Getting a Spanish document apostilled for use in your home country

Key rules

• Right office: The apostille body depends on the document type, so a notarial deed and a court judgment go to different offices.
• Certificates: Get the original certificate from the Registro Civil first, then have it apostilled.
• Fees: Many state apostilles are free, but Colegios Notariales charge for notarial ones.

Which body apostilles which document

The body depends on the type of document. Find your document below, then go to that office.

Notarial documents (deeds, powers of attorney, notarised copies): the Colegio Notarial of the region where the notary is registered. Its Decano or delegated staff apostille the document. The Consejo General del Notariado also offers apostilles for notarial documents.

Criminal record certificate (certificado de antecedentes penales): the Ministerio de Justicia. It can issue the apostille together with the certificate. The Gerencia Territorial or Gerencia de Justicia can also do it.

Birth, marriage and death certificates: the Ministerio de Justicia. First get the certificate from the Registro Civil. In many cases you can ask for the apostille at the same time. The Gerencia Territorial does it in regions that still use it. In regions with devolved justice powers, the regional justice department may do it instead.

Court judgments and court orders: the court clerk (Letrado de la Administración de Justicia) of the court that issued the document. The Secretaría de Gobierno of the Tribunal Superior de Justicia can also do it.

Other state administrative documents: often the Delegación or Subdelegación del Gobierno, or a regional government body. Education documents go through the Ministry of Education or the regional education authority. The Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores handles some documents.

If you are unsure, the Ministry of Justice's apostille directory shows the office that covers your region.

How to request it

You can go in person, send it by post, or apply online where the office allows it. The Ministry of Justice has an online procedure for its own documents, using a digital certificate or Cl@ve. Some Colegios Notariales also offer online or postal requests and electronic apostilles.

Many apostilles on state documents are free. Notarial apostilles are charged by the Colegio. Timing runs from the same day in person to several days or weeks by post, so ask the office before you plan around a date.

The documents list, checklist and FAQ below cover what to bring and the usual questions.

Before you start

An apostille works for countries that belong to the Hague Convention. If your home country does not, ask its consulate what legalisation it requires.

Documents you need

• Notarial document (deed, power of attorney or notarised copy): the original, to be apostilled by the Colegio Notarial of the region where the notary is registered. The Consejo General del Notariado also offers this.

• Criminal record certificate (certificado de antecedentes penales): apostilled by the Ministry of Justice, which can issue the apostille together with the certificate, or by the Gerencia Territorial.

• Other state administrative documents: apostilled by the Delegación or Subdelegación del Gobierno or by a regional government body. Education documents go through the Ministry of Education or the regional education authority.

• Court judgment or court order: the original, apostilled by the court clerk of the issuing court or by the Secretaría de Gobierno of the regional high court.

• Birth, marriage or death certificate: obtained first from the Registro Civil, then apostilled by the Ministry of Justice or, in some regions, its Gerencia Territorial or the regional justice department.

• Your ID and any form the apostille office asks for.

Checklist

• Get the original Spanish document from the office that issued it.

• Identify the apostille body for your document type: the Colegio Notarial for notarial documents, the Ministry of Justice for civil registry and criminal record certificates, the court clerk for judicial documents, or the Delegación or Subdelegación del Gobierno or regional body for other administrative documents.

• Ask whether you can request the apostille together with the certificate, in person, by post or online.

• Submit the document with your ID and any form the office asks for.

• Ask the office about the fee and how long it will take, then collect the apostilled document or wait for it by post.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a court judgment apostilled in Spain?

A court judgment is apostilled by the court clerk (Letrado de la Administración de Justicia) of the court that issued it. In some cases the Secretaría de Gobierno of the regional high court (Tribunal Superior de Justicia) does it instead. Ask the issuing court which one applies.

Can I get the apostille on a birth certificate when I request the certificate?

Yes, in many cases you can request the apostille together with the certificate, but this depends on your region. Get the certificate from the Registro Civil first. The Ministry of Justice, or the regional justice department where powers are devolved, then apostilles it.

Can I request a Spanish apostille online?

Yes, for documents the Ministry of Justice handles, you can use its online procedure with a digital certificate or Cl@ve. Other offices may only accept visits in person or by post. Same-day service is possible in person, while post can take several days or weeks.

Do I have to pay for a Spanish apostille?

Many apostilles for state documents are free, but notarial apostilles are charged by the Colegio Notarial. The fee differs between Colegios, so ask the one where your notary is registered.