Convert a foreign certificate into a Dutch certificate

Were you born or married abroad? Or did you enter into a civil partnership in another country? Or did somebody die outside the Netherlands? If so, you can convert your foreign certificate into a Dutch certificate.

A Dutch certificate makes it easier for you to arrange certain kinds of formalities. Such as requesting a copy or (international) extract.

Do you live in the Netherlands?

You first need to turn in your foreign certificate to the municipality where you are registered. Read more on Register foreign documents in the BRP.

All Dutch citizens (and status holders) with a foreign certificate can make a request at the Municipality of The Hague. Also Dutch citizens who are living abroad. (Adoptive) parents, (adopted) children, spouses and civil partners, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters can also make a request at the municipality.

  • Submit a request to have your certificate registered using the online form. You can also register several certificates at the same time.
  • You will get a confirmation email with a reference number (LTK-nummer).
  • Is your request complete? Then the municipality will ask you to send in the official documents (not copies).
  • Is your request incomplete or have you not sent in all of the documents? Then the municipality will not be able to process your request.
  • Has the municipality approved and registered your documents? Then the municipality will inform you about this.
  • You will get back the original documents. The municipality will return them by registered post. You will receive an invoice for the postage costs.

Were any of the documents you submitted forged, falsified or obtained through fraud? The municipality will not register them and will not return them to you. It will report this to the police.

  • The person named in the document must have (had) Dutch citizenship. Or have asylum status in the Netherlands.
  • The foreign certificate must be drawn up and issued to you by a competent authority (an organisation which has the power to perform this function).
  • You need to have certain certificates legalised (made official with a signature and stamp). More information can be found on the Begin external link: website of the Government of the Netherlands(External link), end external link..
  • The certificate must be written in Dutch, English, French or German. For other languages a certified translation is required. The translation must be done by somebody who is allowed to translate official documents. For a certificate from the European Union (EU) use a Begin link: multilingual standard form, end link. . Request this form from the authority where you got the certificate.

  • The foreign certificate which you want to have registered. If it is necessary, legalised and translated.
  • A copy of a Dutch identity card or a Dutch passport, or a Dutch nationality certificate for the person named in the document.
    A copy of a Dutch identity card or a Dutch passport, or a Dutch nationality certificate is also needed for children.
  • In the case of asylum status: a copy of a valid Dutch residence permit.
  • A copy of the passport or identity document for the person who is making the request.

The documents you submit in may be more than 6 months old.

Make a safe copy of your identity document with your mobile telephone or tablet using the KopieID app. Read more on the Begin external link: website of the Government of the Netherlands(External link), end external link..

Additional documents

In the following cases you have to send additional documents. Click on the subjects to see what you need:

  • A copy of the foreign marriage certificate or certificate of civil partnership. If the parents were married or civil partners at the time of birth.
  • An acknowledgement of parenthood certificate or adoption certificate. Or other documents which establish parenthood.
  • Has your name changed? All documents related to the name change.

  • A copy of the foreign birth certificate(s) for the married or registered partners.
  • A copy of the passport or identity card for both partners.
  • A declaration of non-Dutch citizenship, if at least 1 partner does not have citizenship (nationality) of the Netherlands. You do not need to fill in the declaration if:
    • you are a citizen of an EU country
    • you have a permanent residence permit
    • your forein marriage or civil partnership was contracted more than 10 years ago or has since been terminated.

Declaration of non-Dutch citizenship

(PDF, 98.6 KB)

  • Your foreign divorce papers. Select the ‘huwelijksakte’ option in the application form.

  • A copy of the birth certificate for the person who died.
  • Any marriage or partnership certificate which is not registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP).

You can only make your request online.

Converting your certificates is free. You pay only for the costs for returning your original documents by registered post.

Your request can take up to 10 months.

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