Question 1

Who may make a sworn translation?

Accepted Answer

Only translators who are in the register and sworn in may make certified translations. A certified translation is needed for official documents such as diplomas, passports, a medical certificate and civil-status documents. You can find sworn translators in the Register of Sworn Interpreters and Translators (Rbtv).

Question 2

Which languages need no translation?

Accepted Answer

Documents in Dutch, English, German, French or Afrikaans do not need to be translated. If your documents are in another language, you also upload a sworn translation — made by a sworn translator in the Netherlands or in another country. Did your educational institution also give you an English version of the documents? Then you do not need to provide a sworn translation.

Question 3

Which documents do you submit?

Accepted Answer

A colour copy of the diploma to be evaluated. A colour copy of the corresponding transcripts or the full diploma supplement. A colour copy of your passport, residence permit or identity card.

Question 4

Apostille: where you have it translated changes what must be legalised

Accepted Answer

The main rule first: „Komt het document uit een EU-land? Dan heeft u vaak geen apostille nodig en ook geen andere vorm van legalisatie.” (Is the document from an EU country? Then you often need no apostille or any other legalisation.) For documents from outside the EU it depends on the country and the type of document. Note one category that never qualifies: „Handelsdocumenten en documenten van de douane of een ambassade krijgen nooit een apostille.” (Commercial documents and documents from customs or an embassy never get an apostille.) Ukrainian documents do need legalisation, in two steps: first translation, then legalisation with an apostille by the Ukrainian authorities. This is the choice that saves money. If you have it translated in Ukraine, you must „zowel het document als de vertaling legaliseren met een apostille” (legalise both the document and the translation with an apostille) — i.e. twice. If you have it translated in the Netherlands, one apostille is enough: you have „het originele document in Oekraïne legaliseren met een apostille” (the original document legalised with an apostille in Ukraine), and then a sworn translator here translates it. It is stated explicitly: „U hoeft de vertaling niet te laten legaliseren.” (You do not need to have the translation legalised.) Documents issued by a Ukrainian embassy or consulate need no legalisation at all; if the text is in Ukrainian, you only have it translated into Dutch, English, French or German. For the diploma evaluation itself you upload colour scans, and IDW states explicitly: „Upload geen apostillestempels of vertalingen van apostillestempels.” (Do not upload apostille stamps or translations of apostille stamps.)

Question 5

Who evaluates and what does it cost?

Accepted Answer

The government has designated Nuffic and SBB to carry out diploma evaluations; IDW is the desk for applications. An application for diploma evaluation costs €148.83. Provided your application is complete, you usually receive your diploma evaluation after at least 10 working weeks.

Sworn translation for evaluating your foreign diploma in the Netherlands

Key facts

Who may make a sworn translation?

Which languages need no translation?

Which documents do you submit?

Apostille: where you have it translated changes what must be legalised

Who evaluates and what does it cost?

Request to sworn translators

Are you a sworn translator?

Sources