DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATION FOR SPAIN
Spain Apostille Services
If you’re moving to Spain to study, work, or live permanently, or you’re a Spanish national in the U.S. handling paperwork back home, U.S. documents used in Spain must carry an apostille before Spanish authorities will accept them. Apostille Authentications handles the entire process for you from notarization to the apostille stamp to shipping the finished documents wherever they need to go.
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Spain Apostille
Why Spain Requires an Apostille
Spain is a full member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a properly issued U.S. apostille is all Spanish authorities require no separate embassy legalization. We prepare and submit birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, FBI background checks, and powers of attorney for use in Spain every week, and ship the finished documents wherever they need to go.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa: FBI Background Check and Apostille Rules
The Consulate General of Spain in Houston publishes these requirements for the telework (digital nomad) visa. Other Spanish consulates set similar rules, so check the one that covers your state.
- Who needs it: every applicant aged 18 or older.
- Which document: an FBI criminal record check issued within the last 6 months.
- Which apostille: a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. State background checks and state apostilles are not valid.
- Translation: the certificate must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
- Other countries: criminal record certificates are also required from the countries where you lived during the last 5 years.
- Family documents: marriage and birth certificates for family members, and educational degrees, need an apostille and an official Spanish translation.
- Do not take the apostille apart: removing staples, rivets or seals invalidates it.
Because the FBI check must be less than 6 months old when you apply, timing matters. Regular federal processing takes 5+ weeks; our expedited FBI apostille takes 10 business days. See FBI apostille services for the full process.
Documents We Regularly Apostille for Spain
Vital records typically need a certified copy from the issuing county or state first, and most documents require notarization before the apostille can be added. We review yours up front and tell you exactly what’s needed before you pay for anything.
Required for most Spanish visa categories and residency applications. Apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
Needed for civil registration, dual citizenship, and family petitions. Requires a certified copy from the issuing state or county.
Common for property sales, estate matters, and legal representation in Spain while you remain in the U.S.
For credential recognition (convalidación) with Spanish universities or licensing boards.
Frequently requested before a marriage can be registered or recognized in Spain.
Articles of incorporation, agreements, and other paperwork for business registration in Spain.
State Documents
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other vital records are apostilled by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued. A certified copy from the state or county is required before we can submit it.
Federal Documents
FBI background checks and other federal paperwork are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. not by a state office. We handle this submission for you directly.
How the Process Works
Four steps from the document in your hand to a document that Spain will accept.
Send Us Your Document
Email or upload a copy so we can confirm exactly what’s required for that document type and Spain’s requirements.
We Prepare It
We confirm whether notarization or a certified copy is needed and get the document ready to submit.
We Submit for Apostille
Your document goes to the correct Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State office for authentication.
You Receive It, Ready to Use
We ship the completed apostille back to you, domestically or internationally, ready for submission in Spain.
Pricing for Spain Apostille Services
Ready to Start Your Spain Apostille?
Send us your document, and we’ll tell you exactly what’s needed, what it costs, and how long it will take. You can also email your document or questions to Info@apostilleauthentications.com for personalized assistance.
Add Your Heading Text Here
Yes. Spain is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so U.S. public documents must carry an apostille before Spanish authorities will accept them.
Yes. We regularly process both state vital records and federal documents like FBI background checks for clients relocating to or dealing with Spain.
Many Spanish authorities require a certified Spanish translation after the apostille is issued. We offer certified translation as an add-on or bundled package.
No. Most clients work with us entirely by mail, email, and phone. We ship domestically and internationally so you never have to visit in person.