Legalisation of documents from Belgium for use in the Netherlands
You want to use a document from Belgium in the Netherlands. Some documents can be used immediately. Others must first be legalised by the Belgian authorities. This is done electronically with an e-apostille. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates from Belgium do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. The same applies to multilingual extracts from these records.
- In Belgium documents are issued in Dutch and French, and sometimes German. Documents in these languages do not have to be translated for use in the Netherlands.
- Your document must be original and complete. If it refers to other documents or annexes, these must be included.
What documents do not have to be legalised?
The following documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- Multilingual extracts from civil status records do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- A multilingual extract is a standard form in several languages, including English.
You can request a multilingual extract from the following types of record:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Notarial acts and court documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents regarding your nationality or place of residence do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents drawn up by a Belgian embassy or consulate do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
These documents can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or St Eustatius.
Examples of this type of document include:
- declarations of civil status
- certificates of residence
- certificates of life
Using documents freely within the EU
Civil status records are a type of public document. Public documents do not have to be legalised for use in another EU country. Sometimes you may need to ask for a multilingual standard form to be attached to your document. You can find more information about public documents on the European Justice website.
What documents have to be legalised?
The following documents must be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Diplomas and professional and educational certificates must be legalised with an e-apostille.
Once your documents are legalised they are fit for use in the Netherlands.
They are then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
To use a multilingual extract from a civil status record in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or St Eustatius, you must have it legalised with an apostille.
If you want to use another type of document, find out from the organisation in the Netherlands requesting it whether it needs to be legalised.
Where can you have your documents legalised?
You must have your documents legalised with an e-apostille by the Belgian authorities. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website for contact details.
Once your documents are legalised they are fit for use in the Netherlands.
They are then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
Don’t have the document you need?
Find out below where to obtain a document that you need but do not yet have.
Find out from the Belgian authorities where you can get an official copy of a civil status record. You can get official copies of many documents from your municipality, including:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the municipality where you live.
If you need to obtain another type of document, ask the local authorities where you can get this document.
After legalisation
Verification of your document in the Netherlands
Legalisation does not prove the authenticity of a document or the truthfulness of its content. A municipality in the Netherlands, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) or another authority may decide to verify these things. Legalisation of your document simply means that your document bears the correct signature.
How recently must your document have been issued or legalised
Organisations have different requirements for how recently your document must have been issued and legalised. For more information, contact the organisation in the Netherlands requesting the document.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.