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Document legalization and translation

All documents that are submitted for these procedures must be official documents issued by the competent authorities, in accordance with the legal system in the relevant country.

Legalization of documents issued abroad

No legalization of documents issued in EU member states or signatories of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)* will be required.

European Union Members: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden.

*You can check the members in the downloads section. 

In any other cases, documents issued abroad that are to be used in these procedures must be duly legalized in accordance with the following conditions:

Documents in signatory countries of the Hague Convention of 5th of October 1961: the sole legalization or apostille issued by the competent authorities in the country will be sufficient. You can check the list of countries in the downloads section.

Documents issued in signatory countries of the Andrés Bello Convention: (Article 2. Section 6. Resolution 006/98, approved by the 19th Meeting of the Ministers of Education of the Andrés Bello Convention): they will have to be legalized via diplomatic channels. (When the country is also a signatory of the Hague Convention, this procedure may be used as it is simpler). They must be submitted at:

  • The Ministry of Education in the country of origin of the studies qualifications and certificates and at the relevant Ministry for birth and nationality certificates.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country where the documents were issued.
  • Spanish diplomatic or consular representation in the country: Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

Other countries: All foreign documents accrediting studies, birth, nationality or any other circumstances must be official and must be legalized via diplomatic channels. Such legalization shall require:

  1. Recognition by the Ministry of Education authorities in the country of origin, the signatures on the original document, when such document accredit studies. For documents accrediting birth, nationality and any other circumstances, recognition will be required by the relevant Department authorities in the country of origin in regard to the signatures on the original document.
  2. Legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of origin in regard to the aforementioned recognition.
  3. Recognition of the signature of the latest legalization by the Spanish consulate in the country of origin.
  4. Recognition of the signature by the authority or office of the aforementioned Consulate by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Translation

All documents issued in a foreign language by the competent authorities in the country of origin must be accompanied by a translation into the Spanish language, which may be:

1. By the Language Interpretation Office of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

2. By UNESCO, the office of the Ibero-American Cooperation Center or any other organization recognized in Spain.

3. By any other diplomatic or consular representation of the Spanish state abroad.

4. By diplomatic representation in Spain of the country where the applicant is a subject, or the country of origin of the document, as relevant.

5. By an Official Translator, duly authorized or registered in Spain.