FAQ
1. What’s the difference between apostille and legalization? An apostille is a standardized certificate under the Hague Convention that validates public documents (e.g., birth certificates, diplomas) for use in member countries. For countries not part of the Hague Convention, documents undergo a full legalization process—local verification + Ministry of Foreign Affairs + embassy/consulate.
2. How long does the apostille process take? The apostille process takes 1 day, but depending on what other operations need to be done it can be extended by another day. This situation is only in case the document is prepared to be apostilled and doesn't need to be requested from various governmental organizations.
3. How much does it cost? The legalisation fee starts from 26 euros and 52 exVAT service fee. The total including VAT is 89 euros. This price also includes pick-up service and handling fees.
4. Do I need a translation? If the document is not in the official language of the destination country, you’ll need a certified translation.
5. What if my apostille is rejected? Rejections can occur due to errors - incorrect notarization, signature mismatches, or incomplete documentation. You must correct the error and resubmit.
6. Does an apostille expire? No - the apostille itself does not expire. However, if the underlying document has validity constraints, that can impact its acceptance.
7. Can I apostille a scanned or photocopied document? Unfortunately no. The only way is if you send us the document digitally. For comercial documents it is possible to work with an PDF document and get it legalised by KVK.
8. Where can I track the status of my apostille/ legalisation application? We are informing you of the process along the way. Also, after payment you receive an email alongside an tracking code for DHL.
9. Can I legalise documents from another country through the Netherlands? No. Legalisation must be done in the country where the document was issued.
Do you have any other questions not answered here?
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