Certified Translation of Malaysian Documents for the Netherlands

Apr 1

Short answer: Dutch authorities accept documents in Dutch, English, French or German. Malaysian documents in English need no translation. Documents in Malay must be translated into one of those four languages, and there are two routes: translate in Malaysia and have the document and the translation legalised together by Wisma Putra and the Dutch Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, or legalise the original first and have it translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands.

What we do: certified translations of Malay documents into English (or Dutch, German or French) by translators Wisma Putra accepts, then the Wisma Putra attestation, and we prepare the set for your Dutch Embassy appointment. Our team is certified by ITBM, DBP and the Malaysian Translators Association and includes Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak High Court interpreters. Send your document on WhatsApp and tell us which Dutch office asked for it.

Last reviewed: October 2026. For the legalisation chain, see legalising Malaysian documents for the Netherlands.

Which language

English is usually the most practical: the IND, municipalities, IDW and the KVK all accept it, and it is accepted in Malaysia too.
Dutch if the municipality asks for it. Some municipalities, such as The Hague, may ask for a Dutch translation if in doubt.
German or French are also accepted by the IND and municipalities.

Who may translate

Translated in Malaysia: Netherlands Worldwide asks for a sworn translation, legalised together with the original by Wisma Putra and then the Dutch Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Wisma Putra accepts translations by Malaysian court translators, ITBM, the Malaysian Translators Association and DBP, which is how our translations are made. Documents for the IND can be translated abroad; usually both the document and the translation are legalised.
Translated in the Netherlands: the translator must be sworn in by a Dutch court and listed in the Register of sworn interpreters and translators (Rbtv). In this route the original is legalised in Malaysia first, and the Dutch translation needs no further legalisation.

Translate before or after legalisation?

If the translation is made in Malaysia, translate first: Wisma Putra and the Dutch Embassy then legalise the document and the translation in one go. If a Dutch sworn translator will translate it in the Netherlands, legalise the original first. Either way, the original must carry the Wisma Putra and Dutch Embassy stickers.

Which offices need what

IND: documents in Dutch, English, French or German; translations made abroad are legalised with the document. A single status declaration must be no older than 6 months.
Municipality (BRP): bring the original legalised certificates in person. Under national guidance, documents in other languages are translated into Dutch by a sworn translator in the Netherlands, or the translation made abroad is legalised.
IDW (diploma evaluation): colour scans uploaded online; a translation is needed only if the documents are not in Dutch, English, German, French or Afrikaans, and it may be made in the Netherlands or abroad. Do not upload apostilles. See degree and transcript attestation.
KVK (Chamber of Commerce): documents in Dutch, English, French or German; the translation does not have to come from a sworn translator.

Dutch documents for use in Malaysia

Malaysian offices need Dutch documents in English or Malay. If a Dutch sworn translator translates them in the Netherlands, a district court legalises the translator's signature before the Consular Service Centre (CDC) and the Embassy of Malaysia in The Hague. Alternatively, we translate the legalised Dutch document into English or Malay in Malaysia, by translators Wisma Putra accepts.

Our certified translations are covered by our guarantees: if an authority rejects a certified translation we prepared within 30 days of delivery, we re-do it free. Every document you send us, including for a quotation, is covered by our pre-signed client NDA.

Common questions

Does the IND accept translations made in Malaysia?

Yes. You can have documents for the IND translated abroad; usually the document and the translation are legalised. For Malaysia that means Wisma Putra and the Dutch Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Must my translator be in the Dutch Rbtv register?

Only if the translation is made in the Netherlands. A translation made in Malaysia is accepted when it is legalised with the original.

Do English documents need a translation?

No. Malaysian documents in English need no translation for Dutch authorities. Check bilingual certificates line by line: entries and stamps in Malay do need translating.

Do I need to send the originals?

Municipalities want the originals in person. The IND's online applications and IDW use uploaded scans, but keep the originals with their legalisation stickers.

Related guides

Sources:

Zhihan Chew