Legalisation of documents

Legalizing documents is required when you use official papers in a country other than where they were issued. This process verifies the authenticity of signatures and seals, ensuring your documents are recognized by foreign authorities.

You need to legalize documents when:

• Doing business abroad: for example, for contracts and business certificates.
• Studying or working abroad: such as diplomas and work permits.
• Moving to or purchasing property abroad: such as marriage and birth certificates.

The legalization process can vary by country. Some countries require a simpler procedure under the Apostille Convention, while others require more extensive steps.

For the legalization of documents, you can visit various agencies, depending on the type of document and the country where the document will be used. Generally, you should undertake the following steps:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: In many cases, the legalization process begins at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the document was issued. They verify the authenticity of the signature and the stamp on the document.
  
  
• Embassy or Consulate: After the initial legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the document often needs to be presented to the embassy or consulate of the country where you intend to use the document. This is especially necessary if the country is not part of the Apostille Convention.
  
  
• Local government bodies: For certain documents such as birth or marriage certificates, you can often also go to your local town hall for a legalization stamp before going to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To legalize your documents for international use, it is important to first determine what type of legalization is required. This depends on the country where the documents will be used. For countries that participate in the Apostille Convention, an apostille is sufficient. This can often be obtained at a court or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country. For countries that are not part of this convention, a full legalization procedure is needed. This procedure begins at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an initial legalization step, followed by a visit to the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

The time required to legalize documents can vary depending on the type of legalization. For an apostille, required by countries that have signed the apostille convention, the process can often be completed within a few working days. More complex legalizations, however, can take weeks, depending on the requirements of the destination country and the workload of the involved agencies. Periods with many requests, such as holiday seasons or the beginning of a school year, can also cause delays. Additionally, time must be allowed for any translations and other preparations before the documents can actually be submitted for legalization.

At JuridConsult, we offer comprehensive services for the legalization of foreign documents. We are happy to assist in legalizing documents issued by foreign authorities so that they are recognized in the Netherlands or other countries. This process includes verifying the authenticity of signatures and seals on the documents by relevant authorities in the country of origin. If necessary, this can also be done by Dutch or other foreign authorities.