Documents to prepare before moving to the Netherlands

Your document list depends on what you need it for. Your gemeente (municipality) lists what it needs for registration in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen, Personal Records Database). Local instructions differ. Check your gemeente’s appointment page. The IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) (External site, opens in a new tab) application form lists the evidence for your residence route. A school, employer or professional regulator decides what it needs from your diploma.

Use the row that matches your purpose. Prepare all documents on that organisation’s checklist, rather than every document in this table. Check the list before ordering, legalising or translating anything.

Order only the records your residence route or gemeente names. These may include a birth, marriage, registered-partnership, divorce, adoption or death record, or a declaration of unmarried status. Ask whether the receiver wants an original record, an official extract or an official certified copy. An ordinary photocopy does not meet a request for an official copy.

IND normally accepts records of fixed facts, such as birth or marriage, regardless of when they were issued. A declaration of unmarried status must be no more than 6 months old. For example, a declaration issued on 10 April 2026 is too old on 11 October 2026. If you submit it to IND then, arrange a newer declaration. Your gemeente can set its own submission instructions.

Amsterdam’s foreign-document instructions (External site, opens in a new tab) require originals when you submit foreign civil-status records. The Hague’s first-registration page (External site, opens in a new tab) says to bring the civil-status records you have. If you do not yet have them, you can register and submit them at a later appointment. That page is for nationals from outside the EU (European Union), EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland. You need proof of lawful residence and must plan to live in The Hague for at least 4 months. You must also have no previous Dutch registration and no BSN (burgerservicenummer, citizen service number).

IDW requires clear colour scans of the entire document, with all information readable. Send originals, certified copies or legalised documents only if IDW requests them. Follow your own receiver’s current page.

The legalisation route depends on the issuing country or territory and the document type. Use the NetherlandsWorldwide country page to choose the applicable row below. A country’s membership of the apostille system alone does not settle the answer.

An apostille is a stamp, sticker or separate certificate that authenticates the signature and official issuer. Full legalisation uses more than one authority. Legalisation checks the official signature, seal or stamp; the receiver can still check the facts in the document. Translation is a separate step.

Check the issuing country’s official route rather than a country list from a blog. For example, the Netherlands does not recognise apostilles from Bangladesh or Pakistan. If you have Dutch nationality, the Consulair Dienstencentrum (CDC, Consular Service Centre) (External site, opens in a new tab) may be able to help for a listed country. Check that option before paying a private agency.

For an IND application, documents in Dutch, English, French or German need no translation. Documents in other languages must be translated into one of these four. In the Netherlands, use a beëdigd vertaler (sworn translator) who has been sworn in by a Dutch court.

You can also have the translation made abroad. Usually, both the document and translation then need legalisation. Follow the issuing country’s rules for the translator and the order of these steps. An apostille on the original covers that document; check separately what the translation needs. Keep the original-language record with its translation for submission.

For example, NetherlandsWorldwide’s India instructions (External site, opens in a new tab) say a Hindi document translated in India needs a sworn translation and apostilles on both documents. If you translate it in the Netherlands, first get the original apostilled in India. Then have a sworn translator in the Netherlands translate it; that translation needs no legalisation.

A diplomawaardering (credential evaluation) compares a foreign qualification with a Dutch education level. It is advice, not a legally binding decision. The school still decides whether to admit you, and a regulated profession has its own recognition procedure. Legalisation is a separate check.

Choose the row that matches your plan before ordering an evaluation. An IDW evaluation is often optional.

Gather the education documents on IDW’s required-document list (External site, opens in a new tab): your diploma and complete grade list or diploma supplement. Upload proof of a name change if your identity document and diploma show different names. Make clear colour scans of every page. IDW evaluates one diploma per application and can request extra evidence for your country or earlier studies.

For an IDW work or study application, upload proof of identity valid for at least another 3 months. For a free integration evaluation, upload both sides of your residence permit, valid for at least another 3 months, and the required integration letter. For a free naturalisation or permanent-residence evaluation, upload an official document showing your BSN.

For IDW, documents in Dutch, English, German, French or Afrikaans need no certified translation. For other languages, provide a sworn translation unless your institution supplied an English version. Upload that English version together with the original-language document. If you apply for a free evaluation through the integration, naturalisation or permanent-residence route, you need no certified translation.

Free evaluations have eligibility conditions. If you already have an inburgeringsdiploma (civic integration diploma), IDW says you must use a paid route. An evaluation of your foreign diploma and an exemption from integration exams are separate decisions. For the exam decision, check the inburgering exemption guide.

If you need an IDW evaluation, apply online. IDW reports about 6 working weeks for the initial check, then about 8 working weeks for evaluation once your documents are sufficient. Missing or unclear uploads can add another wait of about 6 working weeks for the initial check. IDW can also request more information during evaluation.

Your refugee situation may make it unsafe to request missing education documents. With current or former refugee status, you can still apply in that situation. Explain the situation and submit what you have. IDW assesses whether it can evaluate your diploma. With no documents, IDW may provide an Indicatie Onderwijsniveau (estimate of education level) from the information you give. This estimate differs from a credential evaluation because it uses no education documents.

Use the RDW checker to see whether you can exchange your licence. An EU or EFTA (European Free Trade Association) licence can be exchanged if you meet all RDW conditions. Expired EU or EFTA licences can also be exchanged if you meet the RDW conditions. Your allowed driving period depends on the issue date, categories and validity.

A valid licence from outside the EU or EFTA can normally be used for the first 185 days after you move. After that, you need a Dutch licence to drive, even if your exchange application is still pending. Ukrainian licences have a separate rule for people covered by the Richtlijn Tijdelijke Bescherming (Temporary Protection Directive). Check the RDW foreign-licence driving rules (External site, opens in a new tab) for your situation.

Exchange is limited to the countries, territories and exceptions listed by RDW. These include qualifying cases under the expatregeling (expat tax scheme). If exchange is unavailable, you need theory and practical tests at CBR (Dutch driving-test authority) (External site, opens in a new tab). Apply for an exchange through your gemeente after BRP registration. The foreign driving-licence exchange guide explains the routes and steps.

For an exchange application, RDW requires a translation if your licence uses characters not used in the Netherlands, such as Japanese or Greek. Use a sworn translator, embassy or consulate. For a licence issued outside the EU or EFTA, RDW advises an international driving permit if its categories use different labels from A, B, C, D or E. Obtain that permit in the issuing country before departure.

Use these checks for all required documents. The diploma check applies only if you need to submit education evidence.

• Keep each original or official copy with its apostille or legalisation pages and sworn translation, if required.
• Make clear colour scans of every page, stamp, sticker and translation. Keep the original too when the receiver requires it.
• Carry the exact IND, gemeente, school or employer checklist you used, including its version or the date you checked it.
• Bring any required diploma, complete grade lists and documents connecting different names on your passport and certificates.
• Check expiry dates on your passport and driving licence. Check the issue-date rule for any time-sensitive declaration.
• Keep irreplaceable documents secure and accessible during travel. Use tracked post if you need to send them.

If a document is missing or unusable, contact the organisation that needs it. These actions help you check what it can accept before paying for a replacement.

Book the gemeente appointment for your situation and bring everything on its list. If your move needs an MVV or residence permit, use the evidence list for your route. The family-reunification guide and residence-permits overview help you choose it.

For the order of registration, BSN, DigiD (digital government login) (External site, opens in a new tab) and insurance, continue with these guides:

• First 90 days in the Netherlands: arrival checklist
• BSN and gemeente registration