Apostille NetherlandsYour foreign document legally valid in the Netherlands
Do you have a foreign document — a certificate, diploma or criminal-record extract — that you need to submit to a Dutch authority? We provide the sworn Dutch translation and point you to the right route for apostille or legalisation. Since 2006, with our acceptance guarantee.
To use a foreign document in the Netherlands you usually need two steps: an apostille from the country of origin (if that country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention) or a consular legalisation (other countries), and a sworn Dutch translation by a translator listed in the Rbtv register. We provide the sworn translation with our acceptance guarantee and advise you on the right route.
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Using a foreign document in the Netherlands — in 3 steps
1. Apostille or legalisation in the country of origin
The competent authority in the country that issued your document places the apostille (convention countries) or starts the consular legalisation (other countries). You arrange this step in that country.
2. Sworn translation into Dutch
A sworn translator listed in the Rbtv register translates your document — and usually the apostille — into Dutch. We take care of this for you.
3. Submit it to the Dutch authority
With the apostille and the sworn Dutch translation, you submit your document to the IND, gemeente, Nuffic, an employer or a court.
What is an apostille, and when do you need one for the Netherlands?
An apostille is an internationally recognised certificate under the Hague Apostille Convention (1961) that confirms the authenticity of a signature and the capacity in which it was signed on an official document. A foreign document carrying an apostille can be used in the Netherlands without any further legalisation.
The apostille is issued by the competent authority in the country of origin. If your document comes from a country outside the convention, consular legalisation applies. In both cases the Dutch authority usually asks for a sworn Dutch translation.
Source: Rechtspraak.nl — Apostille and legalisation · Last updated:
Does a foreign document need a Dutch translation?
Yes. Dutch authorities usually accept a foreign document only with a sworn translation into Dutch, made by a sworn translator listed in the Rbtv register.
We provide that sworn Dutch translation, including the translation of the apostille itself. For the foreign apostille or legalisation, the Dutch government refers you to the authorities of the country of origin.
Source: Netherlands Worldwide — Using foreign documents in the Netherlands · Last updated:
What do you usually need this for?
IND & residence permit
Foreign birth or marriage certificates for family reunification, residence or naturalisation.
Marriage at the gemeente
Certificates of birth, single status or divorce for a marriage or partnership registration in the Netherlands.
Study & diploma recognition
Foreign diplomas and transcripts for enrolment in a programme or credential evaluation through Nuffic.
Work & BRP registration
Documents for an employer, professional recognition or registration in the Personal Records Database (BRP).
What do we take care of?
- The sworn Dutch translation of your foreign document and the apostille, by a sworn translator listed in the Rbtv register.
- Advice on the right route: apostille or consular legalisation, depending on your country of origin.
- Is a Dutch document going abroad instead? Then we arrange the apostille through the Dutch courts — €99 all-in. See apostille per country.
Frequently asked questions
What is an apostille in simple words?
It is an official certificate that confirms the signature and stamp on a public document are genuine. Once a document carries an apostille, the other countries of the Hague Apostille Convention recognise it without further legalisation. The apostille verifies where the document comes from, not whether its content is correct.
How much does an apostille cost in the Netherlands?
The court charges a statutory fee per document, and De Rechtspraak publishes the current amount. If you order through us, an apostille is €99 per document as an optional add-on, all-in, with the court fee and the court application included. We arrange it so you do not have to visit a court yourself.
How quickly can I get an apostille in the Netherlands?
Standard delivery is 5-7 working days. If you need it sooner, express (2-3 working days, +50%, minimum €55) and same-day (+100%, minimum €75, Dutch <-> English/French only, ordered before 12:00) are available as options in the order form. The timing depends on whether both the translation and the apostille need arranging.
What is the difference between apostille and legalisation?
An apostille is a single-step verification used between countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. Consular legalisation is the longer route for countries outside the convention: the document is legalised by the relevant ministry and then by the destination country's embassy or consulate. Which one you need depends on the destination country.
Which comes first, apostille or translation, and do I need an apostille for a translated document?
The apostille belongs on the original document. The receiving authority abroad may also require an apostille on the sworn translation, which can be arranged through the court where the translator is registered. Because requirements differ, check what the receiving body asks for before you order, and we will arrange the steps in the right order.
Need a sworn Dutch translation?
Send in your foreign document — you receive a quote within 1 hour on working days, with our acceptance guarantee.
More on apostille and legalisation
- Apostille per country — a Dutch document going abroad
- Consular legalisation — for countries outside the apostille convention
- Sworn translation — how a sworn translation works and what it covers