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
Certificate of life and certificate of existence
You can apply for both certificates at the municipality where you live and are registered. Make an appointment to apply for each of the certificates.
Certificate of life
You can only make the application yourself. Someone else cannot do this for you.
Certificate of existence
You can apply for this certificate for:
- yourself;
- your child residing with you, even when it is older than 18 years;
- your spouse or registered partner.
Certificate of life
- your passport, identity card or Dutch driving licence;
- if you have one: the letter from your foreign pension fund or life insurer.
Certificate of existence
When applying for yourself, your spouse or child:
- your passport, identity card or Dutch driving licence;
- if you have one: the letter from your foreign pension fund or life insurer.
When applying for someone else:
- written approval of the person for which you apply;
- copy of the passport, identity card or Dutch drivers license of the person for which you apply;
- your passport, identity card or Dutch drivers licence;
- if you have one: the letter from your foreign pension fund or life insurer.
Call +31 24 329 90 00 to make an appointment.
- certificate of life: € 14,30;
- certificate of existence: € 14,55. This certificate is free if you need it for your pension fund.
You receive the certificate immediately at the end of your appointment.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Nijmegen
Visiting addresses
Mariënburg 30
6511PS Nijmegen
| Monday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 -20:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Meijhorst 7039
6537EP Nijmegen
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 09:00 -17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |