Immigration update: The Netherlands | Legislation update

22 November 2018

Legalisation Update of European Union (EU) public documents

Simplified requirements for presenting certain public documents in the Netherlands (and European Union)

For the registration with the local authorities you will need to bring some public documents to the Netherlands; your original birth certificate and, if applicable, your original marriage/divorce certificate, all with proper legalisation and translation (in case the certificates are not in Dutch, English, German or French). The certificates are required for a correct and full registration in the municipality record database (and to proof the family ties). The certificates may also be required for immigration purposes in case you have the non-EU nationality.

Until 15 February 2019 you will often require a legalisation by means of apostille for public documents issued in an European Union (EU) members state as proof that the document was issued by a competent official.

Based on new (EU) Regulation 2016/1191 between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, you can use certain public documents from an European Union (EU) member state in all EU countries and territories without an apostille as of 16 February 2019.

The documents need to meet certain requirements:

• The new Regulation applies to all 28 EU countries, plus the following territories: the Azores, the Canary Islands, French Guiana, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and Saint Martin (the French side of the island).
• The certificates must have been issued in and must be used in one of these countries or territories.
• The new Regulation does not apply to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten).
• The documents are public documents that have been issued by a government body or semi-government body.
• The regulation covers only the authenticity of the public documents and not the recognition of its contents or effects.
• The documents are needed to verify certain personal details.

The Regulation also introduces optional multilingual standard forms that can be attached to the public documents to avoid translation requirements. This means that, when you request for a public document from an authority, you can also request a multilingual standard form which will be attached to the public document. Until further information is available, the Netherlands requires that public documents should be in one of the following languages: Dutch, English, German or French. In case the public documents are not in one of these languages, they need to be translated by a sworn translator recognized by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

We will continue to keep you updated on any future developments through our website.

Should you have any questions, please contact:

Sabine Simons
Relocation Specialist
Sabine.Simons@staging.santaferelo.com

About us

Santa Fe Relocation is a global mobility company specialising in managing and delivering high-quality relocation services worldwide. Our core competence is providing services that help corporations and their employees relocate and settle in a new country, assisting them with immigration, home and school searches, language and cultural training, property rentals, and domestic and international household goods shipments. We provide these services to a consistently high standard, locally and globally. A key strength is our ability to manage these services through our own operations around the world. Santa Fe Relocation is wholly owned by the Santa Fe Group, which is listed on NASDAQ in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information, visit us at blue.santaferelo.com