NetherlandsWorldwide

Legalisation of documents from Switzerland for use in the Netherlands

You can use certain documents from Switzerland immediately in the Netherlands. Others must first be legalised with an apostille by the Swiss authorities. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.

Attention: If you want to use a Dutch document in Switzerland, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad.

Good to know

  • Multilingual extracts from civil status records do not have to be translated or legalised.
  • If your document is in French or German, it does not need to be translated.
  • If your document is in Italian you must have it 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.

What documents have to be legalised?

The following documents must be legalised for use in the Netherlands.

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 Italian, check whether you can get a multilingual extract. A multilingual extract does not need to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.

If you cannot get a multilingual extract, you must have your document translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator.

Where can you have your documents legalised?

Your document and, if applicable, the translation must be legalised with an apostille by the Swiss authorities. 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.

Check whether you can get a multilingual extract. A multilingual extract does not need to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.

Attention:

Check whether you can get a multilingual extract. A multilingual extract does not need to be translated or legalised for use in the Netherlands.

If you need to obtain 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.