What's the difference between an apostille and legalisation?

An apostille is a simplified certification used between countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Full consular legalisation is a longer process required for documents from countries that aren't part of that convention.

Official Documents

Legalisation and Apostille

How to get a foreign public document formally recognised as genuine in Spain, or a Spanish document recognised abroad.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-15Apostille processing time varies significantly by country and authority — from same-day in some cases to several weeks in others.

This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.

Overview

Before a foreign public document (a birth certificate, criminal record check, university degree, and similar) can be used in Spain, it usually needs to be certified as genuine by the issuing country — either through an apostille (for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention) or full consular legalisation (for countries that aren't).

Requirements

Applies to foreign public documents being used in Spain, and to Spanish public documents being used abroad
The correct process (apostille vs. full legalisation) depends entirely on whether the issuing country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention

Step-by-step process

Confirm whether the issuing country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention
If it is, obtain the apostille from the competent authority in that country (this happens before the document reaches Spain, for foreign documents)
If it isn't, the document instead needs full consular/diplomatic legalisation, typically through the issuing country's foreign ministry and then the Spanish consulate there
For Spanish documents needing an apostille to be used abroad, request it from the competent Spanish authority — the Ministry of Justice, the relevant Colegio Notarial, or the Tribunal Superior de Justicia, depending on the type of document
Once apostilled or legalised, arrange a sworn translation if the document isn't already in the destination country's language

Required documents

The original public document
Identification of the issuing authority and document type, to determine the correct apostille/legalisation authority

Common mistakes

Assuming every country apostilles the same way — the correct competent authority depends entirely on the issuing country and document type
Getting a document translated before it's apostilled, when the procedure actually requires the apostille itself to be included in the translation
Letting time-sensitive documents (like criminal record checks) expire before you complete every step — many are only valid for a limited window, often 90 days

Practical tips

Start this process early in any wider procedure (a visa application, a marriage registration) — it often takes longer than people expect, especially for documents from countries outside the EU
Request an extra apostilled original if you know you'll need the same document for more than one procedure, since re-requesting later takes time

How Tuchati can help

Tuchati can help you confirm the exact apostille or legalisation route for your specific document and country, and sequence it correctly with translation.