Information about legalization/apostille stamp for birth and marriage certificate

Please note that you will have to bring the original certificate to the Netherlands including the translation in the Dutch, German, French or English language. The translation must be done by an official translator. You need the certificate for registration in the municipality of the city where you will reside in the Netherlands.

What is legalization?

A document issued in your home country which needs to be used in another country must be 'authenticated' or 'legalised' before it is valid and recognized in that other country (e.g. the Netherlands). The proof of legalization is a stamp on the certificate. Further information about legalization can be found on the website of the Dutch Embassy or Consulate-General of your country of origin.

How to arrange legalization?

There are two sorts of legalization, it varies from country to country: please see the overview below.

1) For legalization you need to bring your original certificate to a governmental authority of your home country first, and afterwards to the Dutch consulate of embassy.

2) For legalization you need to get an apostille-stamp, which is issued by a governmental authority of your home country.

Which autority issues an apostille?

An apostille is issued by a designated central authority. In the Netherlands this is the registrar at the district court. In other countries it is often the Minister of Justice or Foreign Affairs. An overview of all the designated authorities in the various countries is to be found at the website of the Hague Conference on International Private Law.