Legalisation of documents from Germany for use in the Netherlands
You want to use a document from Germany in the Netherlands. Some documents from Germany can be used immediately in the Netherlands. Others must first be legalised by the German 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
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates from Germany do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. The same applies to multilingual extracts from these records.
- Documents in German 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.
What documents do not have to be legalised?
The following documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- Multilingual extracts from civil status records do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- A multilingual extract is a standard form in several languages, including English.
You can request multilingual extracts from the following types of record:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
There is a multilingual standard form for a certificate proving that you are legally allowed to get married (certificate/declaration of capacity to marry; Ehefähigkeitszeugnis). Certificates of capacity to marry do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
These documents can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
Notarial acts and court documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents regarding your nationality or place of residence do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents in German or English issued by a German embassy or consulate do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
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.
Once your document has been legalised it is fit for use in the Netherlands.
Is it then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
To use a multilingual extract from a civil status record in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or St Eustatius, you must have it legalised with an apostille.
If you have another type of document, find out from the organisation in the Netherlands requesting the document whether it needs to be legalised.
Where can you have your documents legalised?
Your documents must be legalised with an apostille by the German authorities. 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.
Find out from the German authorities where you can get an official copy of a civil status record. You can obtain many documents from your municipality, including multilingual official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
You can get a certificate of unmarried status (Aufenthaltbescheinigung mit Angabe des Familienstandes) from your municipality.
First get a certificate of unmarried status (see above). You can then use it to request a certificate of capacity to marry (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) from your municipality.
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.