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Legalisation of documents from Macau for use in the Netherlands

To use a document from Macau in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the authorities in Macau. This is done with an apostille. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.

Attention: If you want to use a Dutch document in Macau, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • Documents in Chinese or Portuguese 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.
  • Please note: the procedure for legalising documents from China or documents from Hong Kong may differ.

Legalisation of documents in Chinese or Portuguese is a two-step process.

Step 1: Having your document translated

If your document is in Chinese or Portuguese, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.

  1. Have the document translated by a sworn translator.
  2. Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.

Go to step 2.

  1. Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Macau.
  2. 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.

Step 2: Legalisation of your document with an apostille

Have your document and, if applicable, the translation legalised with an apostille.

You can get an apostille from the authorities in Macau. 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 an official copy of a birth certificate from the register of births (Conservatória do Registo de Nascimentos).

If the marriage or death took place on or after 31 March 1963, you can get an official copy of the certificate from the register of marriages and deaths (Conservatória do Registo de Casamentos e Óbitos).

Find out from the authorities in Macau where you can get a certificate of unmarried status.

You can get an official copy of a divorce certificate from the register of marriages and deaths (Conservatória do Registo de Casamentos e Óbitos). If your divorce was granted by a court, you can get the document from the court.

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 Macau.

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.

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