The Dutch embassy or consulate-general may be able to legalise your signature in certain situations. For example, when arranging power of attorney to settle an inheritance or when arranging the sale of property.
How does signature legalisation work?
Your document must meet certain conditions:
- Your document must be in Dutch, English, French or German.
- Documents in other languages must be translated by a sworn translator. If the sworn translator is registered outside the Netherlands, you must have the translation legalised by the local authorities.
- You must sign the document during your appointment at the embassy or consulate-general.
Signatures must be legalised in person. They cannot be legalised by post. Legalisation only serves to confirm that the signature is genuine. The legalisation of a signature says nothing about the content or legal status of the document.
Preparations and making an appointment
You should first ask the authority that requires the document (for example, your bank, a notary or a municipality) whether they will accept a signature that has been legalised by the Dutch embassy or consulate-general.
Select your country or region and find out how to make an appointment at the embassy or consulate-general in your country or a country nearby.
To have your signature on a notarial act legalised you must go to a local notary. Dutch embassies and consulates-general do not legalise notarial acts.
If you’re unsure whether a document is a notarial act, email a scanned copy of it to the embassy or consulate-general. The embassy or consulate will check whether they can legalise your signature on the document.
How much will it cost?
The fee for signature legalisation is €26.25 for each document.
Check the consular fees page for the country where you are requesting legalisation to find out how you can pay.
What should you bring with you?
You must go to the embassy or consulate-general in person and bring the following items with you:
- the document to be signed
- a valid Dutch passport or Dutch ID card
How long will it take?
If the embassy or consulate-general is able to legalise your signature on the document, you can take the document home right after your appointment.
Sometimes the embassy or consulate-general must first check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands whether a signature can be legalised. If that is the case, it may take longer before you get your document back.
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