Legalisation of documents from Israel for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Israel in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Israeli 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
- Documents in Hebrew must 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.
Legalisation of documents in Hebrew is a two-step process.
Step 1: Having your document translated
If your document is in Hebrew, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator.
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
Go to step 2.
- Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Israel.
- Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands. You do not need to have the translation legalised. You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.
Go to step 2.
Your document was issued in Hebrew by the Israeli consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba) or Willemstad (Curaçao):
- Have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
- If you have the document translated by a sworn translator in Aruba, have the translation legalised.
- If you have the document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands, you do not need to have the translation legalised.
You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.
Go to step 2.
Step 2: Legalisation of your document
Have your document and, if applicable, the translation legalised with an apostille.
You can get an apostille from the Israeli 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.
Your document was issued by the Israeli consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba):
- Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs (DWJZ) in Oranjestad.
Your document was issued by the Israeli consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao):
- Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Foreign Relations Department (DBB) (information in Dutch) 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 Population, Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA), which is part of the Ministry of Interior.
Israel does not issue certificates of unmarried status. You can get an extract from the Population Registry, which includes information about your marital status.
Jewish marriage:
You can get an official copy of a Jewish marriage certificate from the Chief Rabbinate. It will need to be stamped by the Israeli Ministry of Religious Services.
Muslim marriage
You can get an official copy of an Islamic marriage certificate from the Sharia court in the district where the marriage took place.
Civil marriage
Civil (non-religious) marriages entered into in Israel are not recognised.
You can get proof of a divorce from the relevant religious authority. It will need to be stamped by the Israeli Ministry of Religious Services.
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 Israel.
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