Legalisation of documents from Venezuela for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Venezuela in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Venezuelan Ministry of Justice and Peace. After that you will have to obtain an apostille from the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An apostille is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Documents in Spanish 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.
Legalisation of documents in Spanish is a two-step process.
Step 1: 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.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator.
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
Go to step 2.
- Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Venezuela.
- 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.
Your document was issued in Spanish by the Venezuelan consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba) or Willemstad (Curaçao):
- Have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
- If you have the document translated by a sworn translator in Aruba or Curaçao, have the translation legalised.
- 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.
Go to step 2.
Step 2: Legalisation of your document
Have your document and, if applicable, the translation first legalised at the Venezuelan Ministry of Justice and Peace.
Then get an apostille from the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 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 Venezuelan consulate in Oranjestad (Aruba):
- Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs (DWJZ) in Oranjestad.
Your document was issued by the Venezuelan consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao):
- Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Foreign Relations Department (DBB) (information in Dutch) in Willemstad.
Your document was issued by the Venezuelan consulate in Kralendijk (Bonaire):
- Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Governor or Deputy Governor 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 civil status records office (Oficina de Registro Civil del Municipio/de la Parroquia) in the municipality or parish where the event occurred.
You can request official copies of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
You can get a certificate of unmarried status in 2 ways:
- You can request a certificate from the civil status records office in the municipality or parish where you live. Tell the office why you need the certificate. You will then need to go to a notary public (notario público) with 2 witnesses. The notary will legalise the certificate for use in Venezuela.
- You can have a certificate drawn up by your lawyer. You will then need to go to a notary public (notario público) with 2 witnesses. The notary will legalise the certificate for use in Venezuela.
Read at step 1 what you need to do to use the certificate in the Netherlands.
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.