Legalisation of documents from Gambia for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Gambia in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Gambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Good to know
- Documents in English 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 Gambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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 Gambian consulate in Willemstad 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 an official copy of a birth certificate or death certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Banjul.
Where you can get an official copy of a marriage certificate depends on your religion.
Muslim marriage
Register the marriage at a Muslim court (Cadi court) and ask for an official copy of the registration. Have the official copy signed by the head of the Registrar General’s Office at the Ministry of Justice.
Christian marriage
Register the marriage at a church and ask for an official copy of the registration. To find out which churches can register Christian marriages, contact the Gambian authorities. Have the official copy signed by the head of the Registrar General's Office at the Ministry of Justice.
Non-religious marriage (civil marriage)
Civil marriages are solemnised by the head of the Registrar General’s Office. The Ministry of Justice issues the marriage certificate and can also provide an official copy.
Where you can get an official copy of a divorce certificate depends on your religion.
Muslim or Christian divorce
Ask the Gambian authorities where you can get an official copy of the divorce registration for a religious marriage. Have the official copy signed by the head of the Registrar General’s Office at the Ministry of Justice.
Non-religious divorce (civil divorce)
Register your divorce in the register of divorces. You can get an official copy of the registration from the head of the Registrar General’s Office at the Ministry of Justice.
You can get a certificate of unmarried status (also known as a ‘bachelor certificate’ or ‘spinster certificate’) from the Registrar General’s Office at the Ministry of Justice in Banjul.
If you need 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.