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Legalizing your diploma

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It may be necessary to prove the legal status of your diploma. For example for use in your home country, immigration or if you would like to continue your studies outside the Netherlands, you will have to be able to provide a legalised educational document (your diploma or certificate). The legalization can only be done in the country you achieved your diploma or certificate. For legalization of an educational diploma or certificate obtained in The Netherlands, you need to go to the Education Executive Agency (DUO) of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in Groningen.  
 
First, check and read the following links carefully:

How does it work?

If you only need to go to DUO and the Court House in Groningen it can all be done in one day. If you are also required to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Den Haag you will need a second day.

Always take your original documents, passport and residence permit.

Groningen
1st stop is DUO, Kempkensberg 12, 9722 TB Groningen, opening hours from 10.00 – 16.00.
Directions from the station:
Station out turn right, walk 300 meters and turn right into the Hereweg. Walk approx.. 800 meters passing under a viaduct and turn left into the Kempkensberg. Walk for about 200 meters past a wooded area and the ‘DUO building will be on the right-hand side. Administration costs of legalization are 6 euro.

Apostille Stamp after Legalisation issued by the Court House
If the country where you are going (or returning to) is on the list of apostille countries, you will have to take your diploma to the Court House (Rechtbank) in Groningen for authentication with an Apostille stamp after it has been legalised by DUO.

Rechtbank (Court) Guyotplein 1, 9712NX Groningen opening hours Monday to Friday from 10.00 – 16.00.

Directions from the DUO office: walk back to the train station. At Stationplein (where the buses are) go towards the left walking approximately 100 metres to the Groninger Museum, turn right at the museum and over the footbridge. Continue straight on for a km along the Ubbo Emmiusstraat, Folkingstraat, Stoeldraaierstraat, Oude Kije in ’t Jatstraat till you reach the water. Cross the bridge over the water and turn right onto Lopendediep. Walk a further 50 meter and you are on the Guyotplein with the Rechtbank on the far side.

Authentication with an Apostille stamp of the Court House is Euro 20 per document.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
If you are going to a country that is not on the list of apostille countries, in addition to Legalisation by the DUO you need also, to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken) to finalise the legalisation of your educational document.

Address:  Bezuidenhoutseweg 67, 2594 AC The Hague hours Monday to Friday from 09.00 – 12.30.