Legalisation of documents from Malta for use in the Netherlands
You can use certain documents from Malta immediately in the Netherlands. Others must first be legalised with an apostille by the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Certain documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
- Malta has two official languages: English and Maltese. Documents in English do not have to be translated for use in the Netherlands. So you should request an English version of the document you need.
- If this is not possible, ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document. If no multilingual standard form is available, the document must be translated.
- Your document must be original and complete. If it refers to other documents or annexes, these must be included.
What documents do not have to be legalised?
The following documents do not have to be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Civil status records in English do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
You can request official copies in English of:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
Certificates of unmarried status in English do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Documents in English regarding your nationality or place of residence do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Notarial acts and court documents in English do not have to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.
You can use documents drawn up by a Maltese embassy or consulate directly in the Netherlands. Legalisation is not necessary.
If the document is drawn up in Maltese, you must have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German. Will you have the document translated in the Netherlands? Then legalisation of the translation is not necessary.
These documents can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.
Examples of this type of document include:
- declarations of civil status
- certificates of residence
- certificates of life
Using documents freely within the EU
Civil status records are a type of public document. Public documents do not have to be legalised for use in another EU country. Sometimes you may need to ask for a multilingual standard form to be attached to your document. You can find more information about public documents on the European Justice website.
What documents have to be legalised?
The following documents must be legalised for use in the Netherlands.
Diplomas and professional and educational certificates in English must be legalised with an apostille. 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.
If you have another type of document, find out from the organisation in the Netherlands requesting the document whether it needs to be legalised.
Check whether you need a translation
If your document is in Maltese, check if it can also be issued in English. Or ask the issuing authority to attach a multilingual standard form to the document. In this case, the document does not need to be translated.
If you cannot get a multilingual version, you must have the document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator in Malta (EU Justice website).
- Have the original and the translation legalised with an apostille.
- Have the original document legalised with an apostille in Malta, if necessary.
- Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands (Legal Aid Council website). You do not need to have the translation legalised.
Where can you have your documents legalised?
Your document and, if applicable, the translation must be legalised with an apostille by the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website for contact details.
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.
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 in English of a birth certificate, marriage certificate or death certificate from the Public Registry.
Find out from the Maltese authorities where you can get a divorce certificate.
You can get a certificate of unmarried status from the municipality where you are registered.
If you need to obtain another type of document, find out from the local authorities where you can do that.
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.