Legalizing and verifying foreign documents

What is it?

The municipality may sometimes ask you to show 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 sure that your foreign documents are genuine and reliable. Therefore, make sure that your document is legalized or verified.

  • Legalization means that you have your document officially certified as genuine. You do this in the country where your document was issued.
  • Verification means that you have the contents of your document checked to ensure that they are reliable. You can arrange this at the municipality.

How does it work?

Only original documents can be legalized or verified. These are often 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 your document was drawn up. If the Netherlands has concluded a treaty on legalization with that country, then legalization is easier.

The Netherlands does have a treaty with the country of your document:

  • Go to the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where your document was drawn up. They will legalize your document.
  • Is the country a signatory to the Apostille Convention? If so, you only need to have an apostille stamp on your document. You can request the apostille stamp from an official authority in the country where your document was drawn up. This is usually the Minister of Security and Justice or the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Netherlands has no treaty with the country of your document:

  • First, have your document legalized in the country where it was drawn up. This can usually be done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in that country. Then go to the Dutch embassy or consulate in that country. They will legalize your document again.

Verify document

Ask the municipality to verify your document. The municipality will then send your document to the Department of State. The Department of State will then check whether the content of your document is reliable.

What do I need?

  • the original foreign document

How long will it take?

Legalization or verification of documents can take several months. This depends on the local authority that has to legalize or verify the documents.