Since Brexit, the document legalisation process for Spain has changed. For most immigration and citizenship procedures, you must provide documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and passports that come from abroad. In order for these documents to be valid and recognised in Spain, it is necessary to undergo the process of document legalisation or obtaining the Hague Apostille.
In 1978, Spain became one of many countries, including the UK, to become a signatory to the Hague Convention on the mutual recognition of documents. This means that a simplified legalisation procedure is in place between the two countries. Public documents only need to be attested with an Apostille Certificate from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in order to be valid in Spain.
The Hague Apostille
We have previously discussed Notary Public and solicitor certification, but what is the apostille, exactly?
In simple terms, an Apostille confirms that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine and that the person is who they claim to be. The standard documents that Spain frequently require include:
- ACRO – Criminal Record Background Check
- Medical Report – A doctor’s report confirming your health
- Marriage Certificate – If applying for 2 visas for a married couple
A common question that arises around this topic is whether the Hague Apostille has an expiration date. The answer is no.
As long as the document you are legalising does not have a limited duration, the legalisation does not expire.
Another key step involved in the process of relocating to Spain is the requirement of certain documents to have a legal translation. It is important to note that this is not something you can write yourself or copy from Google Translate. Instead, it must be a legal translation produced and stamped by a certified or sworn official translator.
Contact Us for Help with Document Legalisation
At Pardus Bloom, we understand how overwhelming this process can be. As a bespoke concierge service that specialises in the Apostilles and legalisation services, we aim to make your life that little bit easier. We are able to get everything completed for you, including certification/notarisation and translation (where necessary) of the documents, and taking them to the FCDO for Apostilles. We understand the importance of these documents, which is why we offer a same day service, provided we receive your documents before 11am. If it is any later than 11am, it will be the next working day.