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Legalisation of documents from Iraq for use in the Netherlands

To use a document from Iraq in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you have your document translated by a sworn translator in Iraq, you must also have the translation legalised by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You must then go to the Iraqi embassy in The Hague, which will then draw up a consular declaration for your document. Finally, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs will legalise this consular declaration.

Warning: The Iraqi embassy in the Netherlands does not currently legalise documents. Ask the agency requesting the document what you can do as an alternative.
Attention: If you want to use a Dutch document in Iraq, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • Documents in Arabic must be translated for use in the Netherlands.
  • Documents in English 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 Iraq is a three-step process.

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.

  1. Have the document translated by a sworn translator in Iraq. 
  2. Have the original and the translation legalised. 

Go to step 2.

  1. Have the original document legalised in Iraq.
  2. Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands. You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.

Go to step 2.

Step 2: Legalisation of your document in Iraq

Have your document legalised by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Attention: If you have your document translated by a sworn translator in Iraq, the translation must also be legalised by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Step 3: Legalisation of your document in the Netherlands

The Dutch embassy in Baghdad does not legalise documents. Follow these steps to have your document legalised in the Netherlands:

  1. Ask the Iraqi embassy in The Hague to draw up a consular declaration for your document.
  2. Have the consular declaration legalised by the Consular Service Centre in The Hague. You will also need to show the original document and the translation.

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 an official copy of a birth certificate or death certificate from the Iraqi Ministry of Health (Wazarat Alsehha).

You can get an official copy of a marriage certificate or divorce certificate from the Civil Status Department (Mahkamat al Ahwal Alshakhsiyah) at the Iraqi Ministry of Justice (Wazarat Aladel).

If you need another type of document, ask the local authorities where you can get this document.

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.

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