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Legalisation of documents from Ecuador for use in the Netherlands

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To use a document from Ecuador in the Netherlands, you must have it legalised by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is done with an apostille. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.

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

Good to know

  • Documents in Spanish must 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.

Legalisation of documents in Spanish is a two-step process.

Step 1: Having your document translated

If your document is in Spanish, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.

  1. Have the document translated by a sworn translator.
  2. Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.

Go to step 2.

  1. Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Ecuador.
  2. Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands. You do not need to have the translation legalised. You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.

Go to step 2.

Your document was issued in Spanish by the Ecuadorian consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba):

  • Have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
  • If you have the document translated by a sworn translator in Aruba, have the translation legalised.
  • If you have the document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands, you do not need to have the translation legalised. You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.

Go to step 2.

Step 2: Legalisation of your document

Have your document and, if applicable, the translation legalised with an apostille.

You can get an apostille from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 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. Documents issued by the Ecuadorian consulate do not get an apostille but are legalised in a different way. Find out below how to arrange that.

Attention: Documents issued by the Ecuadorian consulate do not get an apostille but are legalised in a different way. Find out below how to arrange that.

Your document was issued by the Ecuadorian consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba):

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 civil status records from either of the following authorities:

  • the civil status records office (Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil)
  • the population register (Registro Civil, Identificación y Cedulación)

You can request official copies of:

  • birth certificates

  • marriage certificates

  • divorce certificates (takes the form of a note added to a marriage certificate)

You can get an official copy of a death certificate from any of the following authorities:

  • the civil status records office (Registro Civil, Identificación y Cedulación) in the place where the deceased lived
  • the civil status records office in Guayaquil (Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil)
  • the general register of deaths (Dirección General del Registro Civil de Quito)

You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the civil status records office (Registro Civil, Identificación y Cedulación) in the place where you live or most recently lived.

If this is not possible, you can have a notary draw up a sworn statement. You need to bring 2 witnesses with you for this.

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 Ecuador.

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.

More about legalisation