Applying for a Dutch passport or identity card if you live in Spain
If you want to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card and you live in Spain, 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.
When you have created your checklist, go to step 2.
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Step 2: Check the additional requirements
Your personal checklist (see step 1) will show you that you also need documents from Spain 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 Spain. You can do this by providing one of the following documents:
- proof of registration from your municipality (certificado de empadronamiento), no older than 3 months.
- a valid visa and supporting documents
- proof of registration for European Union citizens (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión), no older than 3 months: you can request this from an Oficina de Extranjeria or police station (Comisaría de Policía)
- if you also have Spanish nationality: a valid Spanish passport or ID card.
- 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.
- If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for a minor, please use the proof of legal residence of the Dutch parent(s).
If you live in France, you can prove legal residence by providing one of the following documents:
- a copy of your French health insurance card (Carte Vitale)
- a copy of a French tax return or electricity bill, showing your name and address.
- 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.
- If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for a minor, please use the proof of legal residence of the Dutch parent(s).
Expired passport
If you only have Dutch nationality, are 18 or over and your passport or ID card expired more than 2 years ago, you must also prove that you do not have French nationality. Find our more on the page on being 18 or over in France and having a Dutch passport or ID card that expired more than 2 years ago.
If, according to your personal checklist (step 1), you need to provide a birth certificate, and you were born in Spain, then request a certificado/acta literal de nacimiento and a copy in English (extracto internacional de nacimiento).
If you have a birth certificate or marriage certificate from Spain, you do not need to have it legalised.
If you have other documents from Spain, or 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 Spanish, apply for multilingual extracts. A multilingual extract is a standard form in 9 languages. You do not need to have it translated.
If you cannot get a multilingual extract, request a multilingual standard form from the authority that issued your document. You do not need to have this translated. You can find more information on multilingual standard forms on the website of the European Union.
If you cannot obtain a multilingual extract or standard form, you should have your documents translated by a sworn translator.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you know which documents you need, you can make an appointment in Spain or the Netherlands. Make a separate appointment for every application you wish to submit.
Appointment in Spain
Make an appointment online with the embassy in Madrid (in Spanish)
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 Madrid
You can submit your application with VFS Global in Madrid. VFS Global is an external service provider. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
Attention: If your passport or identity card is lost or stolen and you do not have a photocopy of it, you cannot submit your application through VFS Global. In this case you should make an appointment with the embassy in Madrid.
Make an appointment online with VFS Global in Madrid
You can skip steps 4 and 5.
You can submit your application with VFS Global in Barcelona. VFS Global is an external service provider. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
Make an appointment online with VFS Global in Barcelona
You can skip steps 4 and 5.
No shipment to France
Do you live in France and did you apply in Barcelona? Please be aware that we cannot send you new passport to France. You have to collect your new passport in person.
When?
Week 43, 2023
Making an application
- Make an appointment online with the embassy in Madrid (information in Spanish)
- Choose ‘Pasaporte - documento de identidad en la Nucia'.
If the appointment system says ‘no hay tiempo disponible’ it means that all available slots have already been booked. - After making your appointment, the embassy will provide you with more information about your appointment and the exact location.
- You can skip steps 4 and 5.
Surcharge
There is an additional fee of € 23,60 if you apply for a passport or ID card at this location.
When?
Week 47, 2023
Making an application
- Make an appointment online with the embassy in Madrid (information in Spanish)
- Choose ‘Pasaporte - documento de identidad en Tenerife/Gran Canaria'.
If the appointment system says ‘no hay tiempo disponible’ it means that all available slots have already been booked. - After making your appointment, the embassy will provide you with more information about your appointment and the exact location.
- You can skip steps 4 and 5.
Surcharge
There is an additional fee of € 23,60 if you apply for a passport or ID card at this location.
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 Spain 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 Madrid from Monday to Friday between 09.00 and 09.30.
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
You can have your new passport sent to you by courier (MRW).
It is normally not possible to have your new ID card sent to you. But double check this when you submit your application.
No shipment to France
Do you live in France and did you apply in Barcelona? Please be aware that we cannot send you new passport to France. You have to collect your new passport in person.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.