Apostille Services in Spain — Document Legalisation for Expats (2026)

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certification that authenticates a public document for use in another country. Under the 1961 Hague Convention (to which Spain and over 120 other countries are signatories), an apostille replaces the lengthy process of consular legalisation. Once a document has been apostilled, it is recognised as legally valid in any other member country without further authentication.

For expats living in Spain — or dealing with Spanish authorities from abroad — apostilles are required for a wide range of documents, from birth certificates to powers of attorney. Getting the process wrong can cause weeks of delays at a critical moment.

Which Documents Need an Apostille in Spain?

The most common documents that require apostilles for use in Spain (or Spanish documents for use abroad) include:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates — Required for residency applications, inheritance, marriage registration, and nationality applications.
• Powers of Attorney (POA) — Essential when buying property, managing legal affairs, or authorising a lawyer to act on your behalf.
• Criminal record certificates — Required for visa and residency applications (non-lucrative visa, work permits, Golden Visa (closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025)).

⚠️ Important: the Spain Golden Visa (closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025) (closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025) / Investor Visa in Spain has been eliminated and is no longer available in any modality. Following recent legal changes, Spain has ended the Spain Golden Visa (closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025) (closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025) program. Our team can advise on the most suitable alternative based on your profile, such as the Digital Nomad Visa, Non-Lucrative Visa, or Entrepreneur Visa.

• Court documents — Divorce decrees, custody orders, judgments.
• Academic qualifications — University degrees, professional certificates for homologation in Spain.
• Corporate documents — Company registration certificates, board resolutions, articles of incorporation.
• Medical certificates — Sometimes required for visa applications.
• Notarial acts — Any document certified by a notary public.

Where to Get an Apostille in Spain

In Spain, the authority that issues the apostille depends on the type of document:

1. Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice)

Handles apostilles for documents issued by:

• Civil Registry offices (birth, marriage, death certificates)
• Courts and tribunals
• The General Council of Notaries

Location: C/ de la Bolsa, 8, Madrid — or via the electronic office (sede electrónica) for digital apostilles.

2. Tribunal Superior de Justicia (TSJ)

In some autonomous communities, the TSJ issues apostilles for judicial and notarial documents as a delegated authority of the Ministry of Justice. Check with your regional TSJ.

3. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores (MAEC)

Handles apostilles for documents issued by:

• Spanish embassies and consulates abroad
• Central government ministries
• Commercial registry (Registro Mercantil) documents

Location: C/ Juan de Mena, 4, Madrid.

4. Decanos de los Colegios Notariales

For notarial documents, the Dean of the relevant Notarial College can also issue apostilles in their capacity as delegated authority.

Apostille Cost and Processing Time

Document Type	Where to Apostille	Typical Cost	Processing Time
Birth / Marriage / Death Certificate	Ministerio de Justicia	Free	Same day – 5 business days
Court Documents / Judgments	Ministerio de Justicia / TSJ	Free	Same day – 5 business days
Notarial Power of Attorney	Colegio Notarial / Min. de Justicia	Free	Same day – 3 business days
Criminal Record Certificate	Ministerio de Justicia	Free	Same day – 5 business days
University Degree / Academic Title	Ministerio de Justicia	Free	3 – 10 business days
Company Registration / Corporate Docs	MAEC (Min. Asuntos Exteriores)	Free	3 – 7 business days
Consular Documents	MAEC	Free	3 – 7 business days
Digital Apostille (e-Apostilla)	Sede Electrónica Min. Justicia	Free	Instant – 48 hours

Good news: Apostilles in Spain are free of charge. Unlike many countries that charge per document, the Spanish government does not levy a fee for issuing apostilles. However, you may incur costs for sworn translations, notarial copies, or courier services.

Getting Foreign Documents Apostilled for Use in Spain

If you need to use a foreign document in Spain (for example, a UK birth certificate for a residency application), the apostille must be obtained in the country that issued the document:

• United Kingdom: FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) — online service available, typically £75 per document, 2-5 business days.
• United States: Secretary of State of the issuing state, or US Department of State for federal documents. Cost and time vary by state.
• Germany: President of the Landgericht (regional court) or district authority.
• France: Cour d’appel (Court of Appeal) of the jurisdiction where the document was issued.

After apostilling, most foreign documents also need a sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish by an official translator authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Apostilling the wrong copy: The apostille must be placed on the original document or a certified/notarised copy, not a photocopy.
2. Forgetting the sworn translation: An apostille alone is not enough — Spanish authorities require documents in Spanish. The translation must be done after the apostille is affixed.
3. Using expired documents: Criminal record certificates and medical certificates have a validity period (typically 3-6 months). Ensure your apostilled document is still within its validity when you submit it.
4. Wrong apostille authority: Sending a notarial document to the MAEC instead of the Ministry of Justice will result in rejection and delays.
5. Not checking Hague Convention membership: If the issuing country is not a member of the Hague Convention, you need full consular legalisation instead of an apostille — a longer and more complex process.

Digital Apostilles (e-Apostilla)

Spain has been a pioneer in implementing electronic apostilles. Through the Ministry of Justice’s electronic office, certain documents issued digitally by the Civil Registry can receive an e-Apostille almost instantly. This is particularly useful for:

• Digital birth certificates from the Civil Registry.
• Criminal record certificates obtained electronically.

The e-Apostille carries the same legal validity as a physical apostille and can be verified online.

How Costa Luz Lawyers Can Help

Navigating the apostille process can be confusing, especially when dealing with multiple countries and document types simultaneously. Our team can:

• Advise on which documents need apostilling for your specific situation.
• Handle the entire apostille process in Spain on your behalf (with a power of attorney).
• Coordinate with sworn translators for competitive rates.
• Manage urgent timelines for property completions or visa deadlines.
• Arrange consular legalisation for non-Hague Convention countries.