NetherlandsWorldwide

Legalisation of documents from the Palestinian Territories for use in the Netherlands

To use a document from the Palestinian Territories in the Netherlands, you must first have it legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority. Then you must have it legalised by the Netherlands Representative Office in Ramallah.

Warning: Due to the situation in the Palestinian Territories, the Dutch representation in Ramallah is closed. You cannot therefore have your document legalised by them at this time. Ask the authority in the Netherlands that asks for your document what you can do.
Attention:

If you want to use a Dutch document in the Palestinian Territories, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • In the Palestinian Territories official documents are issued in Arabic. 
  • Documents in Arabic must be translated for use in the Netherlands.
  • Your document must be original and complete. If it refers to other documents or annexes, these must be included.

Step 1: Legalisation by the Palestinian Authority

Have your document legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority.

Step 2: Legalisation by the Netherlands Representative Office in Ramallah

Have your document legalised by the Netherlands Representative Office in Ramallah.

To have a document legalised you need to make an appointment by email. The Netherlands Representative Office is open on Mondays and Tuesdays between 09.00 and 12.00.

The overview of consular fees tells you how much you will have to pay and which payment methods are accepted.

  • Legalisation usually takes 1 week. You will be informed when your document is ready.
  • Documents can be collected on Mondays and Tuesdays between 09.00 and 12.00.
  • The Netherlands Representative Office does not send documents by post.

Step 3: 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 in the Netherlands.

  1. Have the original document legalised in the Palestinian Territories.
  2. Have the legalised document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands. You do not need to have the translation legalised.

You can find a sworn translator on the Legal Aid Council website.

Once your document has been legalised and translated 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.

Find out from the local authorities where you can get civil status documents.

You can request official copies of:

  • birth certificates
  • marriage certificates
  • divorce certificates
  • death certificates

Find out from the local authorities where you can get a certificate of unmarried status.

Help with applying for documents and having them legalised

The Consular Service Centre can assist Dutch nationals with applying for documents and having them legalised in the Palestinian Territories.

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.