Using translated documents abroad
If you wish to use a Dutch document such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate or diploma abroad, you may need to have it translated. After it has been translated, you may also need to have both the source document and the translation legalised. This is done with a stamp or sticker. After legalisation, you can use the source document and the translation abroad.
The source document may need to be legalised via a different procedure to the translation. To find out how to legalise the source document, see the page on the legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad. This page tells you how to prepare a translation of your document for use abroad.
Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Check whether you need to have your document translated
Ask the foreign country's embassy or consulate in the Netherlands whether you need to provide a translation of your document and whether the translation also needs to be legalised.
- If you do need to have your document translated, you should have it translated by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler).
- To find a sworn translator (information in Dutch), please consult the website of the Legal Aid Council (Raad van Rechtsbijstand (Bureau Wbtv)).
- The translator usually attaches the translation to a photocopy of the source document. Sometimes they attach the translation to the original source document.
Please check whether you need to have both the source document and the translation legalised or just the source document.
Stap 2: Have the translation legalised
This can be done in 2 ways:
- Via ‘normal’ legalisation, which will often require more than one stamp or sticker.
- Via the apostille procedure, which is a simplified form of legalisation requiring 1 one stamp or sticker.
The type of legalisation required depends on whether the country you want to use your document and its translation in is a party to the Apostille Convention.
- Take the translation to a district court to get an apostille. Check this list of district courts in the Netherlands (information in Dutch) to find the nearest one.
The translation has now been legalised and can be used abroad.
- First, go to a district court to have the sworn translator's signature legalised. Check this list of district courts in the Netherlands (information in Dutch) to find the nearest one.
If the country is not a party to the Apostille Convention, the district court will use the ‘normal’ legalisation procedure to legalise your document.
- Have the translation legalised by the Consular Service Centre (CDC) in The Hague.
- Have the translation legalised by the embassy or consulate in the Netherlands of the country where you wish to use it. The foreign country's embassy or consulate can tell you how this works.
The translation is now ready to be used abroad.
Legalisation by the CDC: important points
The CDC only legalises translations if both the translation and the source document meet all the requirements.
Translations must meet the following requirements:
- The translation must be done by a sworn translator who is registered with a district court in the Netherlands. To find a sworn translator (information in Dutch), please consult the website of the Legal Aid Council (Raad van Rechtsbijstand (Bureau Wbtv)).
- The translation must be legalised by a district court (information in Dutch).
- The translation must be attached by the translator to the source document or to a photocopy of the source document.
- The translation must not be in Dutch.
The source document (the document that has been translated) must meet the following requirements:
- the document was drawn up in the Netherlands in Dutch, English, French or German
or
- the document was drawn up abroad and the legalisation procedure was completed in the country where it was drawn up.
- Translations in Dutch. Dutch translations serve only to enable Dutch speakers to read the document.
- Translations of documents from abroad, if the legalisation procedure was not completed in the country of origin.
- Translations intended for use in a country that is a party to the Apostille Convention.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.