Legalisation of documents from Suriname for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Suriname in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Surinamese Ministry of Justice and Police. 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 Dutch do not have to 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.
- Original civil status documents drawn up and issued before 25 November 1975 do not need to be legalised.
Where can you have your document legalised?
You can get an apostille from the Surinamese Ministry of Justice and Police. 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 Surinamese consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao):
- Have the document legalised by the Foreign Relations Department (DBB) 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 civil status records from the Central Population Affairs Office (CBB) in Paramaribo. In some cases you can also get them from your local civil status records office.
You can request official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Civil status documents issued before 25 November 1975
Original civil status documents drawn up and issued before 25 November 1975 do not need to be legalised. You can have these entered into the Register of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Registered Partnerships at the municipality of The Hague's Foreign Documents Department.
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the Central Population Affairs Office (CBB) in Paramaribo. In some cases you can also get this certificate from your local civil status records office.
If you need 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.