Legalisation of documents issued outside Spain

The legalisation process of the documents issued outside Spain follows different procedures, depending on the origin country:

• Member countries of the European Union or signatory countries of the European Economic Area Agreement: no legalisation is required. Similarly, documents issued in Switzerland do not require legalisation by virtue of a bilateral agreement with the European Union.
• For documents issued in signatory countries of The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 (https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/authorities1/?cid=41), the single legalisation or apostille issued by the county’s competent authorities is sufficient.
• Documents issued in signatory countries of Andrés Bello Convention (http://convenioandresbello.org/inicio/) must be legalised by diplomatic channels. Documents should be submitted to:
  - The Ministry of Education of the origin country for degree certificates and academic transcripts.
  - The Foreign Affairs Ministry of the country where the documents were issued.
  - Spanish diplomatic or consular representation (Spanish Embassy or Consulate) in the country where the documents were issued.

When the country is also signatory of The Hague Convention, the procedure established for this agreement can be followed, which is simpler. 

• Documents issued in the rest of the countries must be legalised by diplomatic channels. Documents should be submitted to:
  - The Ministry of Education of the origin country for degree certificates and academic transcripts.
  - The Foreign Affairs Ministry of the country where the documents were issued.
  - Spanish diplomatic or consular representation (Spanish Embassy or Consulate) in the country where the documents were issued.

If the documents have been issued by the diplomatic or consular authorities of other countries in Spain, they must also be legalised at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Translation of documents issued outside Spain

 Regulations governing administrative procedures require foreign documents to be accompanied by official translations into English, Spanish or Catalan. Official translations may be carried out by:

1. A sworn translator registered in Spain.

2. The Spanish embassy or consulate in the foreign country.

3. The embassy or consulate in Spain of the foreign country of which the applicant is a citizen or the foreign country that has issued the document.

4. A sworn translator working in a foreign country whose signature has been duly legalised.