{"id":25069,"date":"2026-05-13T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/?p=25069"},"modified":"2026-10-02T16:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T14:05:38","slug":"apostille-sworn-translation-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/blog\/apostille-sworn-translation-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"Apostille and sworn translation Spain: UK document guide 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"25069\" class=\"elementor elementor-25069\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c044682 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3c044682\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e286796 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e286796\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-color: #f2f2f2; padding: 20px 25px; margin: 25px 0;\">\n<h2>Apostille and sworn translation in Spain<\/h2>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The UK and Spain are both parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so UK public documents only need an apostille, not full embassy legalisation.<\/li>\n \t<li>The FCDO Legalisation Office charges \u00a345 per document for postal applications, \u00a340 through registered business providers and \u00a335 for the e-Apostille.<\/li>\n \t<li>Sworn translations into Spanish must be produced by a <em>traductor-int\u00e9rprete jurado<\/em> formally appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC).<\/li>\n \t<li>The combination of an apostille plus a sworn translation is required for most NIE, visa, property, inheritance and company formation matters.<\/li>\n \t<li>Foreign documents not issued in the UK cannot be apostilled by the FCDO. They must be legalised in the country that issued them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apostille and sworn translation in Spain: What UK clients need to know<\/h2>\nAlmost every interaction a UK national has with the Spanish administration eventually depends on two documents: an apostilled original and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.betranslated.com\/sworn-translation-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sworn Spanish translation<\/a>.\n\nThe buyer of a flat in Valencia needs an apostilled birth certificate for the NIE.\n\nThe retiree applying for a non-lucrative visa needs an apostilled ACRO criminal record check.\n\nThe heir to a Spanish estate needs an apostilled grant of probate and a <em>traducci\u00f3n jurada<\/em> of every English document submitted.\n\nGetting these wrong is one of the most common reasons applications stall in front of the Spanish consulate, a notary or the Spanish tax office.\n\nThis guide explains the <strong>apostille and sworn translation in Spain<\/strong> framework, the post-Brexit position for UK documents, current FCDO fees, the role of <em>traductores jurados<\/em> recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the practical sequence every UK client should follow before sending anything to Spain.\n\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25123 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sworn-translation-apostille-buying-house-spain.webp\" alt=\"sworn transaltion for buying house in spain\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sworn-translation-apostille-buying-house-spain.webp 1280w, https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sworn-translation-apostille-buying-house-spain-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sworn-translation-apostille-buying-house-spain-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sworn-translation-apostille-buying-house-spain-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The legal framework: Hague Convention and the post-Brexit position<\/h2>\nThe <strong>Hague Convention of 5 October 1961<\/strong> abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents established the apostille as a single, simplified certificate that authenticates a public document for use across all member states.\n\nBoth the United Kingdom and Spain are long-standing parties to the Convention, which means UK public documents only require an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to be recognised in Spain.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/blog\/british-expats-brexit\/\">Brexit<\/a> did not change this position.\n\nThe <strong>Hague Apostille Convention<\/strong> is an instrument of public international law, entirely separate from the European Union.\n\nUK nationals continue to enjoy the same simplified document recognition route in Spain after 1 January 2021 as they did before.\n\nWhat did change is the broader landscape: UK nationals are now <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/blog\/residency-in-spain\/\">non-EU citizens for residency<\/a>, work and tax purposes, which means the <em>volume<\/em> of apostilled documents required to live, invest or do business in Spain has increased significantly.\n\nEvery TIE application, every property purchase by a non-resident, every visa file now routinely requires apostilles and sworn translations that EU citizens are simply not asked for.\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who needs an apostille and sworn translation in Spain<\/h2>\nThe <strong>apostille and sworn translation in Spain<\/strong> requirement is not specific to any one practice area.\n\nIt cuts across virtually every legal matter our firm handles for UK clients.\n<ul>\n \t<li><strong>Immigration:<\/strong> NIE and TIE applications, non-lucrative visas, the <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/blog\/apply-digital-nomad-visa-spain\/\">Digital Nomad Visa<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/blog\/spain-startup-visa\/\">Startup Visa<\/a>, and family reunification files.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Property:<\/strong> purchase deeds where the buyer cannot attend in person, granting of power of attorney from the UK to a Spanish solicitor, and mortgage applications.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Inheritance:<\/strong> the UK grant of probate, the death certificate, the will, and every document of title relating to a deceased&#8217;s UK assets that need to be presented to a Spanish notary.