Registering a foreign marriage or partnership in the Netherlands

Did you get married or become a registered partner in another country rather than in the Netherlands? Register your marriage or partnership with the municipality where you are registered.

Call: 045-5605040 

Please note

  • The rights of partners vary from country to country.
  • A registered partnership or same-sex marriage is not possible everywhere.
  • Not all countries recognize same-sex marriages or registered partnerships from other countries.

Approach

How to register your foreign marriage or registered partnership in the Netherlands:

  • You register your marriage or registered partnership with the municipality where you are registered.
  • You will need:
    • the original document with legalization or apostille, translated by a certified translator if necessary, or
    • the original deed and a multilingual standard form
    • your valid proof of identity
    • If applicable, your declaration that you are not marrying or entering into a registered partnership in order to obtain a residence permit for yourself or your partner (Declaration of marriage registration).

Costs

For information about the costs, please visit the website of the Department of State. 

Description

Are you getting married or entering into a registered partnership in a country other than the Netherlands? Check which country's laws apply. This can be important for your rights and obligations as partners. For example, in the case of inheritance, paying taxes, or if you have children.

After your marriage or registered partnership in another country, you must register this in the Netherlands. Not every marriage is valid in the Netherlands. For example, both partners must be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration.

Requirements

The Requirements registering a foreign marriage or registered partnership in the Netherlands include:

  • If the marriage or registered partnership was entered into in a country within the European Union:
    • You have a deed and a multilingual model form.
  • If the marriage or registered partnership was concluded in a country outside the European Union:
    • The deed must be in Dutch, English, German, or French. Otherwise, you must have the document translated by a certified translator in the Netherlands.
    • The deed has been legalized or has been provided with an apostille stamp.
  • Marriage or registered partnership is not intended to help your partner or yourself obtain a residence permit. The municipality will ask you to state this in a declaration (Declaration of marriage registration) if:
    • you or your partner (or both) are not Dutch,
    • you or your partner (or both of you) do not have the nationality of a country in the European Union,
    • you or your partner (or both) do not have the nationality of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland,
    • you do not have a permanent residence permit.

More information

More information about marriage Requirements

Information about getting married abroad

Information on the legalization of foreign documents, by country

Getting married abroad, information per country

Or are you searching?