Government of Canada services and information in The Hague, Netherlands

Refer to International adoption.

Adoption in the Netherlands

• Foundation adoption services - National organization offering preparation and aftercare information
• General information about adoption in the Netherlands - Government of the Netherlands
• Bringing adopted children to the Netherlands - Dutch Immigration and Naturalization service

Surrogacy in the Netherlands

• General information about surrogacy - Government of the Netherlands

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

If your child is born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

• General information concerning children born in the Netherlands - Dutch Immigration and naturalization service
• General information on the birth of a child - Government of the Netherlands

Refer to Canadian citizenship.

Complete your citizenship application before booking an appointment to present your documents in person. Bring your online payment receipt to your appointment. If you cannot submit your application yourself, it may be submitted in person by someone else, unless it is an urgent or express request.

Pay your application fees online before you apply for citizenship services.

Proof of citizenship

• Find out if you’re eligible for a citizenship certificate
• Apply for proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate)

Giving up Canadian citizenship

• Find out what makes you eligible to give up (renounce) your citizenship
• Apply to give up (renounce) your Canadian citizenship

If submitting by mail

Be sure you meet all the requirements, have all the supporting documentation and have filled out all the required information in the application form. If any information is missing, or if the application is incomplete, you will need to come to the Embassy in person to complete the application.

Submit your application by registered mail or courier to:

Embassy of Canada
Consular Section
Sophialaan 7
2514 JP The Hague

• Check application processing times
  • Incomplete applications, missing supporting documents, or photographs that do not meet the current standards, will delay the application process and could result in your application being rejected.

• Check your application status
  • Your application status will only become available once IRCC has begun processing your application in Canada.

Document pick-up

The Consular section of the Embassy will contact you when your certificate of proof of citizenship or confirmation of renunciation arrives at the Embassy.

You may then pick up your certificate during passport and document collection hours.

Refer to Death abroad.

Refer to Marriage outside Canada and Marrying a foreign national in the Netherlands.

At least 1 of the partners being married must be a permanent resident or a citizen of the Netherlands. It is not possible for 2 non-permanent residents; non-Dutch citizens; to get married in the Netherlands. In other words, two Canadians on vacation cannot get married in the Netherlands.

A marriage in the Netherlands is only valid if it has been solemnized by the 'Ambtenaar van de burgerlijke stand' i.e. the municipal registrar. Religious ceremonies can be held, but only after the civil marriage has been concluded. The Embassy does not perform marriage ceremonies.

Once you have all the necessary documents, you must visit the town hall in your place of residence. A non-resident partner must fill out an application form that will be forwarded to the Dutch Aliens police. As soon as the Aliens police have processed the application, they will advise the town hall. The town hall will then request you to come in and give notice of the marriage. Publication of the banns must occur between 1-year and 14 days before the actual wedding date.

Necessary documents

1. Dutch permanent residents or citizens must present a Dutch birth certificate or a foreign birth certificate that has been properly legalized for use in the Netherlands, and an identification card (Dutch passport, driver's license, national identity card).
2. Non-permanent residents marrying in the Netherlands require a legalized birth certificate including full names of both parents, and either:
• If a non-resident partner has been married before, legalized official divorce papers; or,
• If a non-resident partner has not been married before, a legalized sworn statement called a "Statement in lieu of a certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad" available from the Consular Section of the Embassy.

Statement in lieu of a certificate of non-impediment

You must come to the Embassy in person during our opening hours in order to make the declaration that you are not married in front of the Consular Officer.

You must present your passport and proof of Canadian citizenship (Canadian birth certificate or Certificate of Canadian citizenship), complete the affidavit, and pay the fee.

Prior to visiting the Embassy, please email us a scanned copy of your passport and your proof of citizenship.

Once you have obtained the Statement in lieu of a certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad, it must be legalized by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs before it can be used in the Netherlands.

After the marriage

If you have questions about the validity of your foreign marriage, contact the Vital Statistics Office of your province or territory.

