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Legalisation of documents from Mexico for use in the Netherlands

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To use a document from Mexico in the Netherlands, you must have it legalised by the Mexican authorities. 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 Mexico, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • Documents in Spanish must be translated for use in the Netherlands.
  • The Mexican authorities do not legalise translations (exception: the state of Queretaro). In case you need a document for an application at the Dutch embassy in Mexico, you can submit a translation made in Mexico without having it legalised with your application.
  • In case you want to use your Mexican document in the Netherlands, you will need to have the original document legalised in Mexico. Then have the document translated 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 Spanish is a two-step process.

Step 1: Having your document legalised

Have your document legalised with an apostille.

You can get an apostille from the Mexican authorities. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website for contact details.

Civil status certificates such as birth and marriage certificates fall under "State Documents".

Attention: Documents from a Mexican consulate will not get  an apostille but another legalisation. After step 2 you can read where you can arrange this.

Step 2: Having your document translated

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

  1. Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator.
    A list of translators in Mexico can be found on the page Traducciones (information in Spanish).
  2. Except in the state of Queretaro, the Mexican authorities do not legalise translations. For an application at the Dutch embassy in Mexico, you don't need to have the translation legalised.

  1. Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Mexico. Read in step 1 where you do that.
  2. Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands. You do not need to have the translation legalised if you want to use the document in the Netherlands.
    You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.

After legalisation of your document and translation in the Netherlands the document is fit for use in the Netherlands.

It is then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.

Documents issued by the Mexican consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba)

Do you have a document that is issued in Spanish by the Mexican consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba)?

Follow these steps to have your document translated and legalised:

  1. Have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
  2. If you have the document translated by a sworn translator in Aruba, have the translation legalised.
  3. 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.
  4. Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs (DWJZ) in Oranjestad.

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 Registro Civil (information in Spanish).

You can request official copies of:

  1. birth certificates (acta de nacimiento)
  2. marriage certificates (acta de matrimonio)
  3. divorce certificates (acta de divorcio)
  4. death certificates (acta de defunción)

You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the Registro Civil (information in Spanish).

Do you need another document? Ask the local authorities where you can get the 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 Mexico.

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.

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