Register foreign documents

A life event that has taken place abroad, such as birth, marriage, divorce, death, recognition of adoption, name change has to be registered in the PRD.

Documents of these events should be submitted to the municipality where you live.

The documents have to meet certain requirements in order to be accepted in the Netherlands. The foreign documents:

• Must be the original document (not a copy)
• Must be unlaminated
• Must be produced in the country where the life event took place
• Must be produced and issued by a competent authority
• Must comply with the legalisation requirements

If the document is not written in Dutch, English, French or German, then the document needs to be translated by a certified translator 

Which foreign documents do we include in the PRD? 

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Partnership registration certificate
• Divorce certificate or decree
• Death certificate
• Adoption certificate
• Certificate of name change
• Act of recognition 

Marriage or registered partnership certificate (Personal declaration – no sham marriage)

Non-Dutch people living in the Netherlands who wish to get married need to complete a Personal declaration – no sham marriage. This document can be found at the municipality where you wish to marry. For more information on whether you need a Personal declaration - no sham marriage, please visit the website of the central government.

You will make a statement when you want to register your foreign marriage or registered partnership in the PRD. You will always have to book an appointment for this. Both parties will have to make a statement, even when one of you is Dutch.

You can download the Personal declaration – no sham marriage (in Dutch, pdf, 61,5 kB) or pick it up at city hall. 

Converting a certificate into a Dutch certificate

After the meeting, we will include your certificate in the PRD. Afterwards, if you so choose, you can convert the certificate into a Dutch certificate at the Den Haag Municipality.

Needed for your appointment 

For registering or correcting foreign documents in the PRD, you will personally have to visit city hall.

Why do you have to show up in person?

• Identification: The civil servant has to determine that you are the person who to whom the documents belong to.
• Signing: You will have to sign a declaration at the meeting where you confirm which details wil be registered in the PRD.
• Bring the original documents (such as birth or marriage certificates) with you for confirmation of authenticity. They will have to meet legalisation requirements.
• Documents in the Dutch, English, German and French language don't require translation by a certified translator.