Legalisation of documents from Latvia for use in the Netherlands
You can use certain documents from Latvia immediately in the Netherlands. Others must first be legalised with an apostille by the Latvian authorities. 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. 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.
Multilingual standard forms are available for 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.
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.
Notarial acts and court documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. If your document is in Latvian, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
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. If your document is in Latvian, 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 Latvian, find out if the issuing authority can attach a multilingual standard form. With a multilingual standard form, the document does not need to be 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.
You can have your document translated in Latvia or the Netherlands.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator in Latvia (EU Justice website).
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
- Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Latvia, if necessary.
- Have the legalised 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 document and, if applicable, the translation must be legalised with an apostille by a Latvian notary. 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.
Find out from the local authorities where you can obtain civil status records. Often, this will be the municipality where the event took place.
You can request official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Find out from the Latvian authorities where you can obtain a certificate of unmarried status. Often, this will be the municipality where you live.
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.