legalised on the Netherlands worldwide website.
Do you want to have Dutch documents legalised for use abroad? You can find information on legalising Dutch documents in the Netherlands on the website of the Consular Service Center (CDC).
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Validity of documents and legalisation
open minusFor most documents, the IND does not check the date on which it was issued and legalised. The details of these documents are definite. For example, a birth certificate, marriage certificate or death certificate. The document must have been legalised before use in the Netherlands. The IND accepts a single status declaration only if it is not older than 6 months.
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Already legalised documents
open minusYou cannot have already legalised documents legalised again. Do you need a more recent document? Then you have to apply for the document again and have it legalised.
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Conversion of foreign marriage certificate into Dutch marriage certificate
open minusYou can have a foreign marriage certificate registered with the National Tasks Department of the Municipality of the Hague (only available in Dutch: afdeling Landelijke Taken van de gemeente Den Haag ). You can do this even if you do not yet live in the Netherlands. The foreign marriage certificate will then be converted into a Dutch marriage certificate. The original marriage certificate is archived. You can always request a copy from the Municipality of The Hague. You can use this copy for your application to the IND. You do not need to submit a foreign legalised marriage certificate again.
Translation of documents
If your document is not written in Dutch, English, French or German, then you must have it translated into one of these languages. You can have the document translated in the Netherlands or abroad.
Translation in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the translator must have been sworn in by a Dutch court. You can search for a sworn translator on the website www.bureauwbtv.nl (only available in Dutch).
Translation abroad
You can also have your document translated abroad. Usually, you need to have the document and the translation legalised. For the process per country, see the Netherlands worldwide website.