Apostille guide for Digital Nomad Visa and Residency in Spain

New Apostille guide for Spain Digital Nomad Visa 2025-2026

If you’re applying for the Digital Nomad Visa Spain, one of the key technical hurdles is making sure your foreign-issued documents are properly legalised, and translated into Spanish.

This guide explains which documents need an apostille, when it is not required, and how to do it step-by-step

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certification used by countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. It confirms that a public document (for example, a birth certificate or police record) is genuine so it can be used abroad — in this case, in Spain.

Official references:

When You Need an Apostille (and When You Don’t)

You need an apostille if:

Your document is issued outside Spain by a country that is:

  • not covered by specific EU mutual-recognition rules.
  • a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and
  • not part of the European Union, or

How to know if your country has joined the Hague Apostille Convention:

  • Use the official status list on the Hague Conference on Private International Law website: Status-table Convention of 5 October 1961. hcch.net
  • Use independent confirmed lists like the one hosted by the Netherlands Government site which references HCCH. 

You do NOT need an apostille if:

  • The document was issued within the European Union and thus falls under EU Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, which abolishes the need for legalisation or apostille between EU Member States for certain public documents.

For example:

  • A criminal record certificate from Malta, Germany, France, Italy, or any EU Member State does not require an apostille to be recognised in Spain.

However:

  • The document must be issued by an official EU authority.
  • If it is not in Spanish, you must still provide a sworn translation,
    unless you request a multilingual EU form (Formulario multilingüe) when available.
Even when apostille is not required, the document must still be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator unless it’s issued as a multilingual EU form.

What if Apostille Is Not Available (Non-Convention Countries)

Apostille convention global map

If your country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you must go through the full consular legalisation process:

  1. Authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) of the issuing country.
  2. Legalise it at the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in that country.
  3. Translate it into Spanish by a sworn translator (traductor jurado).

Official guidance:
Legalización de documentos públicos extranjeros – MAEUEC

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare Your Documents

Step 1: Check if your country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention

Visit the official list here:
HCCH Status Table – Convention 1961

  • If your country is listed → You need an apostille.
  • If your country is not listed → You need full legalisation.
  • If your country is in the EU → No apostille required for most documents.

Step 2: Obtain your original documents

  • Criminal record certificate from your national police or justice ministry.
  • Birth or marriage certificate from the civil registry.
  • Company registration certificate.
  • University diploma or employment certificate.

Each must be an original or certified copy issued by the competent authority.

Step 3: Get the apostille (if required)

Contact the competent authority for apostilles in your country (listed on the HCCH site).
Examples:

  • USA → U.S. Department of State
  • UK → Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Australia → Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Once apostilled, the document is ready for use in Spain (after translation if needed).

Step 4: Translate into Spanish

Unless the document is issued in Spanish or in an accepted multilingual EU format, it must be translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Step 5: Submit your documents with your Spain Digital Nomad Visa application

All documents must be:

  • Original or certified copies
  • Properly apostilled or legalised (if applicable)
  • Sworn-translated into Spanish
Digital Nomad checklist

5. Summary: Do You Need an Apostille?

DocumentIssued in EU (e.g. Germany, Malta)Issued in Hague-member country (e.g. USA, UK)Issued in non-member countryTranslation Required?
Criminal record certificate❌ No✅ Yes🔁 Legalisation✅ Yes
Birth/marriage certificate❌ No (if multilingual)✅ Yes🔁 Legalisation✅ Yes
Company registration❌ No✅ Yes🔁 Legalisation✅ Yes
Diploma/work certificate⚠️ May be require depending on authority✅ Yes🔁 Legalisation✅ Yes

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