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Company formation:<\/strong> UK certificates of incorporation, articles of association, good standing certificates and director identity documents for setting up a Spanish SL.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Family law:<\/strong> marriage certificates for joint property purchases, decrees of divorce, and court orders relating to custody or maintenance.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Education and professional recognition:<\/strong> degree certificates, professional body memberships and DBS or ACRO certificates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe general rule is straightforward: if the document was issued by a UK public authority and a Spanish authority needs to rely on it, the document needs an apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish.\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FCDO fees and current 2026 turnaround times<\/h2>\nThe FCDO Legalisation Office is the only UK body authorised to issue apostilles for documents originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.\n\nDocuments from Scotland follow a parallel process administered through the Foreign Office, with notarisation handled by a Scottish notary public or solicitor.\n\nAs of 2026, the FCDO operates three service tiers, each with a different fee and turnaround.\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; margin: 20px 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #718472; color: #ffffff;\">\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">FCDO service tier<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Fee per document<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Typical turnaround<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Who can use it<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Standard postal apostille<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">\u00a345<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">10 to 20 working days<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Any member of the public<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">e-Apostille<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">\u00a335<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">2 to 5 working days<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Digital documents signed by a UK notary or solicitor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Business counter (registered providers)<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">\u00a340<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">24 to 48 hours<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">FCDO-registered notaries and agencies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Premium same-day<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">\u00a3100<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Same business day<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Selected registered providers, urgent files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<strong>Notary<\/strong> or <strong>solicitor certification<\/strong> is <strong>required<\/strong> separately for any private document, such as a power of attorney, degree certificate, photocopy of a passport or company resolution.\n\nTotal UK-side cost for a private document apostille typically lands between \u00a3100 and \u00a3200 once notary fees, FCDO fees and a service provider&#8217;s handling charge are combined.\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sworn translations: The role of the traductor-int\u00e9rprete jurado<\/h2>\nSpanish authorities do not accept English-language documents on their face.\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25124 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/certified-sworn-translator-spain.webp\" alt=\"sworn translator in Spain\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/certified-sworn-translator-spain.webp 1280w, https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/certified-sworn-translator-spain-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/certified-sworn-translator-spain-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/certified-sworn-translator-spain-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\nAn accompanying <em>traducci\u00f3n jurada<\/em> (sworn translation) into Spanish is required for any document filed with a notary, the Land Registry, the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), the Civil Registry, a court or an immigration office.\n\nA sworn translation is not the same as a certified translation by an agency. It must be produced by a <em>traductor-int\u00e9rprete jurado<\/em> formally appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC).\n\nEach sworn translator holds an individual licence, a registered stamp and an official accreditation number that appears on every page of the translation.\n\nThe MAEC maintains a public list of all currently licensed sworn translators by language combination, which is the authoritative source for verifying credentials.\n<div style=\"background-color: #E9E8E8; border-left: 4px solid #718472; padding: 15px 20px; margin: 25px 0; font-style: italic;\">\n\n&#8220;There were over 7,500 active sworn translators and interpreters registered with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the official OETI database as of 2024.&#8221;\n\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The correct sequence for UK documents going to Spain<\/h2>\nThe single most common mistake we see in our office is clients translating documents <em>before<\/em> apostilling them, or apostilling photocopies that the FCDO will reject.\n\nThe sequence matters and should always be followed in this order.\n<ol>\n \t<li><strong>Obtain the certified original.<\/strong> Birth, marriage and death certificates should come from the General Register Office (or equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland) in long-form, not a photocopy.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Notarise or solicitor-certify if needed.<\/strong> Private documents such as powers of attorney, degree certificates and company resolutions need notary certification before the FCDO will accept them.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Apostille.<\/strong> Submit the original (or notarised) document to the FCDO. The apostille is physically attached to the document or issued electronically as an e-Apostille.