Legalising Malaysian Documents for the Netherlands

Oct 18

Short answer: the Netherlands uses apostilles, but Malaysia is not in the Apostille Convention, so Malaysian documents need legalisation: first by Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs), then by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kuala Lumpur, by online appointment. Documents in English need no translation. Documents in Malay must be translated into Dutch, English, French or German, and the translation is legalised together with the original.

We handle the Malaysian side for the Netherlands: certified translations of Malay documents that Wisma Putra accepts, notarisation where needed and Wisma Putra attestation, and we prepare the complete set for your Dutch Embassy appointment. Send your document on WhatsApp for a quote.

Last reviewed: October 2026. For translation rules, see certified translation of Malaysian documents for the Netherlands.

Step by step

Get the original document. Dutch authorities want the original, complete with any annexes it refers to. Birth and death certificates come from JPN. For marital status, marriage and divorce, non-Muslims go to JPN; Muslims go to the religious office (unmarried status) or the Syariah court (marriage and divorce). Copies and private documents are notarised first; see notarisation. Degrees are endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education; see degree and transcript attestation.
Translate it if any part is in Malay. English documents need no translation. Malaysian birth and marriage certificates are bilingual, but the entries and stamps are often in Malay, so check every line. The translation goes into Dutch, English, French or German and is legalised together with the original; see certified translation for the Netherlands.
Attest the document and the translation at Wisma Putra. Wisma Putra charges RM 20 for civil-status and notarised documents and RM 10 for certified translations, true copies and school certificates; see the legalisation fees tracker.
Legalise at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kuala Lumpur. Legalisation is by online appointment, costs EUR 26.25 per document in 2026 (paid by Visa or Mastercard), and takes 1 working day. You collect from Monday to Thursday between 8.30 and 11 am without an appointment, or have the documents sent by post.
Hand the documents to the Dutch office that asked for them: the IND, the municipality, a university or employer, or the Chamber of Commerce (KVK).

Embassy of the Netherlands, Kuala Lumpur

Address: Unit 1-12, Level 12, Naza Tower, No. 10 Persiaran KLCC, Platinum Park, 50088 Kuala Lumpur. Phone +603 2168 6200.
Appointments: required for legalisation and booked online through Netherlands Worldwide.
Fee: EUR 26.25 per legalisation (2026), paid in euros by Visa or Mastercard.
Closed: on Dutch and Malaysian holidays, including 9 November (Deepavali) and 25 December 2026.

Which Dutch offices ask for this

IND (residence permits): for highly skilled migrants, partners, family members and students. For most documents the IND does not check the issue date, but it accepts a single status declaration only if it is no older than 6 months. Highly skilled migrants bringing family need a marriage certificate, and unmarried partners an authenticated single status declaration.
Municipality (BRP registration): anyone staying more than 4 months registers within 5 days of arrival and brings original, legalised birth, marriage and divorce certificates. Registration is free. Some municipalities ask for a Dutch translation if in doubt.
Marriage or registered partnership: the documents depend on the municipality, usually including a legalised proof of unmarried status; give notice 12 weeks to a year before the ceremony. See marriage and divorce certificate translation.
Diploma evaluation (IDW): colour scans are uploaded online; documents not in Dutch, English, German, French or Afrikaans need a certified translation, which may be made in the Netherlands or abroad.
Chamber of Commerce (KVK): foreign registration extracts and civil-status documents must be no older than 1 month, legalised, and in Dutch, English, French or German; see using Malaysian company documents abroad.

What gets documents refused

A copy or an incomplete document instead of the original with its annexes.
A translation that was not legalised together with the original at Wisma Putra and the Dutch Embassy.
A translation into a language other than Dutch, English, French or German.
A single status declaration older than 6 months for the IND, or a KVK extract older than 1 month.
A document from the wrong issuing office, such as a JPN letter where a Muslim applicant needs the religious office or Syariah court.
Turning up at the embassy without an online appointment.

Legalisation confirms the signature on the document, not its content, so the IND or the municipality can still check a document themselves.

Dutch documents for use in Malaysia

A Dutch apostille is not recognised in Malaysia. Dutch documents are first legalised where required (a district court, the KVK, or DUO for diplomas at EUR 6 each), then by the Consular Service Centre (CDC) in The Hague at EUR 10 per document without an appointment, and then by the Embassy of Malaysia in The Hague at EUR 15 per document, by appointment. Malaysian offices need Dutch documents translated into English or Malay by a translator Wisma Putra accepts, which we provide; see who can certify a translation in Malaysia.

Informatie in het Nederlands

Maleisië is geen partij bij het Apostilleverdrag. Maleisische documenten voor gebruik in Nederland moeten daarom worden gelegaliseerd: eerst door het Maleisische ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (Wisma Putra) en daarna door de Nederlandse ambassade in Kuala Lumpur. Voor het legaliseren van documenten is een afspraak nodig. Is uw document in het Maleis? Laat het dan vertalen naar het Nederlands, Engels, Frans of Duits, en laat zowel het document als de vertaling legaliseren. Stuur ons een bericht via WhatsApp (+60 17-227 9378).

Common questions

Can I get an apostille for the Netherlands in Malaysia?

No. Malaysia does not issue apostilles, so Malaysian documents are legalised by Wisma Putra and then the Dutch Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. See apostille in Malaysia.

Does my English document need a translation?

No. Documents in English, Dutch, French or German need no translation. If any part is in Malay, it needs one.

Can a translation made in Malaysia be used in the Netherlands?

Yes. Netherlands Worldwide describes exactly this route for Malaysia: translate first, then have the document and the translation legalised by Wisma Putra and the Dutch Embassy.

How much are the official fees?

Wisma Putra charges RM 10 to RM 20 per document, and the Dutch Embassy EUR 26.25 per legalisation in 2026. Translation and courier are separate.

How long does it take?

Wisma Putra is the same or the next working day, and the Dutch Embassy 1 working day after your appointment.

How recent must my documents be?

Birth and marriage certificates remain valid once legalised. The IND accepts a single status declaration only if it is no older than 6 months, and the KVK wants extracts no older than 1 month.

Related guides

Sources:

Zhihan Chew