Legalisation of documents from Cyprus for use in the Netherlands
You can use many documents from Cyprus in the Netherlands immediately. Others must first be legalised with an apostille by the Cypriot Ministry of Justice and Public Order. 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 do not have to be legalised. Instead, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document. If no multilingual standard form is available, you must have the document translated.
- 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.
Civil status records do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. Instead, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document.
You can request official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Certificates of unmarried status do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. Instead, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document.
Documents regarding your nationality or place of residence do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. Instead, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document.
Notarial acts and court documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. If your document is in Greek or Turkish, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
You can use documents drawn up by an embassy or consulate from Cyprus directly in the Netherlands. Legalisation is not necessary.
If the document is drawn up in Greek or Turkish, you must have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German. Will you have the document translated in the Netherlands? Then legalisation of the translation is not necessary.
These documents can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and 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 apostille. If your document is in Greek or Turkish, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
Once your document has been legalised and, if necessary, translated, 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.
If you have another type of document, find out from the organisation in the Netherlands requesting the document whether it needs to be legalised.
Check whether you need a translation
If your document is in Greek or Turkish, find out if the issuing authority can attach a multilingual standard form. With a multilingual standard form, you do not need to have the document translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
If you cannot get a multilingual standard form, you must have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator in Cyprus.
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
- If necessary, have the original document legalised with an apostille in Cyprus.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands (Legal Aid Council website). You do not need to have the translation legalised.
Where can you have your documents legalised?
Your original document and, if applicable, the translation must be legalised with an apostille by the Cypriot Ministry of Justice and Public Order. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website for contact details.
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 or death certificate from any District Administration Office.
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
You can request an official copy of a marriage certificate from the municipality where you got married.
You can request an official copy of a divorce certificate from the family or subdistrict court.
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.