If you are preparing an immigration procedure in Spain, such as applying for a visa, a residence permit, family reunification or Spanish nationality, it is very likely that you will have to submit documents issued in your country of origin.
One of the most frequent errors that causes delays or even the denial of a file is submitting documents without the corresponding apostille or with a translation that is not legally valid in Spain.
At NIESPANA, we have been helping foreign citizens prepare all the necessary documentation for their administrative procedures for over 23 years. If you need personalized advice, you can consult our services at https://niespana.com/ o book a consultation online in https://niespana.com/product/niespana-servicio-online/.
In this guide you will discover what the Hague Apostille is, when you need a sworn translation, which documents must be legalized and how to avoid the most common mistakes so that your application is processed without problems.
What is the Hague Apostille?
The Hague Apostille is an international system for the legalization of public documents created by the 1961 Hague Convention.
Its function is to certify the authenticity of a document issued in one country so that it can be officially recognized in another State that is also part of the Convention.
Thanks to this procedure, it is not necessary to carry out complex diplomatic legalization processes between adhering countries.
Spain is a party to the Hague Convention along with most European countries and much of Latin America.
If your document comes from a country that is not part of the Convention, a different consular legalization will be necessary.
For this reason, before starting any immigration procedure, it is advisable to check what type of legalization your documentation needs.
What is a certified translation?
When an official document is written in a language other than Spanish, it must normally be accompanied by a sworn translation in order to be valid before the Spanish administrations.
A sworn translation can only be performed by an officially authorized sworn translator.
This professional certifies by means of a signature and seal that the translation is faithful and complete with respect to the original document.
Translations made by private individuals or using automated tools are not valid for most administrative procedures.
Submitting an incorrect translation may result in additional requirements, delays, or even the rejection of the application.
What is the difference between apostilling and translating a document?
It is common to confuse both concepts, although they serve completely different functions.
The apostille certifies that the original document is authentic.
A certified translation allows Spanish authorities to understand the content of a document when it is written in another language.
In many cases it will be necessary to perform both procedures.
For example, a criminal record certificate issued in another country may first need the Hague Apostille and subsequently a sworn translation into Spanish.
The correct order will depend on the type of document and the country of origin, so it is advisable to review each case before starting the process.
What documents usually require an apostille and sworn translation?
Although it depends on the specific procedure, these are some of the documents that most frequently need to be apostilled and translated:
- Birth certificates.
- Marriage certificates.
- Divorce certificates.
- Criminal record certificates.
- University degrees.
- Academic diplomas.
- Certificates of work experience.
- Notarial powers of attorney.
- Court rulings.
- Medical certificates.
- Documentation issued by foreign administrations.
Each procedure requires different documentation.
Therefore, before starting any process, it is advisable to carefully review all the requirements to avoid errors that could delay the resolution.
At NIESPANA we review all of our clients' documentation beforehand to ensure that it meets the requirements demanded by the Spanish Administration.
If you want a specialist to analyze your case, you can book a consultation online here:
