Where to get an apostille in your home country

Key rules

• Valid apostille: Only the authority your country designated can issue an apostille that Spain will accept.
• Where to look: The Hague Conference table of competent authorities lists the current office and contact details for each country.
• Document type: In countries with several authorities, the type of document decides which office you use.
• Status check: Confirm the Convention is in force between your country and Spain before you start.

The apostille must come from the right authority

An apostille only counts if the office designated by your home country issued it. A stamp from any other office will not be accepted in Spain. Each country names its own authority, and some name several.

How to find your authority

The Hague Conference website has an Apostille Section with a table of competent authorities. Do this:

1. Select your country in the table.
2. Read which authority or authorities issue apostilles, and note their contact details.
3. Look for any e-Register or e-Apostille information. It tells you whether you can get a digital apostille or check one online.
4. Check the country's status table. It confirms the Convention is in force with your country. It also shows whether Spain or another state has objected in a way that affects the relationship.

Authorities and their web addresses change, so use the table for the current details.

Usual authorities in the main sending countries

• United States: For state documents, the Secretary of State of the relevant state. For federal documents, the US Department of State Authentications Office.
• United Kingdom: The Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
• Canada: Since 2024, Global Affairs Canada for federal documents. For provincial documents, the provincial or territorial authorities.
• Australia: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
• Ireland: The Department of Foreign Affairs.
• Germany: State-level authorities, such as the Landgerichtspräsident or Regierungspräsidium, depending on the document.
• France: The Court of Appeal (cour d'appel) for notarial and private documents. The Ministry of Justice for others.
• Italy: The Prefettura.
• Morocco: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certain courts.
• Latin America: Usually the foreign ministry. Some countries use other bodies.
• China: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorised local foreign affairs offices.
• India: The Ministry of External Affairs. State home departments handle state documents.

Pick the one that matches your document

Where a country has more than one authority, the type of document decides which one you need. A federal document and a state or provincial one go to different offices. A notarised private document may go to a third. If you are unsure, ask the issuing body or the authority's help line before you send anything.

The step-by-step process, the finder by country and the common questions are in the sections below.

Getting an apostille step by step

• Get the original document, or a certified copy, from the body that issued it: first, before anything else

• Have a private document or a copy notarised or certified by a notary, court or registrar: if the document is private or a copy

• Have the notary's or official's signature authenticated at county, state or court level: only where your country requires it

• Send the document to the competent apostille authority in person, by post or online: once any notarisation and authentication are done

• Receive the apostille, either attached to the document or issued as an e-apostille: same day for walk-in service, or several weeks by post

• Pay the apostille fee, which is free in some countries and a fixed fee per document in others: when you submit the document

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

Apostille authority finder by country

Apostille authority by country

• Secretary of State of the relevant state: Apostille for US state documents

• US Department of State Authentications Office: Apostille for US federal documents

• Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO): Apostille for UK documents

• Global Affairs Canada: Apostille for Canadian federal documents

• Provincial or territorial authorities in Canada: Apostille for Canadian provincial documents

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT): Apostille for Australian documents

• Department of Foreign Affairs: Apostille for Irish documents

• State-level authorities, such as the Landgerichtspräsident or Regierungspräsidium: Apostille for German documents, depending on the document

• Court of Appeal (cour d'appel): Apostille for French notarial and private documents

• Ministry of Justice: Apostille for other French documents

• Prefettura: Apostille for Italian documents

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certain courts: Apostille for Moroccan documents

• Foreign ministries, or another body in some countries: Apostille for Latin American documents

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorised local foreign affairs offices: Apostille for Chinese documents

• Ministry of External Affairs: Apostille for Indian central documents

• State home departments: Apostille for Indian state documents

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the apostille authority for my country?

Use the Apostille Section of the Hague Conference (HCCH) website and select your country in the table of competent authorities. It shows which authority or authorities issue apostilles, their contact details and any online e-apostille service. Also check the country's status table to confirm the Convention is in force between your country and Spain.

Is there more than one apostille authority in my country?

Yes, in several countries the authority depends on the document. In the US, the Secretary of State of the relevant state handles state documents and the Department of State handles federal ones. Canada splits federal and provincial documents in the same way, and Germany uses state-level authorities.

Which authority handles French or Italian documents?

In France, the Court of Appeal (cour d'appel) handles notarial and private documents, and the Ministry of Justice handles others. In Italy, the apostille comes from the Prefettura.