Getting an Apostille in Spain
There are different legalisation procedures in Spain, depending on the country for which you are using the documents.
Use in other EU States
Spain has an agreement with the other member states of the European Union that exempts most multilingual documents issued in any one member state from legalisation. This means, for example, that if you need your birth certificate (certificado de nacimiento) or marriage certificate (certificado de matrimonio) in Germany or Italy, you don’t need to legalise it. The original certificate is good enough.
This exemption comes from EU Regulation 2016/1191. It covers specific document types, such as birth, marriage, and criminal record certificates issued with a multilingual standard form.
As of 1st January 2021, the U.K. left the EU following Brexit. However, it remains a signatory to the Hague Convention, so UK-bound documents need an apostille.
Use outside of the EU
Spain is one of many countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention on the Mutual Recognition of Documents. A simplified legalisation procedure is in place between any two countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention. This involves the use of an apostille (in Spanish, apostilla de la Haya).
As of 30 June 2026, 130 countries are party to the Convention, according to the official HCCH status table. Membership changes as new countries accede, so it's worth checking the current list for your specific destination. This article focuses on how to get an apostille in Spain for use in another non-EU country.
Use in a non-Hague country
For any non E.U country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, a separate legalisation procedure may be necessary. This depends on the requirements of the foreign country.
In this case, the document goes through legalisation by diplomatic channels. For Spanish documents, this means legalisation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), followed by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in Spain. The foreign authority adds a legalisation signature and security label.
Foreign documents for use in Spain
If your document was issued outside Spain, you must get an apostille in the issuing country. Only the authorities of that country can issue it. Once apostilled, the document can be presented directly to Spanish authorities. No extra step at a Spanish consulate is needed.
If the issuing country is not a Hague member, the document must be legalised through diplomatic channels instead. This is done at the Spanish embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over that country.
Request the apostille or legalisation before travelling to Spain. Obtaining it afterwards usually means sending the document back to the issuing country.
Note that documents issued by embassies and consulates cannot be apostilled. These must be legalised by the local authorities instead.
What is an Apostille?
An apostille issued in Spain is a simplified legalisation that attests to the authenticity of a document's signature or seal, not its content. If the destination country uses another language, the document will also need a sworn translation.
When do you need an Apostille?
An apostille is required whenever a government agency or employer must examine a foreign official or legal document. It is important that the document can be easily verified, so most governments and official bodies now require an apostille for each official or legal document requested and issued in a foreign country.
Each apostille can be verified with the authority that issued it. Spain also issues electronic apostilles, which can be checked online through the Ministry of Justice. This is why foreign authorities accept apostilled documents without further checks. In Spain, an apostille may take the form of a certificate, a seal, or a stamp affixed to the original document.
How to get an apostille in Spain
To get an apostille in Spain, you must authenticate public documents you want to use abroad through the Ministry of Justice, Notarial Associations, or High Courts of Justice.
Step 1: Identify your document type
Confirm whether your document is a civil registry document, such as birth, marriage, death, a judicial document, a notarial document, or an academic/commercial document. The issuing authority for the apostille depends on the document type.
Step 2: Notarise if required
Personal statements, private letters, and some translated documents must be certified by a Notary (notario) before they can be apostilled. Government-issued certificates, such as birth and marriage certificates, do not require prior notarisation. For example, if you plan to marry in Spain, documents such as a single status declaration must be notarised before they can be apostilled. The same applies to sworn translations being apostilled with the original; the translator's signature must first be authenticated by a notary.
Step 3: Choose your application method
Spain offers in-person, by post, or online via the Ministry of Justice electronic office (sede electrónica) option for document apostille. To apply online, you need a Spanish digital certificate or Cl@ve credentials. If you do not have one, apply in person or by post, or authorise a representative to apply for you. In-person applications are often completed the same day if the documents are in order. Online applications take a few days to a week. Postal applications can take several weeks.
Step 4: Submit to the correct authority
Depending on your documents, you can obtain an apostille at the Ministry of Justice, the Tribunal Superior de Justicia (TSJ), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC), or the Colegios Notariales.
Ministry of Justice for civil registry and judicial documents
Tribunal Superior de Justicia (TSJ) for some regional documents
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) for consular and commercial documents
Colegios Notariales for notarial documents.
Academic documents, such as degrees and transcripts, first need signature recognition through the education authorities before they can be apostilled.
