Legalisation of documents from Hong Kong for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Hong Kong in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Hong Kong High Court. 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
- In Hong Kong documents are issued in English or Chinese. 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.
- Please note: the procedure for legalising documents from China or documents from Macau may differ.
Where can you have your document legalised?
You can get an apostille from the Hong Kong High Court. 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 civil status records from the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
You can request official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- death certificates
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the Marriage Registration and Records Office in Hong Kong.
You can get an official copy of a divorce certificate (decree absolute) from the Family Court Registry. It must be stamped by the District Court in your district.
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 Hong Kong.
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
- What is legalisation?
- Converting foreign official documents into Dutch official documents
- What is legalisation by apostille?
- Countries that are party to the Apostille Convention
- Countries where the Consular Service Centre can assist with obtaining documents and having them legalised
- Help with obtaining documents and having them legalised