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Many of our clients contact us for assistance with the apostille of their public documents, whether in Spain or in the United Kingdom, but most of them are unaware of what it is or what it is used for.

It is quite common, when dealing with official authorities for administrative procedures (such as birth, marriage, or death registrations, visa applications, etc), to be required to apostille any foreign documents we wish to submit. But what exactly is an apostille? How is it obtained? And, most importantly, how much does it cost?

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a form of certification, in the shape of a standardised annotation (“stamp” or “certificate”), placed on a public document. Its function is to certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the person signing, and, where applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp affixed.

With an apostille, a public document issued in one country that is a party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 can be recognised in another member country without further legalisation. Over 120 countries, including Spain, the United Kingdom, and all EU member states, are parties to the Convention.

How can an apostille be obtained?

Apostilles are always issued by a public authority, to which the official document must be submitted. The competent public authority will depend on the country in which the official document was issued. For example, in Spain apostille are generally issued by the Ministry of Justice and Notarial Associations.

In the United Kingdom, they are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

In Spain, to obtain a paper apostille, there are several methods:

In person: An appointment must be booked and the original public document submitted at one of the following public offices: the Central Citizen Services Office of the Ministry of Justice, the Territorial Offices of the Ministry of Justice, or the Government Secretariats of the High Courts of Justice.

By post: The official application form must be completed and sent, along with the public document, to one of the following: the Central Citizen Services Office of the Ministry of Justice or the Government Secretariats of the High Courts of Justice.

For notarial documents: Apostilles are issued by the Notarial Associations.

In the United Kingdom, to obtain a paper apostille, the public document must be sent by post to the FCDO, together with the completed standard application form and the corresponding payment.

What is the “E-Apostille”?

This is an alternative online service offered in most countries to obtain an apostille electronically and effectively.

In Spain, any public document signed with a digital signature can be apostilled electronically.

In the United Kingdom, only documents electronically signed by a British notary or solicitor can be apostilled with the “e-apostille”.

However, not all electronically apostilled documents are valid for their intended purpose, so it is advisable to check this in advance.

How much does it cost to obtain an apostille?

In Spain, the processing cost is free of charge. In the United Kingdom, the cost for a paper apostille is £45 plus delivery charges, and for an e-apostille £35. If an intermediary service is used, additional costs will apply.

How log does it take obtain an apostille?

In Spain, the traditional procedure may take several weeks, depending on the workload of the public offices.

In the United Kingdom, it usually takes up to 10 working days.

Electronic apostilles (e-apostille) can be processed within approximately 24-48 hours.

The process can be expedited by using an intermediary.

How can the authenticity of an apostille be verified?

In Spain, apostilles can be verified at the following link: Ministerio de Justicia Consulta Registro de Apostillas.

In the United Kingdom, authenticity can be verified at: Verify Apostille Service by entering the apostille date and number.

This blog post provides general information and should not be considered binding legal advice. If you require assistance with obtaining an apostille or have questions about the process, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.