Legalisation of documents from China for use in the Netherlands

You want to use a document from China in the Netherlands. You must first have it translated into English by a notary in China. Then you must have it legalised by the Chinese authorities with an apostille. This is a simplified form of legalisation which allows you to use your documents in the Netherlands.

Attention: If you want to use a Dutch document in China, see Legalisation of Dutch documents for use abroad

Good to know

• Documents in Chinese must be translated into English in China for use in the Netherlands.
• Your document must be original and complete. If it refers to other documents or annexes, these must be included.

Step 1: Having your document translated

In China documents are issued in Chinese. Have your Chinese document translated into English by a notary.

The notary will make a booklet of the original document and the translation. You must then have this booklet legalised.

Step 2: Legalisation by the Chinese authorities

Take your document to the Department of Consular Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at a provincial Foreign Affairs Office. Documents cannot be sent in for legalisation by post.

Once your document has been legalised it is fit for use in the Netherlands.

The document is then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.

Documents issued by the Chinese consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao)

Your document was issued by the Chinese consulate in Willemstad (Curaçao):
• Have the document and, if applicable, the translation legalised by the Foreign Relations Department (DBB) in Willemstad.

Once your document has been legalised it is fit for use in the Netherlands.

It is then also fit for use in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius.

Special documents

Read the information below about common documents from China.

Hukou (household registration)

If you are a Chinese national you probably have a hukou, with information about the composition of your household. This may be a collective hukou, issued by a university or orphanage for example.

A certified true copy of a complete and up-to-date hukou is not required in the following situations:

• When registering for the first time in the Personal Records Database (BRP) if you lived outside China for at least 1 year before arriving in the Netherlands. Proof of residence in the country where you lived may be required.
• When applying for naturalisation.
• When applying for family migration if the joining family member lived outside China for at least 1 year before arriving in the Netherlands. Proof of residence in the country where they lived may be required.

Documents drawn up by a notary

You can have the following documents drawn up by a notarial office (gong zheng chu) in Chinese. The English translation of your document will be attached to the original. For the Dutch authorities, the Chinese document is the most important part.

Notarial certificates

A notarial certificate is a document drawn up by a notary about an event such as a birth. It contains all necessary information about this event. The notary issues this document on the basis of an official Chinese document.

Certified true copies

A certified true copy is a photocopy made by a notary of an original Chinese document. The notary adds a certificate stating that the photocopy is the same as the original.

Don’t have the document you need?

Find out below where to obtain a document that you need but do not yet have.

You were born before 1 March 1996

1. A notarial certificate stating your family name, given name(s), date and place of birth and the names of your mother and father.
2. A certified true copy of one of the following documents:
   1. your parents’ hukou containing the details of your birth.
   2. a hospital certificate stating that the certificate can be used for recording the birth in the hukou system.
   3. a certificate from the Public Security Bureau with full details of your birth.

   Other source documents, such as a statement by a midwife, are not accepted. An identity card alone is not accepted either.

   You were born on or after 1 March 1996

   You need the following documents:

   • A certified true copy of your medical birth certificate.
   • Your original medical birth certificate.

   Late registration of birth

   What you need depends on when you were born. See ‘You were born before 1 March 1996’ or ‘You were born on or after 1 March 1996’.

   Please note: in some cases, additional documents are required. Ask the Dutch authorities what documents you need.

   Certificates of unmarried status

   Men aged 22 and older and women aged 20 and older need:

   • A certified true copy of a certificate from the Civil Affairs Bureau.

   Men aged 21 and younger and women aged 19 and younger need:

   • A notarial certificate of marital status.
   • A certified true copy of their complete and up-to-date hukou. This copy is not needed in the situations described under ‘Hukou (household registration)’.

   To request an official copy of a marriage certificate, you will need the following documents:

   • A certified true copy of your red marriage booklet.
   • A certified true copy of your complete and up-to-date hukou in which the marriage is confirmed by the Public Security Bureau. This copy is not needed in the situations described under ‘Hukou (household register)’.
   • Your original red marriage booklet, if you are applying in person.
   • One of the following documents:
     1. A certified true copy of the decree of divorce issued by the court.
     2. A certified true copy of your divorce booklet.
   • A certified true copy of your complete and up-to-date hukou in which the divorce is confirmed by the Public Security Bureau. This copy is not needed in the situations described under ‘Hukou (household register)’.

   Proof of custody of a child following a divorce

   • One of the following documents:
     1. A certified true copy of the agreement between the parents on who gets custody of the child.
     2. A certified true copy of the court judgment on which parent gets custody of the child.
   • A certified true copy of the child’s medical birth certificate.
   • The child’s original medical birth certificate, if you are applying in person.
   • An original statement from the parent who does not have custody of the child, in which they give permission for:
     1. the child to accompany the other parent to the Netherlands,
     2. the child to be issued a passport, or
     3. the child to receive Dutch nationality.
   • A photocopy of the passport of the parent who does not have custody of the child. The photocopy must be signed and dated by this parent.

   You need one of the following documents:

   • a certified true copy of the death certificate from the Public Security Bureau, or
   • if the death occurred in hospital: a certified true copy of the death certificate issued by the hospital.

   After legalisation

   Verification of your document in the Netherlands

   Legalisation does not prove the authenticity of a document or the truthfulness of its content. A municipality in the Netherlands, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) or another authority may decide to verify these things. Legalisation of your document simply means that your document bears the correct signature.

   How recently must your document have been issued or legalised

   Organisations have different requirements for how recently your document must have been issued and legalised. For more information, contact the organisation in the Netherlands requesting the document.

   Contact

   If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

   More about legalisation

   • What is legalisation?
   • Converting foreign official documents into Dutch official documents