Two countries
Apostille from Spain to United Kingdom
At a glance
Can a document from Spain be used in the United Kingdom?
| Result | Apostille applies. |
|---|---|
| Spain | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| United Kingdom | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Apostille issued by | Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes (Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes)2 |
| Fee in Spain | No fee, according to the office (apostilles from the High Courts of Justice and the Ministry of Justice)2 €3.50 to €7.50 (apostilles from the Professional Association of Notaries)2 |
| Processing time in Spain | Not published by the office3 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from Spain ready for the United Kingdom
- Find the authority for your document type: notarial documents go to the Notarial Colleges, and judicial and administrative documents go to the Ministry of Justice offices or a High Court of Justice.2
- For some certificates issued by the Ministry of Justice, apply online on the Ministry's electronic office and identify yourself with Cl@ve.3
- Otherwise, apply in person before an authority with apostille competence anywhere in Spain.4
- To apply by post, send the apostille application form together with the original public document.5
- Fill in every field of the application form, including the number of documents and the destination country, and attach the documents.6
- Download an electronic apostille within one year using the user name (your DNI) and password printed on the request receipt.3
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in the United Kingdom that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from the United Kingdom used in Spain, the apostille or legalisation starts in the United Kingdom. Apostille from United Kingdom to Spain
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from Spain for the United Kingdom
Is an apostille from Spain accepted in the United Kingdom?
Yes. An apostille from Spain is enough for the United Kingdom: both are members of the Apostille Convention (Spain since 25 September 1978, the United Kingdom since 24 January 1965). The apostille is issued in Spain by Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes. The office in Spain states that it charges no fee. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from Spain?
Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes (Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes). The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in the United Kingdom.
How much does the apostille cost in Spain?
The office in Spain states that it charges no fee. Fees can change, so check the office's own page before you apply.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in Spain. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does the United Kingdom also need a translation?
The office in the United Kingdom that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Spain - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Legalización única o Apostilla de la Haya
- Apostilla Electrónica - Servicio Público de Justicia
- Apostilla de documentos - Administración de Justicia en Euskadi
- Solicitud de legalizaciones / apostillas
- Get your document legalised
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
Every fact on this page links to the source it was taken from. Read how we check facts.
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