Moving abroad: prepare your documents for translation
Moving from the Netherlands to another country? Start with the receiving authority’s document list, then…
Start with the receiving authority’s checklist
If you are moving from the Netherlands to another country, ask the authority handling your application or registration which documents it needs. Your employer, university or professional regulator may have separate requirements. Record who needs each document, the accepted language and the deadline.
Use the instructions for your own situation rather than a general list of documents for every move. Ask whether a recent extract, a particular form of certification, an original document or a paper translation is required before placing an order.
Identify the document translations you need
Depending on the application, the requested documents may include a birth or marriage certificate, diploma, employment document or passport. Our document translation services help you find the relevant service.
For the individual documents, see birth certificate translation, marriage certificate translation and diploma and transcript translation. Only order the documents and pages required for your application.
Check translation and legalisation separately
For Dutch documents used abroad, NetherlandsWorldwide lets you check legalisation information by document type and destination. Translation and legalisation are separate steps. Confirm whether the receiving authority needs either or both and which requirements apply to the translation.
Our legalisation service information explains the service for Dutch documents and sworn translations prepared in the Netherlands. For the terminology, see our explanation of apostilles and legalisation. Documents issued elsewhere can follow a different route.
Plan before you leave the Netherlands
Keep the recipient’s instructions with your translation request. Agree which pages are needed and provide legible copies. Include any appointment date and the address where paper documents must arrive, if applicable. Leave time for document issuance, authentication and delivery as well as the translation itself.
The NetherlandsWorldwide moving-abroad checklist covers other arrangements with Dutch authorities. Use it alongside the requirements from your destination; this article focuses on preparing the document translations.
Request a quote for your document set
Request your no-obligation quote with the required documents, source and target languages, destination, recipient’s instructions and deadline. Urgent Vertalen will confirm the translation scope, price and delivery time before you order.
Check the official guidance on Dutch documents for use abroad for your document type and destination. If you are moving in the opposite direction, read our separate guide to translations for immigration to the Netherlands.
If your destination is mainland China, see our guide to Dutch documents for use in China for the apostille and translation checks to make before ordering.