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Sworn translation.<\/strong> Send the apostilled document to a MAEC-registered <em>traductor jurado<\/em> who will translate both the document and the apostille certificate itself into Spanish.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>File in Spain.<\/strong> The bundle (apostilled original plus sworn translation) is now ready for the Spanish notary, AEAT, consulate or administrative authority.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nSome Spanish authorities accept the apostille on a notarised copy rather than the original.\n\nOthers insist on the original.\n\nAlways verify the specific authority&#8217;s requirements before applying.\n\nOur <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/immigration-law\/\">immigration team<\/a> typically does this for each client at the outset of a file.\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common UK documents and their Spanish use cases<\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; margin: 20px 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #718472; color: #ffffff;\">\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">UK document<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Apostille route<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Sworn translation required?<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #718472; padding: 10px; text-align: left;\">Typical Spanish use<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Birth certificate (GRO long-form)<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Direct FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">NIE, visa, family reunification<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Marriage certificate<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Direct FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Property purchase, visa dependants, inheritance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">ACRO criminal record check<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Direct FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">All long-stay visas (NLV, DNV, Startup, work)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Grant of probate<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Direct FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Spanish inheritance proceedings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Power of attorney<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Notary then FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Remote property purchase, banking, NIE<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Degree certificate<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Notary or university, then FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Digital Nomad Visa, professional recognition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Companies House documents<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Direct FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Spanish SL incorporation, foreign branch registration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5;\">\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Passport copy<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Solicitor or notary certify then FCDO<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Usually no (international document)<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 10px;\">Director identity, NIE, banking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">e-Apostille and Spanish acceptance<\/h2>\nThe e-Apostille is a digital apostille issued by the FCDO on electronically signed PDF documents.\n\nIt is cryptographically secure and verifiable through an online register.\n\n<strong>Spain accepts e-Apostilles<\/strong> in principle under the <strong>Hague Convention&#8217;s digital apostille framework<\/strong>, but individual Spanish authorities still vary in practice.\n\nSome notaries, particularly in smaller municipalities, continue to request paper documents.\n\nFor property completions and inheritance proceedings, we generally recommend the paper apostille route despite the higher cost.\n\nFor routine administrative filings such as visa appointments at a Spanish consulate in the UK, the e-Apostille is widely accepted and significantly faster.\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common pitfalls and how to avoid them<\/h2>\n<ul>\n \t<li><strong>Apostilling an uncertified copy.<\/strong> The FCDO will reject any photocopy that has not first been certified by a UK notary or solicitor.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Translating before apostilling.<\/strong> The sworn translator must translate the apostille as well, so the apostille must be issued first.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Using a non-sworn translator.<\/strong> Spanish authorities do not accept agency translations or &#8220;certified by the translator&#8221; wording unless the translator is on the MAEC register.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Letting documents expire.<\/strong> ACRO certificates, certain bank statements and good standing certificates are often only accepted by Spanish authorities if issued within three to six months.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Apostilling documents not issued in the UK.<\/strong> The FCDO can only apostille UK-origin documents. Any non-UK certificate must be apostilled in the issuing country.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Mistaking an apostille for embassy legalisation.<\/strong> An apostille is sufficient for Spain because Spain is a Hague-Convention member. Embassy legalisation is a separate, longer process required only for non-Hague countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Delagu\u00eda y Luz\u00f3n coordinates the full apostille and translation workflow<\/h2>\nOur office handles the <strong>apostille and sworn translation in Spain<\/strong> workflow as part of every UK client engagement that requires Spanish official filings.\n\nFor new arrivals, we typically begin with a single document inventory covering all the apostilles required across the NIE, visa, property, banking and tax-residence file.\n\nThis avoids the very common situation where a client apostilles documents one at a time, paying multiple FCDO fees and waiting unnecessarily between filings.