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What do I need to have a foreign official document converted?

If you wish to have a foreign official document converted into a Dutch one, you will need to provide various documents as part of your application. The documents required depend on the type of document you want to have converted. The official document must also meet a number of general conditions.

Conditions

Only documents that meet the following conditions can be converted:

  • The document must relate to someone who is a Dutch national, was a Dutch national or has asylum status in the Netherlands. You will have to prove this.
  • The document must have been drawn up and issued by an organisation that has the authority to do this. This cannot be a Dutch embassy or consulate.
  • The document must be in Dutch, English, French or German. If not, a sworn translation must also be provided.

It does not matter when the document was issued.

Documents required

You should submit scans of the following documents (both the front and back):

  • The birth certificate to be converted.
  • The person in question's Dutch identity card, certificate of Dutch nationality, certificate of former Dutch nationality or Dutch passport.
  • The person's valid Dutch residence permit (if they have asylum status in the Netherlands).
  • An official copy of the parents’ marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership. This is not necessary if the certificate is Dutch.
  • If the parents were not married or registered partners, but the person's parentage was acknowledged, you must provide a deed of acknowledgement.
  • If the person was adopted or changed their name, you must provide all documents relating to this.
  • The passport or identity card of the person submitting the application.
Attention: Documents from some countries need to be legalised before they can be used in the Netherlands. Sometimes they must also be translated by a sworn translator. Legalisation is usually done in the country where the document originates.

Find out if your documents need to be legalised

You should submit scans of the following documents (both the front and back):

  • The marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership to be converted.
  • The Dutch ID card, certificate of Dutch nationality, certificate of former Dutch nationality or Dutch passport of the partner submitting the application, who has or has had the Dutch nationality.
  • The passport or identity card of the other partner.
  • An official copy of each spouse or partner's birth certificate. This is not necessary if the certificate is Dutch.
  • A valid Dutch residence permit (if a spouse or partner has asylum status in the Netherlands).
  • If one of the partners is a not a Dutch national, you must provide a completed declaration of non-Dutch nationality (PDF, 130 kB) (information in Dutch). This is only required if the marriage or registered partnership took place less than 10 years ago.
Attention: Documents from some countries need to be legalised before they can be used in the Netherlands. Sometimes they must also be translated by a sworn translator. Legalisation is usually done in the country where the document originates.

Find out if your documents need to be legalised

If you got divorced or terminated your registered partnership abroad, you can have a note added to your marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership. Have you had your foreign marriage certificate converted at the municipality of The Hague? Then you will also need to register the divorce on the marriage certificate here.

Attention: Is your marriage certificate not registered with the municipality of The Hague? Find out where you can register your foreign divorce.

This can only be done if you have a Dutch marriage or registered partnership certificate or if your foreign marriage or registered partnership certificate has been converted into a Dutch one.

When submitting your application, select the 'marriage certificate/registered partnership' option. You should upload of all your divorce or termination of registered partnership documents.

Attention: Documents from some countries need to be legalised before they can be used in the Netherlands. Sometimes they must also be translated by a sworn translator. Legalisation is usually done in the country where the document originates.

Find out if your documents need to be legalised

If you are a family member, acquaintance or someone else with a link to the deceased, you can have a foreign death certificate converted. You should submit scans of the following documents (both the front and back):

  • The death certificate to be converted.
  • The person in question's Dutch identity card, certificate of Dutch nationality, certificate of former Dutch nationality or Dutch passport.
  • The person's valid Dutch residence permit (if they had asylum status in the Netherlands).
  • An official copy of the person's marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership (for each marriage or partnership they were in during their lifetime) of the deceased.
  • The passport or identity card of the person submitting the application.
Attention: Documents from some countries need to be legalised before they can be used in the Netherlands. Sometimes they must also be translated by a sworn translator. Legalisation is usually done in the country where the document originates.

Find out if your documents need to be legalised

Lost documents

If you have lost a foreign official document, apply to the place where it was issued for a replacement.

Contact

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Also useful

How can I have a foreign official document converted?