Do I need a translation as well as an apostille?

Yes, in most cases. Spanish authorities require documents not written in Spanish to be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation. The apostille itself does not need to be translated. We can arrange sworn translations alongside your apostille.

Which criminal record certificate does Spain accept?

Spain only accepts the ACRO Criminal Records Certificate for visa and residency applications. Standard DBS certificates are not accepted. The FCDO apostille must cover the ACRO officer original signature, and the certificate must not be older than 6 months.

How long does an apostille for Spain take?

Standard processing takes 72 hours from receipt. Same-day FCDO submission is available, with apostille returned the next working day. Urgent processing with sworn translation typically takes 2-3 working days.

Do degree certificates need special treatment for Spain?

Yes. Spanish authorities require a UK notary public to verify the authenticity of degree certificates with the issuing university before the FCDO can apostille them. Certification by a solicitor is not accepted.

🇪🇸 Spain Document Legalisation

UK Apostille for Spain —
Fast, Fixed Price,
City of London

Spain is a Hague Convention member — an FCDO apostille is all you need. We submit same-day from our City of London office. Sworn Spanish translations available alongside your apostille.

Hague Convention Member

Apostille Only Required

Same-Day FCDO Submission

Sworn Spanish Translations

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Who We Help

Apostille for Every Spain Requirement

From visa applications to Golden Visa investments — we handle the legalisation chain for any reason you need UK documents accepted in Spain.

🏠

Spanish Residency & NIE

Applying for residency or an NIE number requires apostilled UK documents submitted to the Spanish Foreigners' Office.

Typical documents

Birth CertificateMarriage CertificateACRO Certificate

💼

Spain Visa Applications

Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, Student and other Spanish visa categories require apostilled and translated supporting documents.

Typical documents

ACRO CertificateMedical CertificateFinancial Documents

🏗️

Golden Visa Spain

Property investors and entrepreneurs applying for Spain's Golden Visa need a full suite of apostilled UK documents.

Typical documents

ACRO CertificateCompany DocsPower of Attorney

💍

Marriage in Spain

Getting married in Spain requires apostilled birth certificates and certificates of no impediment from UK authorities.

Typical documents

Birth CertificateCertificate of No Impediment

🎓

Education & Professional Recognition

UK degree and professional qualifications require apostille (with notarial verification) for recognition by Spanish institutions.

Typical documents

Degree CertificateProfessional Qualifications

⚖️

Legal & Property Matters

Powers of attorney, company documents and legal certificates used in Spanish courts or property transactions require a valid FCDO apostille.

Typical documents

Power of AttorneyCompany Certificates

Spain Packages

Fixed-Price Apostille Packages for Spain

All packages include document pre-checking and status updates. No hidden fees.

From Document to Spain-Ready in Four Steps

Spain only requires an FCDO apostille — the simplest legalisation chain. We make it even simpler.

Submit Enquiry

Tell us your document type and purpose in Spain. We confirm requirements and provide a fixed quote free of charge.

Send Documents

Post or hand-deliver originals to our City of London office. We pre-check every document before submission.

FCDO Apostille

We submit same-day to the FCDO. Translation arranged in parallel where required.

Returned to You

Apostilled documents returned to you or available for collection. Ready for Spanish authorities.

Important Requirements

What Spanish Authorities Require

Spain has specific rules that differ from other countries. Getting these wrong means rejection.

⚠️

ACRO Only — Not DBS — for Criminal Record Checks

Spanish authorities exclusively accept the ACRO Criminal Records Certificate for visa and residency purposes. Standard DBS Enhanced or Basic certificates are rejected. The apostille must cover the ACRO officer's original wet-ink signature. The certificate must be no older than 6 months at the time of your application.

🎓 Degree Certificates Need Notarial Verification

Spanish authorities require a UK notary public to verify the authenticity of degree certificates directly with the issuing university before the FCDO can apostille them. Certification by a UK solicitor is not accepted. We manage the full notarisation and apostille process end to end.

📝 Sworn Translation Required in Most Cases

Most Spanish authorities require documents not written in Spanish to be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation attached behind the apostilled page. The apostille certificate itself does not require translation. We arrange certified sworn translations alongside your apostille.

📅 Residency Documents — Check the Validity Window

The Spanish Foreigners' Office typically requires marriage certificates to have been issued and legalised within the last 3 months prior to your appointment. Always confirm current requirements with your local Spanish Foreigners' Office before ordering.

🏥 Medical Reports — Specialist Handling Required

Medical reports must bear the wet-ink signature of a GMC-registered doctor whose specimen signature is on the FCDO database. Spanish authorities do not accept medical reports certified by a solicitor or notary. We work with GMC-registered doctors to provide compliant medical reports.

Document Guide

UK Documents We Apostille for Spain

All UK-issued public documents can be apostilled for use in Spain. Some have specific requirements.

