Legalisation of documents from Greece for use in the Netherlands
You can use many documents from Greece in the Netherlands immediately. Others must first be legalised by the Greek authorities. This is done with an electronic apostille (e-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 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.
There is a multilingual standard form for a certificate proving that you are legally allowed to get married (certificate/declaration of capacity to marry). 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. Instead, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document.
Documents in English issued by a Greek 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.
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 a normal apostille. If your document is in Greek, 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, 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 Greece (European e-Justice Portal).
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
- If necessary, have the original document legalised with an apostille in Greece.
- 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 (e-)apostille by the Greek 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.
E-apostilles
The Greek authorities issue e-apostilles via the digital portal gov.gr (information in English and Greek).
The Greek authorities only issue e-apostilles for the following documents:
- Certificate of family status
- Birth Certificate or copy of birth register
- Nationality certificate
- Certificate of guarantor family members
- Marriage certificate
- Certificate of registered partnership
- Death certificate
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 obtain official copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates from the civil status records office (lixiarhio) in the municipality where the event took place.
You can get official copies of:
- birth certificate (lixiarhiki praxi genniseos)
- marriage certificate (lixiarhiki praxi gamou)
- death certificate (lixiarhiki praxi thanatou)
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the civil status records office (lixiarhio) in the municipality where your details are recorded in the family register (oikogenaeiaki merida/katastasi).
You can get an official copy of a divorce certificate (diazefktirio) from the Greek court of first instance (protodikio) in the municipality where the divorce was granted. Ask for a multilingual standard form to be attached.
If you need to obtain another type of document, ask the local authorities where you can get this document.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.