How to Apostille a Spanish Document in Spain

In this article, we explain how to apostille a Spanish document in Spain.

The apostille is a procedure that makes a Spanish document valid in countries that are parties to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, without the need for consular legalization.

1. What is an apostille and what is it for?

An apostille is an official annotation that certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory has acted, and the seal or stamp affixed to a public document.

Thanks to the apostille, a document issued in Spain can produce legal effects in another country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention.

2. Which documents can be apostilled in Spain?

The following documents can be apostilled in Spain:

• Judicial documents (judgments, orders, rulings)
  
• Administrative, school, and university documents (civil status and civil registry certificates, educational qualifications, medical certificates issued by the National Health Service)
  
• Notarial documents (deeds and declarations signed before a notary or issued by the notary)

3. Documents that cannot be affixed with an apostille

The following cannot be apostilled:

• Documents issued by diplomatic or consular authorities
  
• Administrative documents directly relating to commercial or customs transactions

4. Apostilles on paper and electronic documents

An apostille may be affixed to:

• Paper documents
  
• Electronic documents, provided they bear the digital signature of the competent authority

5. Where to obtain an apostille in Spain

Depending on the nature of the document, the apostille can be requested from the Board of Notaries, the Ministry of Justice (central office or territorial offices), the Ministry of Education, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

6. Timeframes to obtain an apostille in Spain

Normally, the apostille can be obtained the same day (over the counter) or within a few working days, depending on the type of document and the competent authority.

7. How to obtain an apostille with MultiLex

By entrusting MultiLex with the task of apostilling your document, we will take care of every stage of the procedure, ensuring a fast and hassle-free service.

Contact us for a free quote and to receive all the necessary information to apostille a Spanish document.

We can also handle any official translation into English or other languages, depending on the country of destination.