Spain
Europe
Spain is a founding member of the Hague Apostille Convention (1978). Documents issued in Spain are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) or the relevant notarial college.
Why people process documents for Spain
Latin American nationals immigrating to Spain need apostilled criminal records, birth certificates, and civil status documents from their home country.
Spanish universities and the Ministry of Education require apostilled foreign degrees plus a sworn translation (traducción jurada) by an officially appointed translator.
The Spanish consulate requires apostilled family documents (birth certificates, marriage records) as part of family reunification visa applications.
Most commonly processed documents
These document types are most frequently apostilled or legalized for Spain. Each link goes to a full guide on that document.
Official certificate proving a person has no (or has) criminal convictions. Required for immigration, employment, and residency applications.
Official civil registry document recording a person's birth. Foundational for immigration, citizenship, and family applications.
Academic credential awarded by a university upon completion of a degree program. Required for employment abroad, degree homologation, and graduate admissions.
Civil registry document recording a legal marriage. Required for spouse visas, family reunification, name changes, and inheritance.
Notarized document granting someone legal authority to act on another person's behalf. Must be apostilled for international legal transactions.
Civil registry document recording a person's death. Required for inheritance, pension claims, insurance, and estate proceedings abroad.
Requirements at a glance
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting a regular translation instead of a sworn (jurada) translation — Spain requires an officially appointed sworn translator.
- Not apostilling the translation itself when the foreign authority requires it.
- Using a document issued more than 90 days ago for immigration purposes without checking validity.
Real cases involving Spain
Anonymized real situations we have resolved for this destination. See all cases →
The problem: An applicant submitted a valid US marriage certificate for a Spanish visa, but the consulate rejected it because it had been issued more than 90 days prior.
Result: Visa approved after submitting fresh apostilled certificate.
The problem: A visa applicant's FBI fingerprint cards were repeatedly rejected as unreadable due to severe eczema deteriorating their finger ridges.
Result: FBI check obtained after multiple submissions. Visa approved.
The problem: A Pareja de Hecho residency submission in Spain was rejected because the apostille stamp on a UK criminal record was not translated into Spanish.
Result: Residency approved after adding sworn translation of apostille.
Relevant services
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sworn translation for documents used in Spain?
Yes. Spain requires translations by an officially appointed sworn translator (traductor jurado), recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A standard certified translation is not sufficient.
How do I get a Spanish criminal record apostilled?
Spanish criminal records (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales) are issued by the Ministry of Justice. We request the certificate and arrange the apostille as a complete package.
Can I apostille a Spanish notarial document?
Yes. Notarial documents in Spain are apostilled by the notarial college (Colegio Notarial) of the province where the notary is registered.
Reviewed by
Sofía RodríguezApostille Specialist
Expert in educational document certification and background checks for Latin America and Spain.
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