Apostille for Spain: what you need to know

Spain is a party to the Hague Convention, so an apostille on the document is enough and consular legalisation is not required. In Russia the apostille is affixed by the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Internal Affairs (for civil-registry documents) — the urgent option is usually ready in one working day.

Translation — before or after arrival

Many Spanish authorities accept only a translation made by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) accredited in Spain — an ordinary Russian notarised translation does not always suit the local bodies, though for some procedures (for example, for the Spanish consulate in Moscow) it is sufficient.

Check the requirements of the specific body in advance: for some procedures an apostilled translation from Russia is enough, for others a new translation with a Spanish sworn translator on the spot will be needed — and then the apostille on the Russian original is still needed as the basis.