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Applying for a Dutch passport or identity card if you live in Portugal

If you want to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card and you live in Portugal follow this step-by-step plan.

Step 1: Create your personal checklist

Creating a personal checklist will show you what documents you need in order to apply for a passport or ID card. Create a separate checklist for each application. This means one for you and one for your child, for instance.

When you have created your checklist, go to step 2.

Step 2: Check the additional requirements

Your personal checklist (see step 1) will show you that you also need documents from Portugal in order to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card. You can also see whether your documents need to be legalised and translated.

You must prove that you are legally resident in Portugal. You can do this by providing one of the following documents:

  • a valid residence permit (Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia/Autorização de Residência). You can request the Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia from the offices of the municipality (câmara municipal) where you live. You can request an autorização de residência from the Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo (AIMA)
  • if you also have Portuguese nationality: a valid Portuguese passport or ID card.
  • If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for your child for the first time, use their birth certificate as proof of legal residence.

Residence permit expired

Has your residence permit (Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia / Autorização de Residência) expired?And are you unable to get an appointment at AIMA (former SEF)?All documents whose validity expired after February 24, 2020 are valid in Portugal until June 30, 2025.

You do not need to have the proof of legal residence translated, even if it says so in your checklist at step 1.

Do you need to provide a birth certificate from Portugal, according to your personal checklist (step 1)?

  • You can apply for an international birth certificate at a Portuguese civil registry office. You must pick up this document in person. You do not need to have this document translated.
  • You can also request a digital birth certificate online at ePortugal.gov.pt. You can only apply for a Portuguese birth certificate here. You must have this document translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

Acknowledged by Dutch father

Were your parents not married during your birth and were you recognised by a Dutch father?
You will need the following documents:

  • Is there a recognition certificate? And is this document in Portuguese? If so, you must have this document translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
  • Is the Dutch father ("pai") mentioned on the national Portuguese birth certificate? And is he also listed as declarant ("declarante") on the birth certificate? If so, we consider this to be recognition. Is this document in Portuguese? Then you must have this document translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

If you have a birth certificate or marriage certificate from Portugal, you do not need to have it legalised. You may need to have it translated, however.

If you have other documents from Portugal, or documents from another country, find out if you need to have them legalised.

You do not need to have the proof of legal residence translated. You can submit other documents written in Dutch, English, German or French. If you have documents in Portuguese, apply for multilingual extracts. A multilingual extract is a standard form in 9 languages. You do not need to have it translated.

If you cannot get a multilingual extract, request a multilingual standard form from the authority that issued your document. You do not need to have this translated. You can find more information on multilingual standard forms on the website of the European Union.

If you cannot obtain a multilingual extract or standard form, you should have your documents translated by a sworn translator.

Step 3: Make an appointment

Attention: Make a separate appointment for each application. Make 2 appointments if you are applying for a passport and an ID card.

Once you have gathered all of the documents on your checklist (step 1) and ensured they meet all the required conditions (step 2), you can make an appointment in Portugal or in the Netherlands.

Warning:

Bring all the documents on your checklist with you to your appointment. Print out the checklist and bring it with you. We cannot help you if any of these documents are missing:

  • Application form for passport or ID card (completed, printed and signed)
  • Declaration of consent from parent / guardian for minor applicant(s). Are you applying for a passport for your child under 18? Or an ID card for your child under the age of 12? And are you or the other parent unable to attend the appointment? Then the absent parent must complete and sign the declaration of consent. And provide a copy of their passport or ID card. The copy must be dated and signed by the absent parent.
  • Passport or ID card. Bring all your Dutch and/or foreign passports and ID cards, including any that have expired.

Make an appointment online with the embassy in Lisbon

Changing or cancelling your appointment

After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.

You can also submit your passport or ID card application at a border municipality in the Netherlands or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5

Step 4: Go to your appointment

You must submit your passport or ID card application in person. Even applicants under 18 must appear in person.

Bring all the documents on your personal checklist. For every document the checklist will show you whether you need to provide the original and/or a photocopy.

If you needed to have documents legalised and/or translated, bring the legalised and translated versions with you as well.

The overview of consular fees in Portugal tells you how much you will have to pay for a passport or ID card and which payment methods are accepted.

Applying for a passport or ID card at a Dutch border municipality or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will cost you less.

No. If you need your current passport or ID card while your application is being processed, you can retain it for the time being. 

When do I have to hand in my old passport or ID card?

If you are collecting your new passport or ID card in person, you should hand in your old one when you come to collect it.

If you are having your passport or ID card sent to you, you will need to first send your old one to the embassy or consulate-general. Only then will your new passport or ID card be sent to you. This means that there will be a period when you have no passport or ID card. If you want your old passport or ID card back, inform the embassy or consulate-general.

I have a residence permit or visa in my old passport, what should I do?

If your passport contains visas or a residence permit and you want to keep those pages intact, inform staff of this when you submit your old passport.

Step 5: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you

You will receive an e-mail when your new passport or ID card is ready. You must collect your new document within 3 months or have it sent to you. After that, it will be destroyed.

On the page How long is the application process for a Dutch passport or ID card abroad you can read more about the processing time of a passport or ID card.

You can collect your new passport or ID card from the embassy in Lisbon on

  • Mondays :from 9:30 to 12:30 hours. And from 14:00 to 16:00 hours
  • Wednesdays:  from 9:30 to 12:30 hours. And from 14:00 to 16:00 hours
  • Fridays: from 09:30 to 12:30 hours

You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.

If you whish to collect your passport or ID-card on another day, please send an e-mail to lis-ca@minbuza.nl

You can have your new passport sent to you by courier (CTT). To do this, you will need to pay €5 courier costs when you submit your application.

It is normally not possible to have your new ID card sent to you. But double check this when you submit your application.

Contact

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.