Legalisation Requirements

Important information

• Legalisation applications must be submitted either in person at the legalisation section of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra, or by correspondence. A by the applicant authorised person may submit the application.
• Please submit original documents, completed application forms (available at the Embassy) and other information together with one full set of photocopies in the same order as the originals. The legalisation section can only accept applications if the documents/application forms are complete.
• The fee for legalisation of a document is fixed at EURO 248.75 and payable in Ghanaian Cedis (to the administrative rate of exchange of the Royal Netherlands Embassy – the fee is therefore subject to change, without prior notice). The applicable fee in Cedis can be found in the waiting area of the consular section and at the legalisation counters. Applications that are submitted through correspondence will be provided with details for payment by bank. Please note that the legalisation section can only accept applications when full payment has been received.

General requirements
Please note that applications, which do not meet all requirements, will not be accepted at the counter.

• Two recent passport-size photographs of the applicant(s). If legalisation is requested, for several persons, a set of 2 passport-size photographs should be submitted for each individual.
• A signed identity card, (Photo ID) of the submitter and declarant e.g. passport or a drivers licence.
• The full mailing and residential addresses of the submitter and the house address of other relatives of the applicant(s).
• Names, full address, and year of admission/completion of all schools attended by applicant(s).
• Clear directions (i.e. street maps) to all local residential addresses and institutions mentioned in the application forms.
• A copy of the passport of the applicant(s).
• Complete mailing address of the interested party in the Netherlands.
• One full set of photocopies of all original documents, application forms and any other information provided.
• Authority address of an authority or organisation requiring you to legalise the document(s) e.g. Foreign Police, Dutch Immigration, visa section of this Embassy, Institution in the Netherlands, etc.
• Clear and detailed directions i.e. street maps to local residential addresses mentioned in application forms. If popular landmarks are used (e.g.. “big yellow house”), the legalisation section should be notified with regards to any changes in these landmarks. It is the responsibility of the applicant to give detailed and easy to locate directions without asking a passer-by for directions.

Specific requirements, in addition to above mentioned requirements

FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATE

 

• A certified true copy of 1st registration of birth. N.B. This should be a recent extract from official records, not older than one year. According to Ghanaian law, double registration of birth is not legally valid. This consular section will therefore not accept a Birth Certificate if it is a double registration.
• If available, as supporting document, a weighing card and/or baptismal certificate.

FOR STATUTORY DECLARATION

 

• A Statutory Declaration not older than six months, with a covering letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana.
• If both parents of the applicant are deceased an elder relative in the 1st or 2nd degree (brother, grandparent, uncle, aunt, sister, etc.) can swear the Spinster or Bachelor Declaration.
• A photo ID from the declarant will be required if he/she is unable to submit a Statutory Declaration personally.

N.B. A Statutory Declaration can only be legalised when applicant had got a verified and legalised Birth Certificate.

FOR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE:

A) A ORDINARY MARRIAGE

 

• Marriage certificate signed by couple and four witnesses; or a certified true copy of the certificate
• If one partner has the Dutch nationality or residence permit, this partner has to obtain an extract from the City Council on his/her marital status
• Photocopies of passports proving that both partners were in Ghana on the date of marriage.

N.B. A Marriage certificate can only be legalised when both partners (if born in Ghana) have got verified and legalised Birth Certificates.

)B A CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE (ONLY VALID FOR GHANAIANS)

 

• Legalised and verified Birth Certificates of both partners (if born in Ghana)
• If one of the partners is or used to be Ghanaian and now lives in the Netherlands with a residence permit, this partner has to obtain a declaration from the City Council on his/her marital status
• A statutory Declaration representing both families, stating that they agree with the customary marriage
• Marriage certificate signed by the couple and two witnesses.

N.B. A Marriage certificate can only be legalised when both partners (if born in Ghana) have got verified and legalised Birth Certificates.

FOR DIVORCE CERTIFICATE (OR ORDINANCE MARRIAGE):

 

• Court Order of Divorce.
• Verified and Legalised Birth Certificate of applicant.
• Information on ex-spouse or his/her family.

fOR DISSOLUTION CERTIFICATE (OR CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE):

 

• Dissolution Certificate signed by both parties.
• Verified and legalised Birth Certificate of applicant.
• Sworn affidavit representing both families that couple is divorced.
• Information on ex-spouse or his/her family.

Disclaimer: this information might not be up-to-date. For more information visit the official website http://ghana.nlembassy.org/