Legalisation of documents from Ireland for use in the Netherlands
You can use certain documents from Ireland immediately in the Netherlands. Others must first be legalised with an apostille by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Certain documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- 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.
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 translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
This includes official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Certificates of unmarried status do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents regarding your nationality or place of residence do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Notarial acts and court documents do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents issued by an Irish 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 an apostille.
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.
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 document must be legalised with an apostille by the Irish Department 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.
Don’t have the document you need?
Find out where to obtain a document that you need but do not yet have.
You can get official copies of these documents from the civil status records office in the municipality where the event took place.
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from a notary or from the Irish embassy in The Hague.
You can get an official copy of a divorce certificate from the court where the divorce was granted.
If you need to obtain another type of document, find out from the local authorities where you can do that.
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.