Legalisation of documents from Spain for use in the Netherlands
You can use certain documents from Spain immediately in the Netherlands. Others must first be legalised with an apostille by the Spanish authorities. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Multilingual extracts from civil status records do not have to be translated or legalised.
- If your document is in Spanish, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form. If no multilingual standard form is available, the document must be 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.
- Multilingual extracts from civil status records do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- A multilingual extract is a standard form in several languages, including English.
You can request multilingual extracts from the following types of record:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Certificates of unmarried status do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
There is a multilingual standard form for a certificate proving that you are legally allowed to get married (certificate/declaration of capacity to marry). This document does not need to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
It can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
Notarial acts and court documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. If your document is in Spanish, you must have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
Documents regarding your nationality or place of residence do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands. Ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document.
Documents in English issued by a Spanish 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. If your document is in Spanish, 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.
To use a multilingual extract from a civil status record in Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or St. Eustatius, you must have it legalised with an apostille.
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 Spanish, check whether you can get a multilingual extract. Or ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document. In this case, the document does not need to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
If you cannot get a multilingual version, you must have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator in Spain (information in Spanish).
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
- Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Spain, 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 the Spanish 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.
Don’t have the document you need?
Find out below where to obtain a document that you need but do not yet have.
Find out from the Spanish authorities where you can get official copies of civil status records. You can obtain many documents from your municipality.
You can request official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
If you live in the Netherlands
If you are a Spanish national, you can get extracts and multilingual extracts from civil status records from the Spanish embassy in The Hague.
If you are a Spanish national you can get a certificate of unmarried status from the civil status records office.
If you are a Dutch national you can have a certificate of unmarried status drawn up by a notary in Spain.
If you need to obtain another type of document, ask the local authorities where you can get this document.
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.