\n\nWe work with a panel of MAEC-registered sworn translators who handle high volumes of UK to Spanish work, which keeps turnaround times tight and costs predictable.\n\nFor clients still in the UK, we coordinate directly with FCDO-registered apostille providers, which gives access to the \u00a340 business counter rate rather than the \u00a345 public postal rate.\n\nOur practice areas across <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/immigration-law\/\">immigration<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/property-law\/\">property<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/inheritance-law\/\">inheritance<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/commercial-law\/\">commercial<\/a> all sit under one firm, so the same document inventory can serve a UK client across multiple legal matters without duplication.\n<div style=\"background-color: #f5f7f5; padding: 25px; margin: 25px 0; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact our legal team for personalised guidance on your apostille and sworn translation in Spain<\/h2>\nIf you are a UK national preparing documents for use in Spain, the right sequence of apostille, sworn translation and filing can save weeks of delay and several hundred pounds of avoidable fees.\n\nContact our legal team for personalised guidance on your case.\n\n<strong>Email:<\/strong> <a href=\"felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com\">felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com<\/a>\n\n<strong>Telephone:<\/strong> +34 963 74 16 57\n\n<strong>Office:<\/strong> Avinguda Regne de Valencia, 6, 1\u00ba-2\u00ba, 46005 Valencia, Spain.\n\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long is a UK apostille valid for use in Spain?<\/h3>\nAn apostille itself does not expire.\n\nHowever, the underlying document may have a Spanish acceptance window. ACRO certificates, bank statements and certificates of good standing are typically accepted only if issued within the last three to six months.\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I apostille a document myself at the FCDO?<\/h3>\nYes.\n\nYou can apply directly through gov.uk for \u00a345 per document by post, with a 10 to 20 working day turnaround. Most UK clients prefer to use a registered service provider to access faster turnaround and to avoid courier risk on original certificates.\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need both an apostille and a sworn translation?<\/h3>\nFor most Spanish official uses, yes.\n\nThe apostille proves authenticity. The sworn translation makes the content accessible to the Spanish authority. They are two separate requirements served by two separate professionals.\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a sworn translation be done in the UK?<\/h3>\nSpanish sworn translations must be produced by a translator on the MAEC register.\n\nSome MAEC-registered <em>traductores jurados<\/em> are based in the UK and can produce valid sworn translations from there. The translation is recognised as the same as one produced in Spain.\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the difference between an apostille and embassy legalisation?<\/h3>\nAn apostille is a simplified Hague Convention authentication used between member countries.\n\nEmbassy legalisation is the longer, multi-step process required for non-Hague Convention countries. For the UK to Spain, the apostille alone is sufficient because both states are Hague members [1].\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Scottish documents handled differently from English ones?<\/h3>\nScottish documents are still apostilled by the FCDO, but the notarisation step is handled by a Scottish notary public or solicitor under Scots law.\n\nThe destination process in Spain is identical.\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can my Spanish solicitor handle the whole apostille and translation process for me?<\/h3>\nMost UK-focused Spanish law firms, including ours, coordinate the full process end-to-end.\n\nFor UK-issued documents, we work with FCDO-registered providers and MAEC-registered sworn translators. For Spanish-issued documents needing an apostille for use abroad, we handle the Spanish Ministry of Justice apostille route directly from Valencia.\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/#organization\",\n      \"name\": \"Delagu\u00eda y Luz\u00f3n Abogados\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/\",\n      \"email\": \"felix.delaguia@delaguialuzon.com\",\n      \"telephone\": \"+34 963 74 16 57\",\n      \"address\": {\n        \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n        \"streetAddress\": \"Avinguda Regne de Valencia, 6, 1\u00ba-2\u00ba\",\n        \"postalCode\": \"46005\",\n        \"addressLocality\": \"Valencia\",\n        \"addressCountry\": \"ES\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/#website\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/\",\n      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However, the underlying document may have a Spanish acceptance window. ACRO certificates, bank statements and certificates of good standing are often accepted only if issued within the last three to six months.\"\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Can I apostille a document myself at the FCDO?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"Yes. You can apply directly through gov.uk for postal legalisation. Many UK clients prefer to use a registered service provider for faster turnaround and to reduce courier risk on original certificates.\"\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Do I need both an apostille and a sworn translation?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"For most Spanish official uses, yes. 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Learn the correct sequence, FCDO fees and Spanish acceptance rules. Contact our solicitors in Valencia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":25131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nie"],"permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25069"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28040,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25069\/revisions\/28040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaguialuzon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}