General Information 
  
Legal and Notary Services at the Netherlands Embassy in Cairo are only available to:

• Dutch citizens
• Couples of which one of the spouses/partners is a Dutch citizen.

Act of Name 
(Akte van naamskeuze)

According to Dutch law a family name is not automatically generated by a certificate of birth but by descent. However the proof of the family name is confirmed by a birth certificate. Due to a discrepancy between Egyptian and Dutch family law with regards to names, the Embassy will determine the family name of a new born according to the legalized Egyptian birth certificate.

Should you not agree with the family name determined as per the Egyptian birth certificate, there might be a possibility for a change of family name.

What is needed for a Act of Name:

• Birth Certificate (legalized by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Embassy and translated)
• Dutch passport of either one of the parents
• Marriage Certificate (legalized and translated)
• A written statement made by both parents which determines the family name of the child
• Both parents need to present in person at the Embassy

For more detailed information, please contact the Embassy 
 
Act of Recognition
(Akte van Erkenning)

An Act of Recognition is a legal act. This act can be made by a man of Dutch Nationality on the occasion of taking responsibility for the parental rights of a child that he considers to be his own.

This act of recognition is applicable if a child is born out of wedlock.

As from the 1st of April 2003, the act of recognition does not automatically ensure the determination of Dutch Nationality of the child.

What to bring to obtain an Act of Recognition:

• Written declaration of recognition with approval (signed by) of the mother of the child to proceed with the act of Recognition
• Legalized and translated birth certificate
• Copy of passport of Dutch "father"

For further information, please contact the Embassy 

Name Change

Only in exceptional cases the first name or last name of a Dutch citizen can be changed. Since 1998 - after introducing a new law - parents of Dutch children that are born from 1998 onwards can choose which last name they would like for their children:

surname of the father, or
surname of the mother

Some restrictions apply, e.g. for consistency the surname of all children born from the same parents has to be the same.

Please check  www.justitie.nl, which gives detailed (Dutch) information on name changes.