NetherlandsWorldwide

Legalisation of documents from Saudi Arabia for use in the Netherlands

To use a document from Saudi Arabia in the Netherlands, you must have it legalised by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 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 Saudi Arabia, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • Documents in Arabic 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.

Step 1: Having your document translated

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

Step 2: Legalisation of your document

Have your document and, if applicable, the translation legalised with an apostille by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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.

If you need to obtain another type of document, find out from the local authorities where you can do that.

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.