Spurs had been sweating on clearance to bring the Holland midfielder to White Hart Lane after technical difficulties hampered their efforts to submit the relevant paperwork for the signing before Tuesday's 6pm transfer deadline.
However, after investigating the club's claims that there were difficulties involving computer servers used in the transaction between themselves and Real, the Premier League ratified the move.
That allowed Tottenham to announce the 27-year-old's signing less than two hours before top-flight clubs had to submit their 25-man squads for the first half of the league season.
Van der Vaart, deemed surplus to requirements at Real, told De Telegraaf: "Four years at Spurs, for 11million euros, I can hardly believe it myself.
"The interest from Tottenham came very quick and I did not have much time to think. But I want to play football again and if possible every week, with a beautiful club.
" I'm totally happy. I am excited about playing in England. Whether it suits my style remains to be seen, but I think a good footballer can adapt and I am very proud of this transfer."
Source: PA
Source: PA