Apostilles and legalisation

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You will know which route applies to your documents, where to get it, and what to do when a Spanish office refuses it.

Start with "What an apostille is and when Spain requires one". It explains the difference between an apostille and full legalisation, so you can tell which of the other pages you need. From there, "Where to get an apostille in your home country" shows you who issues it. If your documents come from a country outside the Hague Convention, go to the legalisation page. If a Spanish office has already turned your documents down, go straight to "What to do when a Spanish office refuses your apostille".

Key rules

• Order of steps: Get the apostille on the original document first, then have a sworn translator translate it into Spanish including the apostille, and only then file it with the Spanish office.
• Age of certificates: Criminal record certificates must usually have been issued within the last 3 months, and the exact period is set by the procedure you apply under.
• Time to fix a defect: If a Spanish office finds a defect in your document, it normally gives you 10 working days to fix it, or the application is treated as withdrawn.
• Canada and the Convention: Canada has been part of the apostille system since 11 January 2024, so Canadian documents no longer need consular legalisation.
• Apostille: For documents from Hague Convention countries, one apostille replaces the full consular legalisation chain.
• Non-Convention countries: If the issuing country is outside the Convention, you need consular legalisation through the Spanish consulate.

Apostilles and legalisation: the whole process, step by step

• Find out if Spain needs an apostille or full legalisation for your document (read: What an apostille is and when Spain requires one): before you start

• Check the Hague status table for your issuing country, including any objection by Spain (read: What an apostille is and when Spain requires one): before you order any document

• Check how recent the receiving office wants the document to be; criminal record certificates must usually have been issued within the last 3 months (read: What to do when a Spanish office refuses your apostille): before you order the document

• Find the authority that issues apostilles in your home country (read: Where to get an apostille in your home country, or the country routes article for US, UK and Canadian documents): before you send the document

• Get the apostille on the original document, notarised or certified first if needed (read: Apostilling copies, notarised documents and digital documents): after you have the right original or certified copy

• If your country is outside the Hague Convention, complete consular legalisation instead (read: Legalising a document from a country outside the Hague Convention): instead of the apostille step

• Have a sworn translator translate the document into Spanish, including the apostille, then file it with the Spanish office: after the apostille and before you file

• If the office finds a defect, fix it with a correct apostille, a sworn translation or a newer certificate (read: What to do when a Spanish office refuses your apostille): within 10 working days of the office's notice

Documents you may need

Translations and legal papers

• A sworn translation into Spanish

Other documents

• The original public document
• Birth — Apostille routes for US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Latin American documents, Getting a Spanish document apostilled for use in your home country
• Criminal record certificate — Apostilling copies, notarised documents and digital documents, Getting a Spanish document apostilled for use in your home country
• Canadian provincial or territorial documents — Apostille routes for US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Latin American documents
• The same document certified by the foreign ministry of the issuing country — Legalising a document from a country outside the Hague Convention

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Apostilles and legalisation: questions that cross several articles

Does every foreign document need an apostille for Spain?

No, most foreign public documents need an apostille or legalisation, but EU rules or a bilateral treaty can remove the requirement for some documents. Read What an apostille is and when Spain requires one, then Skipping the apostille with EU documents and multilingual forms.

How do I find who issues apostilles in my country?

The Hague Conference website has a table of competent authorities where you pick your country and see the issuing office and contact details. Read Where to get an apostille in your home country, and Apostille routes for US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Latin American documents if you are from one of those.

What if my country is not part of the Hague Convention?

Then an apostille is not enough and you need full consular legalisation. Check the status table first, then read Legalising a document from a country outside the Hague Convention.

Why might a Spanish office refuse my apostilled document?

Common reasons are the wrong issuing authority, an unapostilled copy or translation, a missing sworn translation, or a certificate that is too old. Read What to do when a Spanish office refuses your apostille, and Apostilling copies, notarised documents and digital documents to get the form right.