NetherlandsWorldwide

Legalisation of documents from Benin for use in the Netherlands

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To use a document from Benin in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Beninese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Attention: If you want to use a Dutch document in Benin, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • Documents in French 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.

Where can you have your document legalised?

Have your document legalised by the Beninese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (information in French).

Once your document has been legalised it is fit for use in the Netherlands. 

It is 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.

You can get an official copy of a birth certificate from the municipal office or police station in your place of birth.

Find out from the Beninese authorities where you can get a marriage certificate, divorce certificate or death certificate.

You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the municipal office in your place of birth, even if you no longer live there.

If you need another type of document, ask the local authorities where you can get this document.

Help with obtaining documents and having them legalised

The Consular Service Centre can assist Dutch nationals with obtaining documents and having them legalised in Benin.

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.