Registering a foreign marriage in the Netherlands

If you get married outside the Netherlands, check whether you need to register your marriage in the Netherlands. This depends on where you live.

If you live outside the Netherlands you can have your foreign marriage certificate converted into a Dutch one.This is not mandatory. If you live in the Netherlands, you must register your foreign marriage in the Netherlands.

Converting a foreign marriage certificate into a Dutch one

You can have your foreign marriage certificate converted into a Dutch one. This option is available if you and/or your partner are Dutch nationals or recognised refugees. You can do this at the municipality of The Hague’s Foreign Documents Department. This is not mandatory, but it can be useful if you ever need an extract in the future.

Please note: foreign marriage certificates are not automatically valid and recognised in the Netherlands. You may need to have the foreign certificate translated and/or legalised first in the country where you got married. Find out whether you need to have the certificate legalised and, if so, how.