This material uses official information from the official website of the Government of the Netherlands – https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/
This is a translation of an information page from the Danish language.
You can use some documents from Moldova directly in the Netherlands. Others must first be apostilled by the Moldovan authorities. This is a simplified form of legalization that allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.
Good to know
- Multilingual extracts from civil status records do not need to be translated or legalized.
- If your document is in Romanian, it must be translated.
- Your document must be original and complete. If it refers to other documents or appendices, they must be included.
Which documents are not subject to legalization?
The following documents do not need to be legalized for use in the Netherlands.
Multilingual extract from an archival civil status record:
- Multilingual extracts do not need to be translated or legalized for use in the Netherlands,
- A multilingual extract is a standard form in several languages, including English.
You can request multilingual extracts from the following types of records:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- divorce certificates
- death certificates
To use a multilingual extract in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, or Sint Eustatius, you must have it legalized.
Certificates/declarations of legal capacity
There is a multilingual standard form for the certificate stating that you are permitted to marry (certificate/declaration of legal capacity). This document does not need to be translated or legalized for use in the Netherlands.
It can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
Documents issued by an embassy or consulate
Documents in English issued by the embassy or consulate of Moldova do not need to be translated or legalized for use in the Netherlands.
They can also be used in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
Examples of this type of document include:
- civil status declarations
- residence certificates
- life certificates
Which documents need to be legalized?
The following documents must be legalized for use in the Netherlands.
Diplomas and certificates
Diplomas and professional education certificates must be legalized with an apostille.
After your document is legalized, it is suitable for use in the Netherlands.
It is also suitable for use in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
Multilingual extracts for use in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom
To use a multilingual extract from a civil status record in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, or Sint Eustatius, you must legalize it with an apostille.
If you have a different type of document, check with the organization in the Netherlands requesting the document whether it needs to be legalized.
Check if you need a translation
If your document is in Romanian, check if you can obtain a multilingual extract. A multilingual extract does not need to be translated or legalized for use in the Netherlands.
If you cannot obtain a multilingual extract, you must have your document translated into Dutch, English, French, or German by a sworn translator.
Translating your document in Moldova
- Have the document translated by a sworn translator.
- Legalization of the original and the translation.
Translating your document in the Netherlands
- Legalization of the original document in Moldova.
- Have the legalized document translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands. You do not need to legalize the translation.
You can find a sworn translator on the website of the Legal Aid Council.
Where can documents be legalized?
Your document and, if applicable, the translation must be legalized by the Moldovan authorities with an apostille. See the contact information on the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).
Once your document has been legalized, it is suitable for use in the Netherlands.
It is also suitable for use in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
Don’t have the document you need?
Find out below where to get the document you need but do not yet have.
Check if you can obtain a multilingual extract. A multilingual extract does not need to be translated or legalized for use in the Netherlands.
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, and death certificates
You can obtain civil status documents from the Civil Status Service (Serviciul Stare Civilâ), which is part of the Ministry of Justice of Moldova. Official copies and multilingual extracts are also available there.
This applies to the following documents:
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- death certificates
- divorce certificates
If you need to obtain another type of document, ask the local authorities where you can get it.
After legalization
Verification of your document in the Netherlands
Legalization does not prove the authenticity of a document or the truthfulness of its content. The municipality in the Netherlands, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), or another authority may decide to verify these matters. Legalizing your document simply means that your document bears the correct signature.
How recently your document must have been issued or legalized
Organizations have different requirements regarding how recently your document must have been issued and legalized. For more information, contact the organization in the Netherlands requesting the document.