Legalisation of documents from Canada for use in the Netherlands
To use a document from Canada in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Canadian authorities. Then you must have it legalised by the Dutch embassy in Ottawa or the consulate-general in Toronto or Vancouver.
Good to know
- Documents in English or French do not have to be translated.
- Your document must be original and complete. If it refers to other documents or annexes, these must be included.
Legalisation of documents from Canada is a two-step process.
Step 1: Legalisation by the Canadian authorities
Have your document legalised (also called ‘authenticated’) by one of the following:
- Global Affairs Canada
- The government of Northwest Territories
- One of the five Canadian provinces that legalise documents: Alberta (AB), British Columbia (BC), Manitoba (MB), Ontario (ON) and Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Global Affairs Canada offers an additional service. After legalising your document, they can send it to a Dutch mission.
To make use of this service, enclose a separate, sealed envelope with your document.
There are 3 payment methods. To pay, please enclose one of these documents in the envelope:
- a certified cheque in Canadian dollars and issued by a Canadian body, payable to: 'Netherlands Embassy'.
- a money order in Canadian dollars and issued by a Canadian body, payable to: 'Netherlands Embassy'.
- an authorization form to give the embassy or consulate general permission to use your credit card as a method of payment.
Be sure to include a letter with your address, phone number and email address. Your phone number and email address are important in case there are questions about your request.
To find out what amount you need to pay to have your document legalised by the embassy or consulate-general, see the overview of consular fees in Canada.
On the envelope write the address of the embassy or consulate-general where you want your document to be sent:
If you opt for the forwarding service, you do not need to go to step 2. You will receive your document fully legalised at home.
To use your document for a passport application at the Dutch embassy or a consulate-general in Canada, you only need to complete step 1.
You do not need to have your document legalised by the Dutch embassy in Ottawa or the consulate-general in Toronto or Vancouver.
Documents issued by the Canadian embassy in the Netherlands must be legalised by the Consular Service Centre at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. 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.
Documents issued by the Canadian consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao) must be legalised by the Foreign Relations Department (DBB) in Willemstad. 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.
Step 2: Legalisation by a Dutch mission in Canada
Once your document has been legalised by the Canadian authorities, have it legalised by the Dutch embassy or one of the Dutch consulates-general in Canada.
After this, your document is fit for use in the Netherlands.
It is then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
You can send the documents you want to have legalised to the embassy or consulate-general by post.
Which address to use
Use the links below to find the address of the
Costs and accepted payment methods
The overview of consular fees in Canada tells you how much you will have to pay and which payment methods are accepted.
There are 3 payment methods. To pay, please enclose one of these documents:
- a certified cheque in Canadian dollars and issued by a Canadian body, payable to: 'Netherlands Embassy'.
- a money order in Canadian dollars and issued by a Canadian body, payable to: 'Netherlands Embassy'.
- an authorization form to give the embassy or consulate general permission to use your credit card as a method of payment.
Be sure to include your address, phone number and email address in your request.
How long it takes
The normal processing time is about 5 working days. If your request is incomplete it may take longer.
Your document will be returned to you free of charge by standard post whether you are in Canada or abroad. If you would like to receive your document by registered post, please refer to these mailing instructions.
How to make an appointment
Make an appointment online at the Dutch embassy in Ottawa or the consulate-general in Toronto or Vancouver.
Someone else can have a document legalised for you. You do not need to authorise them.
Costs and accepted payment methods
You must pay the relevant fee when you submit your legalisation request. The overview of consular fees in Canada tells you how much you will have to pay and which payment methods are accepted.
How long it takes
If possible, your document will be legalised immediately at the time of your application. If this is not possible, the normal processing time is about 5 working days. If your request is incomplete it may take longer.
Your document will be returned to you free of charge by standard post whether you are in Canada or abroad. If you would like to receive your document by registered post, please refer to these mailing instructions.
Don’t have the document you need?
Find out below where to obtain a document that you need but do not yet have.
You can get a birth certificate, marriage certificate or death certificate from the Vital Statistics office in the province where the birth, marriage or death took place. An overview of all the Vital Statistics offices in Canada is available on the Statistics Canada website.
You can apply for a short form or long form certificate. Long form certificates include certain additional information, such as parents’ names. This is particularly important to note when applying for a birth certificate.
You can apply for an official copy of a divorce certificate from the court where the divorce was granted. You will need a photocopy of the divorce order or judgement.
If you do not have a copy of either of these, you can request your divorce records from the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings in Ottawa.
You can get proof of your unmarried status (a Search of Marriage record) in Canada. You can apply for this document at one of the Provincial Vital Statistics Offices. An overview of all the Vital Statistics offices in Canada is available on the Statistics Canada website.
Requesting a certificate of unmarried status in the Netherlands
If you are a Canadian national you can apply for a certificate of unmarried status from the Canadian embassy in The Hague.
If you need to obtain another type of document, find out from the local authorities where you can do that.
Help with applying for documents and having them legalised
The Consular Service Centre in The Hague can only assist Dutch nationals with having documents legalised in Canada.
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.