Attesting Dutch Documents (FAQs)

Yes - the Netherlands is a member of the Apostille Convention.

Dutch documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country.

When Dutch documents are required for non-apostille countries, such as United Arab Emirates - Taiwan - Malaysia - Thailand - Zambia - Qatar they need additional authentication by the embassy of the destination country.

For further information see:
Netherlands Apostille Services

Submission within the European Union
Certain Dutch documents do not require Apostilles when they are presented to authorities of other European Union countries (the receiving authority should accept the original or a certified copy).

When applying for certain public documents, a multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Dutch authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority to understand a public document which is in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.
See: EU Multilingual standard forms

Dutch documents not requiring Apostilles include birth, death, marriage certificates, absence of a criminal record (a clean criminal record of a Dutch citizen), certificates of nationality and residence:
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Other Dutch documents, including academic certificates, still require Apostille certification and certified translation to be valid in other EU countries.

Civil status certificates (multilingual extracts from the civil status registers)
Dutch birth, marriage and death certificates) issued in accordance with the conventions of the International Commission on Civil and Civil Status should not require Apostille Stamps when being submitted to one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cape Verde, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Multilingual certificates of no impediment to marriage
Dutch certificates of no impediment to marriage are exempt from any formality for submission to the following countries (Munich CIEC Convention):
Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey

Apostille stamps in the Netherlands are issued for official documents including:

• Civil status certificates (birth, death, marriage and civil partnerships)
• Certificates of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag)
• Dutch university diplomas and course transcripts
• KvK Business Register Extracts
• Deeds of Incorporation and Articles of Association
• Divorce certificates
• Certificates of Origin, Health Certificates, Certificates of Free Sale and GMP Compliance
• Documents issued by the European Medicines Agency
• Other documents certified by a Dutch notary

To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in the Netherlands, please contact us and we’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about our Dutch apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Dutch documents, see:
Netherlands Apostille Services

Dutch birth, death and marriage certificates can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the District Court.

Submission within the European Union
Dutch certificates of civil status (marriage, death and birth certificates) do not require an Apostille stamp when required for submission in another Member State of the European Union. For further information, see:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Civil status certificates (multilingual extracts from the civil status registers)
Dutch birth, marriage and death certificates) issued in accordance with the conventions of the International Commission on Civil and Civil Status should not require Apostille Stamps when being submitted to one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cape Verde, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Certificates of Conduct from the Netherlands (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag) certifying a clean criminal record for emigration purposes can be obtained by making a written request via the municipality or by applying to Justis.

• FAQs - Good Conduct Certificates (in English)
• FAQs - Good Conduct Certificates (in Dutch) (in Dutch)

Applicants who are registered in the Municipal Personal Record Database (BRP) should apply for a Certificate of Conduct from the municipality when the applicant is registered. The application must include evidence from the organisation that is requesting the certificate stating that the certificate is required.

• Apply by written request via the municipality (in Dutch)

Applicants not registered in the Municipal Personal Record Database should apply directly to Justis. Applications can be submitted by email. Certificates will be delivered by post.

• Justis - Certificate of Conduct

Extracts from the Dutch Commerical Register can be ordered online from the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK). Certified KvK extracts, as well as Deeds of Incorporation and Articles of Association, can then be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the District Court.

• KVK Business Register extract

To obtain an Apostille Stamp, university diplomas and course transcripts issued in the Netherlands require prior legalization by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Once the diploma has been legalized, an Apostille can then be obtained from the District Court. Diplomas must be printed on original paper from the educational institution and signed by a representative of the institution. The Educational programme must be officially recognised by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:

• ISAREY reviews on Trustpilot
• ISAREY reviews on Google

Extracts and official copies of Dutch birth, death and marriage certificates can be obtained from the Municipality where the birth, death or marriage was registered. A civil status record extract contains only the essential details of the record and can be requested by the person named in the certificate or a direct relative (e.g. spouse, parent, child). An official copy of a civil status record is a copy of the original record stamped and signed by the Registrar of Births, Deaths.

• Amsterdam - Birth, death and marriage certificates
• The Hague - Birth, death and marriage certificates

Dutch university diplomas required for submission to the Authorities of the United Arab Emirates must be legalized by the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) (in Dutch) and then by the Consular Service Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomas can then be attested by the UAE embassy in The Hague.

Dutch university diplomas required for submission to the Authorities of Vietnam must be legalized by the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) (in Dutch) and then by the Consular Service Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomas can then be attested by the Vietnamese embassy in The Hague.

Dutch university diplomas required for submission to the authorities of Taiwan must be legalized by the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) (in Dutch) and then by the Consular Service Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomas can then be attested by the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands.

Apostilles for Dutch Certificates of Conduct can be obtained from the District Court.

Submission within the European Union
Dutch certificates of no criminal record do not require Apostilles when being submitted to other states of the European Union where the certificate is for a citizen of Netherlands and where the criminal record is clean. Non-Dutch nationals may still require an Apostille. For further information, see:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Apostilles are not required when submitting Dutch certificates of marital status to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union.

A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Dutch authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Apostilles are not required when submitting Dutch Multilingual certificates of no impediment to marriage issued to the authorities of a country that has acceded to the Munich CIEC Convention. Members of the Munich CIEC Convention are as follows:
Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Apostilles are not required when submitting Dutch Criminal Record Certificates to another Member State of the European Union when the certificate is issued to a Dutch national and when the criminal record is clean (no convictions). In other cases, the recipient Member State may require an Apostille.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Apostilles are not required when submitting Dutch birth, death and marriage certificates to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union. A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Dutch authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Dutch birth, marriage and death certificates (multilingual extracts from the civil status registers issued in accordance with the conventions of the International Commission on Civil and Civil Status) should not require Apostille Stamps when being submitted to countries that have acceded to the Vienna CIEC Convention. The following countries are contracting states of the Vienna Convention:
Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cape Verde, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Dutch Certificates of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag) have no specific expiry.