Document Legalization & Apostille from UK, Ireland & EU for Use in Spain

Need foreign documents legalized for use in Spain? Our extensive network of collaborators across the UK, Ireland and the EU handles apostilles, sworn translations and certifications — a simple, hassle-free process.

Living in Spain as an expat often requires presenting foreign documents to Spanish authorities — whether for property purchases, inheritance proceedings, residency applications, or administrative filings. These documents typically need to be apostilled, certified, and translated before they are legally valid in Spain.

Our International Network of Collaborators

At Bufete Padilla, we have built an extensive network of trusted collaborators across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and multiple EU countries. This means you don't need to travel back to your home country or deal with unfamiliar bureaucracies. We coordinate the entire process on your behalf from our offices in Torrevieja and Moraira.

What Is an Apostille?

The Apostille is a certificate issued under the Hague Convention of 1961 that authenticates a public document for international use. Documents that commonly require apostille include:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Court orders and judgments
- Powers of attorney
- Criminal record certificates
- Academic qualifications
- Corporate documents

Document Legalization Process

The process is straightforward:
1. You contact us with the document you need legalized
2. We coordinate with our collaborators in the originating country (UK, Ireland, EU)
3. Our partners obtain the apostille or certification from the relevant authority
4. Sworn translation is arranged if required — we provide sworn translations to and from any EU language, and even languages from other continents
5. The completed documents are delivered ready for use in Spain

Sworn Translations in Any Language

We collaborate with officially appointed sworn translators (traductores jurados) who can translate documents into and from:
- All official EU languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Romanian, and more)
- Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish)
- Russian and other Eastern European languages
- Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and other global languages

All sworn translations bear the official seal and signature required by Spanish authorities.

Types of Documents We Handle

  • UK probate documents — Grants of Probate, Letters of Administration
  • Irish certificates — Birth, marriage, death for civil registry
  • EU corporate documents — Company registrations, board resolutions
  • Academic credentials — Degree certificates, transcripts for homologation
  • Personal documents — Divorce decrees, adoption orders, name changes