Definition
An 'apostille' is a formal document, merely certifying that a certain Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate is authentic and valid. In other words, it confirms that, whoever signed someone's Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate at some date in the past was actually authorized to sign at that point in time.

Legalization
The Dutch government, in order to curb document fraud, has now imposed the requirement that any document required for residence registration (i.e. birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, etc.) must have either an apostille or double legalization.

Double legalization
Double legalization mandates that before a document can be used for residency or alien registration in the Netherlands, the signature on the document must first be 'legalized' by Ministry or Department of Justice or the Ministry or Department of Foreign Affairs in the native country. Subsequently, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs -Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken- or the Dutch Ministry of Justice -Ministerie van Justitie- must then authenticate the signed document thereby verifying the issuing authority in the native country. Although some countries are exempt from this requirement, an apostille may still be required to authenticate a signature on a document.

Questions concerning the apostille requirements may be directed in the Netherlands to:
www.minbuza.nl 

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