Legalisation of documents from Canada for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Canada in the Netherlands, you must have it legalised by the Canadian authorities. This is done with an apostille. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Documents in English or French do not have to be translated.
- 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 with an apostille. You can get an apostille from the Canadian authorities. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website for contact details.
You can read detailed information about having documents from Canada legalised with an apostille and the most important changes on the Global Affairs Canada website.
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.
Documents issued by the Canadian embassy in the Netherlands must be legalised by the Consular Service Centre at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. 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.
Documents issued by the Canadian consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao) must be legalised by the Foreign Relations Department (DBB) in Willemstad. 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 a birth certificate, marriage certificate or death certificate from the Vital Statistics office in the province where the birth, marriage or death took place. An overview of all the Vital Statistics offices in Canada is available on the Statistics Canada website.
You can apply for a short form or long form certificate. Long form certificates include certain additional information, such as parents’ names. This is particularly important to note when applying for a birth certificate.
You can apply for an official copy of a divorce certificate from the court where the divorce was granted.
Information about applying for an official copy and help finding the right court can be found on the Canadian government's Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings website.
You can get proof of your unmarried status (a Search of Marriage record) in Canada. You can apply for this document at one of the Provincial Vital Statistics Offices. An overview of all the Vital Statistics offices in Canada is available on the Statistics Canada website.
Requesting a certificate of unmarried status in the Netherlands
If you are a Canadian national you can apply for a certificate of unmarried status from the Canadian embassy in The Hague.
If you need to obtain another type of document, find out from the local authorities where you can do that.
Help with applying for documents and having them legalised
The Consular Service Centre in The Hague can only assist Dutch nationals with having documents legalised in Canada.
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.