Certified Documents for a Spain Visa: What Gets Certified and How

Certified Copy vs Original vs Apostille

These are three different things:

• Certified copy: a photocopy of an original document that has been officially confirmed as a true copy, typically by a solicitor, notary, or government office. This is NOT the same as an apostille.
• Original document: Spanish consulates often want originals (not photocopies) of key documents — including criminal record certificates, medical certificates, and sometimes bank statements.
• Apostille: an official international certification that authenticates the document for use in other Hague Convention countries. The apostille goes on the original or certified copy of a public document and makes it legally valid in Spain.

Which Documents Need an Apostille?

Documents that are 'public documents' — issued by a government authority — typically need apostilling. For a Spanish visa application, this commonly includes:

• Criminal record certificate
• Birth certificate (if required)
• Marriage certificate
• Divorce certificate (if relevant)
• Degree certificates (sometimes)

Private documents (bank statements, employer letters, rental contracts) are not publicly issued and therefore don't need an apostille — but they may need a sworn translation.

Sworn Translations

Any document not originally in Spanish that is submitted to a Spanish consulate or authority typically needs a sworn translation (traducción jurada). This is a translation produced by a translator officially certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Common documents needing sworn translation: criminal record certificates, bank statements (in some consulates), employment contracts, pension statements, medical reports, and birth/marriage certificates.

The Full Certification Chain

For a public document from a non-Spanish country — like a UK criminal record certificate — the full process is: obtain the official certificate → get it apostilled by the appropriate UK authority → get it sworn translated into Spanish. All three steps are typically required.

Getting Notarised Copies

In some cases — particularly for passport copies or bank statements — consulates or authorities ask for 'notarised copies'. This means a solicitor or notary confirms that the copy is a true and accurate copy of the original. In the UK, this is done by a solicitor or notary public.