An apostille is an international certification that authenticates a document for use in another country. For the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, most of your documents need an apostille before they can be translated and submitted to the consulate.
What Is an Apostille?
Under the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille replaces the lengthy process of embassy legalization. It is a standardized certificate attached to your document that confirms the signature, seal, or stamp on it is genuine. Spain and most Western countries are members of this convention.
Which Documents Need an Apostille?
- Criminal background check (FBI for Americans, ACRO for Brits)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Medical certificate (requirements vary by consulate)
- Financial documents (some consulates require apostilled bank letters)
US Apostille Process
In the United States, apostilles are issued at the state level by the Secretary of State. Federal documents like FBI background checks are apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington, DC. Processing times vary from same-day to several weeks depending on the state and method.
UK Apostille Process
In the United Kingdom, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). You can apply by post or use a legalization service. Standard processing takes around 2 weeks; premium same-day service is available for an additional fee.
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Navigating apostille requirements across different states and countries can be confusing. Our partner service handles the entire process for both US and UK documents.
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The Hague Apostille is required on FBI/DBS/NPC checks, birth certificates, and marriage certificates. Our partners handle courier and turnaround.
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