Document	Apostille Required	Translation Required	Special Notes
Birth Certificate	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	GRO-issued certificates accepted directly
Marriage Certificate	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	Check 3-month validity window for residency
ACRO Criminal Record Certificate	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	ACRO only — DBS not accepted by Spain
Degree / Academic Certificate	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	Notarial university verification required first
Medical Certificate / Report	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	GMC-registered doctor, signature on FCDO database
Power of Attorney	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	Must be notarised before apostille
Company Documents	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	Certificates of Incorporation, Good Standing etc.
Death Certificate	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	GRO-issued certificates accepted directly
Decree Absolute	Yes — FCDO	Usually yes	Court-issued originals required

Full Price List

Spain Apostille — All-Inclusive Pricing

All prices include FCDO government fees. No hidden charges.

Service	What's Included	Price (per doc)	Turnaround
Apostille Only	FCDO apostille stamp	£95	72 hours	Standard
Apostille + Translation	FCDO apostille + sworn Spanish translation	£220	4–6 working days	Most Popular
Urgent Apostille + Translation	Same-day FCDO + rush sworn translation + express return	£280	2–3 working days	Urgent
Degree (incl. Notarisation)	Notarial verification + FCDO apostille + translation	POA	7–10 working days	Specialist

Why Choose Us

Spain's Requirements. Our Expertise.

Spain has specific rules others get wrong. We've handled hundreds of Spain apostille cases and know every nuance.

🏛️

City of London — FCDO Same Day

Based at Guildhall EC2V, we submit documents to the FCDO the same day we receive them. No delays, no queuing, no missed deadlines.

🔎

We Catch Problems Before Spain Does

Every document is pre-checked. Wrong certificate type? Doctor's signature not on FCDO database? We flag it before it costs you time and money.

🌍

Sworn Spanish Translations In-House

Apostille and sworn Spanish translation arranged together, so your documents arrive ready to submit to Spanish authorities.

🎓

Degree Notarisation Managed End to End

We manage notarial university verification, FCDO apostille, and translation — so you don't have to coordinate multiple providers.

📱

Kept Informed at Every Stage

You'll know the status of your documents at every step — from receipt through to return. No chasing required.

🤝

Trusted by Law Firms & Agents

Immigration solicitors, Spanish property lawyers and relocation agents across the UK rely on us to handle their clients' Spain documentation correctly, first time.

Client Reviews

Trusted by Clients Moving to Spain

From Golden Visa applicants to retirees relocating to the Costa del Sol.

★★★★★

"Needed my ACRO apostilled for a Spanish residency application with a tight deadline. They submitted same-day and kept me updated throughout. Documents back and accepted by Extranjería first time."

David M.

Individual Client — relocating to Valencia

★★★★★

"We use Legalisation.Services for all our UK clients applying for Spanish Golden Visas. Reliable, fast, and they always get the document requirements right. Exactly what we need from a supplier."

Rebecca T.

Spanish Property & Immigration Consultant — London

★★★★★

"Had three documents apostilled and translated for a Non-Lucrative Visa application. The team flagged an issue with one of my certificates before submission — saved me weeks of delay."

Helen K.

Individual Client — Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

Frequently Asked Questions

Spain Apostille — Common Questions

No. Spain is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, which means an FCDO apostille is the only legalisation required for UK documents used in Spain. You do not need Spanish Embassy or consulate certification on top of the apostille. This makes Spain considerably simpler than countries like UAE or Saudi Arabia.

In most cases, yes. Spanish authorities require documents not in Spanish to be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation attached behind the apostilled page. The apostille certificate itself does not need translating. We arrange certified sworn translations alongside your apostille as part of our Spain Ready package.

Spain only accepts the ACRO Criminal Records Certificate for visa and residency applications. Standard DBS Enhanced or Basic Disclosure certificates are not recognised by Spanish authorities. The FCDO apostille must cover the ACRO officer's original wet-ink signature, and the certificate must be no older than 6 months at the time of your Spanish application.

Standard processing takes 72 hours from receipt of your documents. We offer same-day FCDO submission with next-working-day apostille return for most document types. Urgent processing with sworn translation typically takes 2–3 working days.

Spanish authorities require a UK notary public to verify the authenticity of your degree directly with the issuing university before the FCDO can apostille it. Documents certified only by a UK solicitor are not accepted. We manage this full process: notarial verification, FCDO apostille, and sworn Spanish translation — all end to end.

Yes. Many of our Spain clients are already based in Spain and post their UK documents to our City of London office using a tracked international service. We apostille them here and return by tracked international courier to any address in Spain or worldwide.

UK Apostille for Spain —Fast, Fixed Price,City of London

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Apostille for Every Spain Requirement

Fixed-Price Apostille Packages for Spain

From Document to Spain-Ready in Four Steps

What Spanish Authorities Require

UK Documents We Apostille for Spain

Spain Apostille — All-Inclusive Pricing

Spain's Requirements. Our Expertise.

Trusted by Clients Moving to Spain

Spain Apostille — Common Questions

Ready to Get Your UK Documents Apostilled for Spain?

UK Apostille for Spain —
Fast, Fixed Price,
City of London