Important: If you wish to use your Dutch marriage certificate in Canada, please note that it must be legalized by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian Embassy in the Netherlands before it will be recognized in Canada.

Consular officials do not provide any legal advice or represent a person in court. The office provides the following notarial services, by appointment only, to Canadian citizens and, in limited cases, to non-Canadian citizens if the documents are intended for use in Canada.

Note: Documents must be in English or French, or accompanied by an official translation in English or French. A scanned version of documents to be notarized should be emailed to nl.consular@international.gc.ca prior to visiting Embassy.

Apostille/Authentication:

Since January 11, 2024, Canadian documents are authenticated with an apostille. The Embassy of Canada in The Hague will be offering authentication services (apostille) for documents issued by the Government of Canada and for documents issued or notarized in specific provinces and territories.

You may send the following documents to the Embassy of Canada in The Hague for authentication:

• Documents issued by the Government of Canada
• Vital statistics documents issued by all provinces and territories
• All documents issued or notarized in the following provinces and territories:
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• the Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon
• If your document was notarized in the provinces and territories listed above, you may send it to the Embassy of Canada to The Hague no matter where it was originally issued.
• Competent authorities in the following provinces will be responsible for authenticating all other documents issued or notarized in their respective provinces. These documents must be submitted to the competent authorities and will not be authenticated at the Embassy of Canada.

Alberta: Ministry of Justice of Alberta

British Columbia: Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia

Ontario: Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario

Quebec: Ministère de la Justice du Québec

Saskatchewan: Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan

Visit Changes to authentications services in Canada for more information on how authentication services changed since the Apostille Convention took effect in Canada on January 11, 2024, and to determine whether the Embassy of Canada in The Hague can issue an Apostille on your requested document.

The processing time for issuing an Apostille is 3 business days, and we request that you specify what document you wish to have apostilled when booking your appointment. The Apostille can only be issued on original documents.

Certified copy (certify the document is a true copy of the original):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification requiring a certified true copy (fees apply).

Witness a signature (consular officer witnesses a signature):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification requiring a witnessed signature (fees apply).

Note: Complete all documents before booking an appointment. Sign all documents in front of the consular officer.

Refer to Canadian passports and travel documents.

You can pay online for all your passport services before completing your passport application.

Book an appointment to present your documents in person. Bring your online payment receipt to your appointment.

• Report a lost or stolen passport

If submitting by mail

Be sure you meet all the requirements, have all the supporting documentation and have filled out all the required information. If any information is missing or if the application is incomplete, your application will be returned to you or you will need to come to the embassy in person to complete the application.

You may submit passport applications by courier or registered mail. Applications by mail must include:

• your completed passport application form
• photos (Canadian passport-sized)
• copies of supporting ID (signed by your guarantor)
• original supporting documentation (see details in application form)
• completed credit card authorization form

If you want your passport returned to you by mail, your application must also include:

• a letter requesting your passport be returned to you by registered mail, noting the exact mailing address

Send the complete package to:

Embassy of Canada
Consular Section
Sophialaan 7
2514 JP The Hague

• Check passport and travel document service standards
  • You should apply for a new passport at least 6 weeks before planned travel.

Document pick-up

Once your new passport has been received at our office, we will send you a message to inform you that it is ready. You may then pick it up in person or designate an eligible third party to do so on your behalf by using the form on your official receipt.

If you requested your passport to be delivered to you by registered mail, your passport will be mailed to you as soon as it arrives at the Embassy.

If you choose to have your passport delivered by mail, know that the Embassy is not responsible in cases of loss or damage.

Urgent applications

If you are in the Netherlands and require a passport quickly due to exceptional circumstances, please contact our office for more information.

Proof of citizenship

You must submit proof of Canadian citizenship with every new passport application.

No Dutch guarantor

Learn about what to do if you cannot find a guarantor.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad.

Information about same-sex marriage - Government of the Netherlands

Marrying a foreign national in the Netherlands - Government of the Netherlands

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

Refer to Travel documents – Visas.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.

If you need assistance to vote during an election, you may contact us at: hague@international.gc.ca