Apostille on documents

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

You're correct that the EU did issue a regulation called the "Administrative cooperation: circulation of public documents" which does say what you said; however, it also says at the bottom:

European Commission website wrote:

Recognition depends on national law
The Regulation deals with the authenticity of public documents but not with the recognition of the contents and effects of such documents. Each EU country will thus continue to apply its own law regarding the content and effects of public documents from another EU country.

For example, a marriage certificate will be considered authentic in another EU country, but whether or not the receiving EU country recognises the marriage depends on the national law of that country.

So, in typical EU fashion, the regulation is worthless unless the specific country decides to adopt it.

Just in case and if it helps, this link will take you to the EC website that published what you said; there is a link at the bottom where you can download a copy of the actual regulation (in the different languages of all the EU countries).

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hi Cynic,

Thank you for the reply.
Is there any way I can find if this Regulation applies in NL as well?
Normally, this info I have found it on the Dutch Gov. website, so automatically I assumed it has effect here since it was posted on the website.
https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/liv … -apostille
They actually reffer to this Regulation for exceptions

The regulation is applicable in the Netherlands; it depends if they have implemented it yet.  I've asked for your link to be unlocked, I'll come back to you when that's been done.

OK - I've just checked out your link; it doesn't help, although it refers to the regulation for other countries it doesn't tell us that Holland use it; short of speaking to a lawyer, I don't know what to advise, only that we have a Services section (top of the page) that has a Legal Services section, select that and you get another page; a shortcut link will take you straight there.