Registering a foreign marriage or birth in Spain

Terms used

• Registro Civil — The Registro Civil is the Spanish civil registry that records births, marriages, deaths and nationality.
• Apostille — An Apostille is an international stamp that certifies a foreign public document so it is accepted in Spain.
• Libro de Familia — The Libro de Familia is an official booklet recording a family's marriage and children.
• DNI — The DNI is the Spanish national identity card for Spanish citizens.
• Traductor jurado — A traductor jurado is a sworn translator whose translations are officially accepted in Spain.
• Audiencia reservada — The audiencia reservada is a private interview where the registry checks that a marriage is genuine.

Key rules

• Birth: A child born abroad to a Spanish parent must be registered in Spain; foreign parents' children are not.
• Marriage: A marriage abroad with a Spanish spouse can be registered and should be, so it counts in Spain.
• Where: File at the Spanish consulate where the event happened, or at a Registro Civil in Spain.
• Certificates: Foreign certificates normally need an Apostille or legalisation, plus an official translation if not in Spanish.

Do you have to register?

Birth abroad: yes, if a parent is Spanish. A child born abroad to at least one Spanish parent is Spanish, and the birth must be entered in the Spanish Registro Civil. The parents or guardians are responsible. There is no fixed penalty deadline, but do it soon: you need the registration to get the child's Spanish passport and DNI. People who acquire Spanish nationality also need to register.

Marriage abroad: you can, and you should, if one spouse is Spanish. Registration makes the marriage count in Spain. You will need it as proof of civil status, for example to get a Libro de Familia, or for inheritance, pensions or a spouse's residency. Before registering, the authorities check that the marriage is valid and was celebrated legally under local rules.

Two foreign parents or spouses: no. A birth or marriage involving only foreign nationals is not registered in Spain. A foreign marriage certificate can still be presented to have the marriage recognised.

Where to register

You have two options. The decision block below compares them.

• Where it happened: the Spanish consulate for the country of the event, which runs a consular Registro Civil. Many consulates use their own appointment systems.
• In Spain: any Oficina General del Registro Civil, the Registro Civil Central, or the office for your home address. If you live in Spain, the office for your address is the one that handles your file.

Some steps can be done online through the Ministry of Justice electronic office, using a digital certificate or Cl@ve. You can also send documents by post. Procedures differ between consulates and offices, so check with the one you plan to use before you apply.

What to bring

The documents block below lists them. Points to watch:

• Legalisation. The foreign certificate usually needs an Apostille. Some countries need consular legalisation instead. Certificates from EU states using the EU multilingual forms, and some countries with bilateral agreements, need no legalisation.
• Translation. A certificate not in Spanish or a co-official language needs an official translation. This is either a sworn translation (traductor jurado) or one made by a consulate.
• Marriages. The registry may ask for a certificate of capacity to marry or other proof of civil status. It may also hold a private interview with the spouses (audiencia reservada) to rule out a sham marriage.
• Extra papers. Depending on the country, the registrar may ask for more documents.

Order of steps

1. Get the original certificate from the foreign registry.
2. Legalise it and, if needed, translate it.
3. Choose the consulate or the Spanish office.
4. File the application with the identity documents.
5. Answer any request for extra papers or an interview.

The FAQ below covers common edge cases.

Choosing between options

Where should you file the registration of a birth or marriage abroad?

• At the Spanish consulate abroad: Choose this if you still live in the country where the birth or marriage took place. The consular Registro Civil for that district handles it, and many consulates use their own appointment system.

• Online or by post: Choose this if you cannot go in person. Some steps can be done through the Ministry of Justice electronic office with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, or by sending documents by post or electronically.

If you live in Spain, use the Registro Civil for your address; if you live where the event took place, use the consulate for that district.

Documents you need

• Application form for registration, completed for the birth or marriage you are registering.

• The original foreign birth or marriage certificate, legalised with an Apostille if it comes from a country in the Hague Convention, or by consular legalisation otherwise. Certificates from EU countries using the EU multilingual forms, and some covered by bilateral agreements, need no legalisation.

• Official translation of any certificate not in Spanish or a co-official language, either a sworn translation (traductor jurado) or one made by a consulate.

• Spanish ID or passport of the Spanish parent or spouse.

• Identity documents of the other spouse, or of the other parent.

• For marriages, a certificate of capacity to marry or other proof of civil status, if the registry asks for it.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child need to be registered if only one parent is Spanish?

Yes, a child born abroad with at least one Spanish parent should be registered in the Spanish Registro Civil. The parents or guardians must do it, and you need it to get the child a Spanish passport and DNI.

Do I need to register a marriage between two foreign nationals in Spain?

No, a marriage between two foreign nationals is not registered in Spain. If you need Spain to recognise it, you present the foreign marriage certificate instead.

Can I start registration without going to a consulate?

Yes, you can request registration in Spain at any Oficina General del Registro Civil, at the Registro Civil Central, or at the office for your home address.

Will the registry interview us after a marriage abroad?

Possibly, because the registry checks for sham marriages and may hold a private interview called an audiencia reservada.