Convention country
Apostille
A single step in Spain, without going through the destination country’s consulate.
Spanish documents for use abroad
Apostille Spanish documents in Barcelona
If you are going to present a Spanish document in another country, it usually needs a Hague apostille. Legalizaciones & Apostillas tells you which authority must apostille it, checks it is in order and handles the procedure in Barcelona.
Apostille or legalization? It depends on the destination country
Check the official list of the Hague Conference to confirm that the Convention is already in force for the country where you will present the document.
Non-Convention country
Diplomatic legalization
First, the prior legalization that applies to the document: a court, the notarial association or the competent ministry. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the destination country’s diplomatic mission.
European Union country
Possible exemption
Under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, documents on birth, marriage, residence, nationality or criminal records, among others, do not need an apostille. Other documents still need one.
Who apostilles each Spanish document
This is set by Royal Decree 1497/2011 (in Spanish). The competent authority depends on the type of document, not on where it was issued.
| Type of document | Who apostilles it |
|---|---|
| Civil RegistryBirth, marriage, death | High Court of Justice, Regional Justice Office or Ministry of Justice |
| AdministrativeCriminal records, Social Security, Generalitat, city councils | High Court of Justice, Regional Justice Office or Ministry of Justice |
| JudicialRulings, court orders, court certificates | High Court of Justice, Regional Justice Office or Ministry of Justice. Supreme Court and National High Court documents, only by their own registries |
| NotarialPowers of attorney, deeds, notarial certificates | Notaries' Association (Colegio de Notarios) |
| Private, with a signature certified by a notaryContracts, authorizations, letters | Notaries' Association, on the notarial certification. A private document without it cannot be apostilled |
| University degreesOfficial degrees and university academic transcripts | First, signature recognition at the Education High Inspectorate or the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Then the apostille |
Where to get an apostille in Barcelona
Each office apostilles a type of document. Check opening hours and whether you need an appointment before going.
- Regional Justice OfficeC/ Caballero 52-56, BarcelonaGerencia Territorial de Justicia. Civil Registry, administrative and judicial documents
- High Court of Justice of CataloniaPg. de Lluís Companys 14-16, BarcelonaSecretaría de Gobierno. Civil Registry, administrative and judicial documents
- Notaries' Association of CataloniaC/ del Notariat 4, BarcelonaNotarial documents and private documents with a certified signature
- Education High InspectorateC/ Bergara 12, BarcelonaAlta Inspección de Educación. Prior step for university degrees and transcripts: signature recognition, free of charge and by appointment
The electronic apostille
Spanish apostilles are recorded in the Ministry of Justice's Electronic Apostille Registry. Anyone, including the foreign authority that receives the document, can verify them in the registry with their secure verification code (CSV), number and date.
An apostille can also be issued in electronic format, with the document embedded. For now, the Ministry of Justice only offers it for some of its own certificates.
How it works
- You say what document you have and which country you will use it in.
- It is checked whether it needs an apostille or legalization, and whether a prior step is required.
- You receive the price and an estimated timeframe in writing.
- With your authorization, the submission is handled.
- The apostilled document is handed to you or sent to you.
If the destination country requires a sworn translation, you are told before starting.