Applying for a Dutch passport or identity card if you live in Canada
If you want to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card and you live in Canada, follow this step-by-step plan.
Step 1: Create your personal checklist
Creating a personal checklist will show you what documents you need in order to apply for a passport or ID card. Create a separate checklist for each application. This means one for you and one for your child, for instance.
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When you have created your checklist, go to step 2.
Step 2: Check the additional requirements
Your personal checklist (see step 1) will show you that you also need documents from Canada in order to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card. You can also see whether your documents need to be legalised and translated.
You must prove that you are legally resident in Canada. You can do this by providing one of the following documents:
- a valid work or study permit
- a valid residence permit
- a Canadian naturalisation certificate (bearing the date of naturalisation)
- a Canadian citizenship certificate or card
- a valid Canadian passport
- If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for your child for the first time, use their birth certificate as proof of legal residence.
No proof of legal residence
If you have no proof of legal residence in Canada:
- Request a search of citizenship records via Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This will show whether you are a legal resident of Canada.
- You can also show a letter from the Canadian immigration authorities stating that your residence permit application is being processed. You must also provide a valid passport before this application procedure can be completed.
If you have a birth certificate or marriage certificate from Canada, you must have it legalised. Find out more about having documents from Canada legalised.
If you have documents from another country, find out if you need to have them legalised.
You can submit documents written in Dutch, English, German or French. If you have documents in another language, you should have them translated by a sworn translator.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you know which documents you need, you can make an appointment in Canada or the Netherlands. Make a separate appointment for every application you wish to submit.
Appointment in Canada
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
VFS Global Vancouver
You can also make an appointment to submit your application via VFS Global in Vancouver. VFS Global is an external service provider. The location has longer opening times than the embassy in Ottawa and consulates-general in Vancouver and Toronto. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
- Make an appointment online with VFS Global in Vancouver.
You can skip steps 4 and 5.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
VFS Global Toronto
You can also make an appointment to submit your application via VFS Global in Toronto. VFS Global is an external service provider. The location has longer opening times than the embassy in Ottawa and consulates-general in Vancouver and Toronto. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
Make an appointment online with VFS Global in Toronto.
You can skip steps 4 and 5.
You can make an appointment to submit your application via VFS Global in Edmonton. VFS Global is an external service provider. The location has longer opening times than the embassy in Ottawa and consulates-general in Vancouver and Toronto. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
- Make an appointment online with VFS Global in Edmonton
- If you want to submit applications for several family members at the same time, send an email to edmnlpp@vfsglobal.com to make an appointment.
You can skip steps 4 and 5.
Appointment in the Netherlands
You can submit your passport or ID card application at a border municipality in the Netherlands. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5.
You can submit your passport or ID card application at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5.
Step 4: Go to your appointment
You must submit your passport or ID card application in person. Even applicants under 18 must appear in person.
Bring all the documents on your personal checklist. For every document the checklist will show you whether you need to provide the original and/or a photocopy.
If you needed to have documents legalised and/or translated, bring the legalised and translated versions with you as well.
The overview of consular fees in Canada tells you how much you will have to pay for a passport or ID card and which payment methods are accepted.
Applying for a passport or ID card at a Dutch border municipality or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will cost you less.
No. If you need your current passport or ID card while your application is being processed, you can retain it for the time being.
When do I have to hand in my old passport or ID card?
If you are collecting your new passport or ID card in person, you should hand in your old one when you come to collect it.
If you are having your passport or ID card sent to you, you will need to first send your old one to the embassy or consulate-general. Only then will your new passport or ID card be sent to you. This means that there will be a period when you have no passport or ID card. If you want your old passport or ID card back, inform the embassy or consulate-general.
I have a residence permit or visa in my old passport, what should I do?
If your passport contains visas or a residence permit and you want to keep those pages intact, inform staff of this when you submit your old passport.
After you submit your application you will receive a track & trace code to track the status of your application. You will receive an email when your new passport or ID card is ready.
Step 5: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you
It usually takes 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You will be contacted if there are documents missing from your application. In this case, it will take longer than 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You must collect your new passport or ID card within three months; after three months it will be destroyed.
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the embassy in Ottawa, or from the consulate-general in Toronto or Vancouver:
- Ottawa: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 13:00 and 15:00.
- Toronto: Monday to Friday between 9:30 and 12:30.
- Vancouver: Monday to Friday between 9:30 and 13:30.
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
Passport
If you include an Xpresspost envelop with your application, you can have your new passport sent to you. If you are applying via VFS Global in Edmonton, please see their sending instructions.
ID card
It is not possible to have your new ID card sent to you. You will need to collect it from the embassy in Ottawa, or from the consulate-general in Vancouver or Toronto.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Contact the embassy in Ottawa
VFS Global
If you are applying via VFS Global? you can contact VFS Global by sending an e-mail to:
- Edmonton: edmnlpp@vfsglobal.com
- Toronto: tornlpp@vfsglobal.com
- Vancouver: vannlpp@vfsglobal.com