Commercial documents, such as certificates of origin and commercial invoices, may go through the Chamber of Commerce or MAEC, depending on the document.
Within these offices, the exact desk depends on the document type:
Public administrative and judicial documents: the Central Citizen Service Office of the Ministry of Justice, the Government Secretariats of the Superior Courts of Justice (including Ceuta and Melilla), or the Territorial Management of the Ministry of Justice and Delegated Offices of Ceuta and Melilla.
Judicial documents issued by the National Court or Supreme Court: the Secretaries of Government of the respective courts.
Notarial documents and private documents authenticated before a notary: the notarial association, or a notary delegated to issue apostilles.
A full list of agencies is provided (in Spanish) by this Spanish government website.
Step 5: The Apostille is issued free of charge
Unlike many countries, Spain does not charge a government fee for apostilles. Costs arise only for sworn translations, notarial copies, or courier services. Some sources quote small per-document fees. These usually refer to notarial college charges or private agency service fees, not a government fee.
Step 6: Translate if required
Apostille first, then translate. Most authorities want the apostille certificate itself translated along with the document. Doing it in this order means one translation covers everything. If the destination country requires a language other than Spanish, translate the apostilled document after receiving the apostille.
If your document requires an apostille, Translayte can assist with certified translations and apostille to ensure compliance with international requirements. Request a free quote to get an apostille and certified translation for your Spanish document.
Which documents need an apostille in Spain?
Requirements for getting an apostille in Spanish
You can either appear in person at one of the government agencies mentioned above with the documents you need an apostille for, together with the acknowledgement of signatures already obtained if necessary, or you can send your documents by post to one of the relevant agencies listed.
Only original documents can be apostilled, or true copies issued by the same body that issued the original. Apostilled photocopies are not accepted. If you cannot part with the original, a notary can issue a certified testimony of the document (testimonio por exhibición), which can then be apostilled.
If you are unsure which authority handles your document, the MAEC electronic office publishes current legalisation procedures and appointment booking for its Legalisations Service in Madrid.
Does a Spanish Apostille expire?
A Spanish apostille doesn’t have a technical expiry date. It is a permanent authentication of the signature and capacity of the person who signed the document. However, other factors can render a Spanish apostille invalid for use. They include:
Document validity: If the document has a validity period, the apostille is only accepted within that timeline.
Freshness requirement: Some authorities might request an apostille issued within a 3 - 6 months time frame. If that’s the case, an older apostille will be rejected for that application.
Reissued documents: If you obtained an updated copy of the document due to errors in the previous version, you need to apostille the new document.
How much does an Apostille cost in Spain?
The cost of getting an apostille in Spain depends on the process and additional services required. Here’s a breakdown of the cost:
Government of Spain apostille fee: Free
Private agency service fee (optional, if someone handles it for you): from €40 per document.
Sworn translation (traductor jurado): €30–€80 per page
Notarial copy / certification (if required): €30–€60 per document.
Courier / postal fees: Variable, depending on service and urgency.
Do I need a certified translation of my Apostilled Spanish document?
If you need to submit an apostilled Spanish document to authorities outside Spain, and it is written in Spanish, you must obtain a certified translation. For example, if you are submitting an apostilled Spanish birth certificate to UK authorities, you will need to translate the Spanish birth certificate to English.
UK authorities, such as UK Visas and Immigration, require certified translations for any document not in English or Welsh, even if it is already apostilled.
An apostille confirms that the original document is authentic, but it does not translate the content. A certified translation ensures that officials can read and verify the information contained in the document.
Sworn translations into Spanish are only valid if done by a translator authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official register of traductores jurados is published on the MAEC website. For procedures handled by the Generalitat de Catalunya, translations into Catalan by a Generalitat-authorised sworn translator are also accepted.
An apostilled translation of a Spanish document typically includes:
A full and accurate translation of the original Spanish document
A translation of the attached apostille
A certification statement confirming the accuracy of the translation
The translator’s full name, signature, and contact details
The date of certification
Providing both the apostille and a certified translation helps ensure that your document is accepted without delays or requests for additional information.
Need a certified translation of your Spanish document? Translayte offers UK-compliant certified translations accepted by authorities such as UK Visas and Immigration, with fast turnaround times and secure online document submission. Request a free quote for a certified translation of your apostilled document.
