Applying for an Attestatie de vita (certificate of life) in the Netherlands
Does an organisation outside the Netherlands (e.g. a pension fund) need proof that you are alive? Then you need an Attestatie de vita (certificate of life). You can apply for this at your municipality.
There are 2 types of proof of life documents that are available in the Netherlands:
- The Attestatie de vita is an international document in Dutch and French. This document comes from the Register of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships (registers van de burgerlijke stand). You can use the certificate outside the Netherlands. You can also get an annex to the certificate explaining the document in German, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.
- The Bewijs van in leven zijn (certificate of existence) is an excerpt taken from the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen – BRP). This states that you are registered as alive in the BRP. This extract is in Dutch and can be used in the Netherlands.
This is how it works in your (future) place of residence
Attestatie de vita or certificate of life
You can apply for a certificate of life or Attestatie de vita from the municipality where you live and are registered. You can only make the application yourself. Someone else cannot do it for you.
You must make an appointment with the municipality to apply for a certificate of life.
Appointment Attestatie de vita
You can request a certificate of life digitally. This document will be delivered at your home address.
- Certificate of life: € 18,10.
- Certificate of life with a letter from your retirement fund: free of charge.
- Attestatie de vita: € 15,70.
- Attestatie de vita with a letter from your retirement fund: free of charge.
You will receive the Attestatie de vita immediately after the appointment.
You will receive the Attestatie de vita within 3 work days after the request.
For more information, please contact gemeente Enschede through +31 53 481 81 81.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Enschede